Property of Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Clark | Darien, Connecticut | Architect James Irwing Raymond & Livingston Elder | Photographer P. A. Dearborn

IF white Christmases were part of your childhood, I'm sure that this bright, snow-clad picture of the Harold F. Clark home will waken many a nostalgic memory. Somehow the crystal-clear stillness of an early winter morning has been magically captured. No whisper of a breeze disturbs the grove of towering trees, casting their long, horizontal shadows across the snow. It is winter idealized. Yet, to me, there's a strangeness about its old- fashioned appeal since this is not an old house but one definitely contemporary in line and mass. Why then does it fit as naturally into the rural New England setting as any of its Colonial forebears? The answer is obvious. Here we have convincing and heartening proof that good mod- ern design must not be restricted to any specialized back- ground. By proper planning and study good modern design can be made perfectly at home, even amidst the most traditional surroundings.

In many ways the Clark house is newsworthy. Modern though it be in appearance, its very construction has been borrowed from other days. It is, in reality, a log cabin brought up-to-date. For the exterior walls, solid square timbers, approximately 10 by 10 have been piled on one another to form a solid wall. Only a preservative to add longevity has been applied to the natural finish. In design it is reminiscent of many Early American farmhouses, with extra-large modern windows added to gain full advantage of the surrounding luxuriant countryside. Living room, dining room, sitting room and master bedroom all face south for maximum sunshine during the long winter months. Windows on this exposure are well shaded by trees during the hot summer and so do not require wide, overhanging eaves for protection. This detail alone helps. greatly in maintaining an overall semitraditional appearance. The living room is large, 15'5" by 27'6", and may be entered through three doorways; two of these lead from outside. The one from the garage is completely protected from the elements and should prove a blessing during the changeable Connecticut weather. The main entrance is simple in design; a single door flanked by a series of small windows. In summer these are replaced by screens, thus transforming the vestibule into a small screened porch with its resulting welcome ventilation.

The house plan, itself, is a masterpiece of compact directness. A main first-floor hallway, complete with grace- ful curving stairs, leads directly into living room, dining room, and utility room. Even in many interiors the log construction has been left exposed, a detail adding greatly to the informal atmosphere throughout. In some cases the wood has been stained, in others varnished but, in every case, the natural grain of the wood, itself, was left exposed. Being a sport-loving family, many signs of in- dividual taste are apparent. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are ardent table-tennis players, and their two young sons are fast becoming experts. They decided to have the living room. custom-built around this hobby. It is a "family" room, with large fireplace, comfortable furniture, radio-phono- graph, built-in bookcases and desk and, in the very middle, a Ping-pong table. Green carpeting further enhances the natural beauty of the woodwork. The dining room is a bit more formal, with soft-stained walls, beige rug, and light natural wood furniture. A large picture window frames a beautiful view of the grove and garden, and is the center of interest for an everchanging picture through- out the year. At one end of the kitchen is a breakfast bar and pantry, exceptionally handy for access to the dining room. Mrs. Clark, who manages the household alone, has found the utility room, with its deep-freeze unit, electric washer and ironer, a great boon to easy housekeeping.

Upstairs, in addition to the master bedroom and the two boys' rooms, there's a small, formal sitting room where the parents can entertain unmolested by the youngsters and their friends on the floor below. Here, too, the small fry may find privacy when grown-up parties are in session. Mrs. Clark finds the room a quiet haven during the day for those jobs which require serious concentration. Neither of the elder Clarks is native to Connecticut; she is a Californian while Mr. Clark was born in the Midwest. However, in selecting their home, they drew inspiration from the Colonial homes around them and have successfully evolved a composite design.