ror, and the wooden cradle with its hand-woven
blanket, where now sleeps a twentieth-century baby.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Two of the Chambers]

On the second story the rooms have been remodeled and show the same good
taste which prevails all through the house. The unfinished attic has
been plastered, papered, and converted into two bedrooms which are
equipped with the old-time furnishings and are used primarily as guest
rooms. The gable windows make them light and airy and at the same time
afford a charming glimpse of the garden, heavy with the fragrance of the
sweet-smelling blossoms, much as it was two centuries ago.

Willowdale is one of the most comfortable and well appointed of the many
remodeled houses that are found in New England. It is the possession of
such a quantity of fine old woodwork that has given the house its
distinctive atmosphere, though this has been preserved and heightened by
the good taste of the present residents, who have succeeded in making it
a most livable dwelling. Every room is well lighted and well ventilated,
yet the house maintains in its renovated state all the quaintness and
charm of a seventeenth-century home. It is a fine example of how an old
house can be remodeled with little trouble and expense, and how the old
and new can be combined harmoniously.

CHAPTER XV

THE GEORGE E. BARNARD ESTATE

In remodeling a farmhouse, one should plan to build wide verandas,
overlooking pleasing views. These can be glass-enclosed, so that during
inclement weather one need not stay indoors. Out-door life is a part of
the essentials in planning a summer home, and it means so much to the
house owner that every possible means should be devised to secure it.
With this object in view, why not lay out around the house attractive
flower beds? Just a plain lawn does not mean much, but planted with
trees, effective shrubbery, and well-planned gardens, it furnishes an
inducement to sit on the porch and watch the ever changing views.

In attempting this work, plan for vistas, well-selected spaces through
which one can get glimpses of the world beyond. Have an objective point
in view, so that the beauty of the setting sun and the clouds clothed in
rainbow hues make it more attractive. Panorama effects are always
interesting and are obtained through judicious planting, for one must
remember that a plain level lawn in itself has few features that
attract. Let the units be carefully space