Exterior Details

The bay-window is the peculiar feature next to the verandah that an American rural home loves to indulge in. There can, indeed, scarcely be too many for the comfort of the house, or too few for the comfort of the purse, for I regret to add that they are expensive features. The simplest form is a plain semi-octagon, with simple shed-roof, shown above. This sort of bay is very commonly finished with a roof running up to a point against the wall; but the effect thus produced is always mean and disagreeable, and a straight line for some distance, as shown on the sketch, gives the appearance of the windows belonging to the house much more than the other mode.

The balcony is a feature that can now and then be introduced to advantage; and a specimen that tells the whole story, and scarcely needs any further detail, is shown in the illustration.

Dormer-windows are of several sorts, according to the style of the house. They are often made too small, and considerable comfort and effect is thereby lost, for a small one costs very nearly as much as a large one, and is not half so available. A dormer is a capital feature in a country house.

Dormer Window

Balcony