What Type of House Is This?
The weather here has been so lovely lately that I have been spending nearly all of my time outdoors and in the garden. The autumn brings new chores and much to clean up in order to keep things looking good. I am also trying to maintain what is still growing and in bloom, as well as to sneak in a few new plants - certainly some seasonal additions like mums and pansies. But while doing so - giving so much attention to the garden - I always feel as if I am neglecting the house - just a little bit. And I know that soon enough we will be spending most of our time indoors - and that the house will then again be receiving its fair due (there is always an acknowledged balance between house and garden) - so my misgivings may not be truly warranted, but I still feel somewhat neglectful when I spend so many hours tending the garden.
But no matter, the house cannot be ignored. It stands sturdy and central amongst the garden. Thankfully, it is always there - even if I am a bit lacking in my attention at the moment. And it may seem silly, but I know that the house understands. It knows that soon enough it will be its turn, and that the garden will not be needing so much care. Both the garden and the house share this plot of land - and I think rather happily. As I have said previously, the garden nestles the house; the garden and the house meld together. Each is happy and content with the other - no matter which one may be getting the accolades at any particular point in time.
Elm Cottage, Nutley, New Jersey
Concerning the house, the question I am most asked is “what type of a house is it?” Elm Cottage is a Bungalow built in 1916. It is also referred to as a Craftsman house. It is of the American Arts and Crafts era of the early 20th century, so many people also refer to this style of house as an ‘Arts and Crafts’ house. Of course, while completely agreeing with all previous characterizations, we also refer to our home as being a ‘Cottage’. And while that may not be technically, or even architecturally correct by definition, it is also not necessarily wrong. Visually, our home can certainly ‘read’ as a cottage. Surely the stature - with white stucco walls and red roof says so, but as I have stated many times before, the main reason that we refer to our home as being a cottage is in large part due to our garden. In many ways, our house is defined by the garden, which both surrounds and nestles the house in place, allowing for both home and garden to become perfect partners. Both the house and the garden work in complete harmony, following the basic principles set forth in the original British Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 1800’s.
So while our house may in truth be a bungalow - it is simply ‘Elm Cottage’ to us. The pairing of house and garden is the ideal that we have worked towards for many years now. At one time the house sat simply in the middle of a yard, or what is typical of a suburban lawn. But after 10 years of planning and hard work - the grass nearly all gone and replaced with garden - the house now occupies full attention and sits directly in the middle, or amongst, a cottage style garden. Both the house and the garden have become the ideal compliments to one another - they are indeed happy companions that work very well together; always in synchronicity. Sometimes the ‘rooms’ outside simply blend in with the rooms inside. We live in both the house and the garden - so we spend time in all of the rooms - indoors and out. And in that collaboration of house and garden, inside and out, even when one or the other gets a period of greater attention, everything ultimately works out and all seamlessly flows together.
Until next time…
