Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/294

 2/0 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. the manniT in which shutter blinds are generally constructed and hung, their outer surface, when shut, is even with that of the wall. This is objected to by some, in a jjicturesque point of view, as depriving the window of the effect of the lines of shade that would otherwise be thrown upon it by the depth of the reveals. To overcome this objection, it is only necessary to form the luffer boarding narrower, say two inclies in width, and to hang the blinds with set-back hinges, so as to shut them close against the sash frame, like the outside shutter in fig. 495. Thus, if the depth of the reveal be seven inches without the shutter blind, it will only be reduced to five inches with it. 556. Venetian outside Blinds, of the common kind, only differ from inside Venetian blinds in having cornice boxes at top into which the blinds are drawn up, and frames at the sides which confine the ends of the laths forming the blinds, and prevent them from being blown about by the wind. In these blinds, instead of the laths being hung on tape, as is customary with inside Venetian blinds, slight brass chains are sometimes used. Outside blinds are generally painted of a stone or cream colour in the country ; and green in towns. In Gothic cottages, showing oak framework externally, they may be painted in imitation of that wood. 557. The Venetian Fan Blind, an improvement on the common Venetian blind, is made by Messrs. Barron and Mills of London, and its object is, to admit a greater quantity of light and air than is done by either the common Venetian blind or the shutter blind. For this purpose the front of the blind is projected from the wall, at an angle which may be varied at pleasure from 1° to 45" ; and to prevent the sun from shining into the windows on the sides, admitting at the same time free circulation of air, fan blinds are there introduced. Both the front blind and fans are worked by means of one line connected with cords and pulleys, which is made fast to the frame in the same manner as in the com- mon outside Venetian blinds. The front blind may be pulled up, and complete!}' concealed under the cornice box at top, while the fan blind folds into a narrow box provided for it in the side frame. Hence, when this description of blind is not in use, the cornice box and side frame of the window have exactly the same appearance as those of any other hanging blind. A detailed account of the very intricate construction of this blind will be found in the Repertori/ of Arts, vol. viii. p. 449.; and we shall recur to it when entering more at length into the subject of blinds, under the head of Exterior Finishing to Villas. There is another description of outside Venetian blinds, in which the laths are formed of iron, and copper chains supply the place of tape. These blinds are fixed at top to a box which projects from the window, and are attached at the other end to a roller having a pulley at one end, by which, and by a cord which passes over a pulley in the reveal of the window at top, the blind is let down and rolled up. These bullet-proof blinds, as they are called, are manufactured by Bramah of Pimlico, and have been employed by the Duke of Wellington, at Apsley House, to protect his windows from the mob. They are most unsightly objects, and are only mentioned here as connected with the subject of Venetian blinds. 558. Outside Curtain or Cloth Blinds are of various kinds. The simplest form is where a curtain of the size of the opening of the window is furnished with rings on the margin of each side, which run upon two upright rods, concealed or not, according to the taste or means of the party, by side-framing. The lower edge of the curtain is attached to an irod rod, or a fillet of wood, to keep it down by its weight ; and to this there is a cord attached, which, passing over a pulley in the middle of the soffit of the window, admits of pulling up the curtain, and fastening it in the usual manner. By another plan, the curtain is made to spread out in front like the Venetian fan blind. This variety is called a bonnet blind, and on it Messrs. Barron and Mills have made an improvement, which we shall hereafter describe. When these blinds are drawn up, they are as completely concealed, and protected from the weather by the box and frame, as any other description of blinds. The cloth generally used is strong linen, of the kind called gingham, and is generally striped with blue and wiiite colours, which harmonise remarkably well with the sky and clouds. The cornice and frames are generally painted of a stone colour. A patent was taken out in 1 826 for an improved mode of stretching by a contracting and collapsing apparatus, but it docs not appear to have come into use. (See Re]}- of Arts, vol. iv. p. 195.) 559. Various other outside blinds of the curtain kind have been used, and might be occasionally introduced in cottages. Projecting canopies, of different kinds, from the top of the window, might have corresponding balconies for flowers at the bottom ; and, common curtain rods being concealed in the top of each canopy and in the bottom of each balcony, curtains, with rings affixed in the usual manner, might run on them, and be opened by hand, in the middle or at the sides, at pleasure. This would be a very cheap exterior blind, and one which, judiciously placed over the principal window of a cottage, would produce a very striking edect. Another description of blind is formed