Before & After #1, Architecture #9

A House in Plainfield, New Jersey
Remodeled by Lewis Bowman, Architect

This house shown in its original state above is typical of many built twenty-five or more years ago. Not only are the details bad and the ornament meaningless, but the massing lacks coherence and dignity. It is interesting in comparing the remodeled house with this to note that its effectiveness was gained first by the paring of the house to its skeleton outline and then making it attractive by the use of the materials selected for its covering. Notice that the porch has been extended to include an extra room. Notice, too, how much the terrace and the retaining wall add to the stability of the house.

House Beautiful, August 1927