This section is from "The Horticulturist, And Journal Of Rural Art And Rural Taste", by P. Barry, A. J. Downing, J. Jay Smith, Peter B. Mead, F. W. Woodward, Henry T. Williams. Also available from Amazon: Horticulturist and Journal of Rural Art and Rural Taste.
A person fond of poetry and old legendary associations, would naturally look with some degree of pleasure upon an architectural design, in the composition of which those sentiments were embodied and carried out; and we know of no period in the history of architecture which will furnish us with more striking examples of the picturesque and ornamental, as applied to domestic buildings, or more display of fancy and imagination, than that part of the Tudor era during which the "good Queen Bess" was occupant of the English throne.
During the reign of Henry VIII, Gothic architecture had reached the perfection of its beauty, and it became necessary to bring about some change of style and ornament; accordingly, architects and "others who had extended their travels into the southern countries and studied art in those countries, introduced on returning some of the principal features of the Italian and Florentine schools of architecture.
Hence we see the prevailing architecture of this period to consist of compositions of all sorts of odd fancies and grotesque designs, queer mixtures of Gothic and Grecian, though producing, when judiciously applied, what to our mind are the coziest, sunniest, snuggest little cottages that we know of. Here we find warm, sheltered nooks, and large, cheerful fire-places; broad windows and oriels which court the sun, and steep roofs to shed the snows in winter; heavy verge boards topped with carved finials; round and pointed arches supported on twisted columns of Italian verandas; ornamented balconies and highly-wrought chimney-tops; in fact, almost everything! in the way of ornament which the fancy could suggest was used by the architects of that period, with but little regard to severe architectural style as practised by their predecessors.
AN ELIZABETHAN COTTAGE.
With these remarks we present a design which shows some of the characteristic features of the Elizabethan style. The plan comprises, first, a vestibule, A, opening by glazed doors into the main hall, 2?, which measures 14 feet by 16, contains two cloak closets, and is lighted by two long casement windows opening upon the verandas, C C. Out of this hall we pass on the left into the parlor, Gt 14 by 18 feet, and on the right to the staircase hall, F Directly fronting the main entrance is an arched recess filled with seats, and communicating by means of double stained glass doors with the dining-room, D : on each side of this recess is a good-sized china closet. The dining-room measures 14 feet by 17, and is lighted by a broad mullioned window, which overlooks a pavilion, J, in the rear. The library,E, measures 12 feet by 18, besides the additional width of the bay window which projects from its side. The back entry, H is 4 feet wide, and opens into the dining-room, D, kitchen I, water-closet, K and out upon the pavilion, J. The kitchen, I, is 14 feet square, and contains cooking-range and water apparatus. A pantry, i, and storeroom, M, open from it. In the cellar may be found the usual kitchen offices.
The second floor contains five chambers, A, B, C, D, E. The front room has a recessed window opening upon a balcony over the entrance door. All other chambers have closets, and a large clothes-press or cedar closet, E, opens from the corridor, H.
This cottage should be built of stone, with the ornamental portions of wood. Great care should be taken in building to have these ornamental 1 trimmings made in a solid, substantial manner, and of very heavy stock ; for if they have the least appearance of flimsiness, the effect of the whole design will be spoiled, and it will be sure to meet the censure of those who so justly condemn " gingerbread cottages." The interior finish should be of the same general style as the exterior; we should prefer some hard wood simply oiled, showing the natural color and grain. The halls and vestibule might be wainscotted to the height of 2 1/2 feet all around, and the walls brown finished. Height of first story 11 feet 6 inches in clear. The cost of the cottage would be about $2,500 to $3,000.
 
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