In the exterior finishing of summer cottages nature generally needs very little assistance. No colours harmonize so well with the gray rocks, sere fields and marshes, and the evergreen trees by the seashore, as the weathered grays of the shingled cottage. The window frames, door frames and facings, painted to preserve them, may be of the same colour or in dull green or brown, plainly marking the outlines of the house but without unpleasant contrasts. A stained roof in slate gray or creosote brown is also in keeping. The underpinning and outside chimneys in the field rock of the locality are eminently fitting. The house among the hills will stand more colour because the colours of nature are richer, especially in the autumn season. But wherever the house may be, it should repeat in its larger surfaces the prevailing colour tones of its natural setting. It should seem to fit into its surroundings as if it belonged there and would always remain there, a part of the simple, natural beauty all around it.
THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y.
[Transcriber's Notes: Spelling is the same mix of US/UK as others in series (eg color/colour) Corrected obvious typos: tell -> tells arrrangement -> arrangement CROHETED -> CROCHETED STENCILING -> STENCILLING on account -> on account of will be be -> will be retain -> and retains expecially -> especially Portières/Portieres found with and w/o accent in equal parts (left as in text in each case) Hyphenation made consistent: wood-work -> woodwork outdoor -> out-door ]
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Library of Work and Play: Home Decoration, by Charles Franklin Warner