Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/869

 VILLAS IN VARIOUS STYLES. 8i5 1475 U^i^l 1762. General Estimate. Cubic contents, 91,896 feet; which, at 6d. per foot, amounts to ^"2297 : 8s. If the external Gothic ornaments were added, the expense would be increased by at least ^"lOO. 1763. Remarks. Tliis Design was fui-nished us by William Frome Smallwood, Esq., a young Ar- chitect of great taste; who has devoted his attention chiefly to the Gothic style, and who has lately spent a considerable time in Normandy and the Nether- lands, delineating the antiquities of those countries. Mr. Smallwood intended to erect this cottage for himself; and the ^•illa-like arrangement of the interior, and the highly enriched Gothic of the elevation, e^^nce the great elegance of his taste. The first villa-like featm-e, speaking with refer- ence to the ordinary construction of buildings of this size about London, is the largeness of the hall. Every body knows, that, in houses with even double the accommodation here shown, the entrance is com- monly into a narrow passage or lobby, generally serving also as a place for the staircase. The effect of this upon a stranger is to show want of ease and ample means on the part of the occu'^ant; and con- sequently to indicate that he cannot oelong to that class of society, whose means are comparatively unlimited, and whose taste, being unrestrained by considerations of expense, is supposed to be good. Perhaps it may be said, in defence of these narrow- entranced small houses, that they are suited to the fortunes of their occupants; and are therefore more true to nature, than any attempts at a style which properly belongs to men of greater wealth. We allow the force of this argument; but, at the same time, we feel that the source of all improvement has its origin in the desire of individuals to better their condition; and we consider that individual to be higher in the scale of worth, who endeavom-s to raise his taste, and give evidence of it to his friends and the world, than he who merely endeavours to increase his wealth. We therefore cannot but approve of displaying this taste, in a preeminent manner, on houses, gardens, furniture, and everj' thing connected with home. But, if this may be said of builders of houses in general, how much more might be said of an Architect, who builds his own house, and who is unquestionably bound to set an example to the public! The second feature which we shall notice in this Design is the ceiling of the dining-room being open to the roof, which affords a fine opportunity for an Architect to display his knowledge of the principles of dj-namics, as well as of the characteristic features of the different varieties of Gothic Architecture. The barge boards for the entrance and garden fronts, and the small dormer window, are of highly appropriate beauty; that for the end is not less curious, and, if executed, would at once be a standing memorandum of the Architect's taste, and of his travels.