HERE is a long, low, rambling house that is surprisingly compact in plan. Located on Long Island, within easy commuting distance of  New York City, the house was built shortly before the war for its present owner by Walter Uhl, builder, who is also the designer. The house is painted gray with green shutters. Because of its excellent lines, it seems to fit right into its setting in the rolling Long Island countryside. The builder provided a beautiful lawn, surrounded by a white picket fence to the rear of the house. This lawn also provides a run for the owner's two cocker spaniels. A flagstone terrace, handy to the kitchen, may be used for serving meals in fine summer weather.

Once inside, we find a spacious living room with a large fireplace and, beyond that, a study which doubles as a guest room. The bath in the study also doubles as downstairs powder room. The living room has a large bay window on the south side and two large windows to the north, making it sunny, cheerful room at all times of the year. The kitchen, connected to the garage by a breezeway, is located on the opposite side of the entrance hall from the living room. A pantry of unusual proportions is used for the storage of food and equipment, and also serves as a built-in doghouse. Actually, the two cocker spaniels have the run of the house and grounds; two doors, of proper dog size, are located in the pantry, one swings in, for incoming spaniels and the other swings out. A continuous dormer across the rear of the house and two single dormers on the front, make room for two 13' by 22' bedrooms on the second floor. Each bedroom has a large closet. There is a linen closet and bath on this floor as well.

When the Clint Andersons started looking around for a homesite, they had one definite requisite in mind. They wanted trees and plenty of them. Though finding a deeply wooded plot in Kansas is not the easiest thing in the world, patience rewarded their quest, and soon they were busy with architects and plans, putting their dream house into shape. The architects Overend and Boucher knew immediately the kind of house best suited to the site and, without hesitation, produced one that was homely and comfortable, without too much emphasis on any particular style. It's a low-eaved house, part brick, part shakes painted white, and held down to its site by a low-pitched gray roof. Alongside the entrance, target of all eyes, is a white wheelbarrow, gay with bright-colored petunias.

The plan is a rambling one, with emphasis on the living room and recreation room, which are placed back to back and share the same chimney. This allows each to enjoy its own fireplace. Walls in the living room are soft green with plum-colored fish nets draping window heads; the recreation room, on the other hand, is warm with yellow walls, green asphalt floor. Since nights are often very warm in Wichita, the Andersons insisted that all sleeping rooms have cross ventilation. A feature of the master wing is a separate entrance from the hall which, when closed, forms a suite and gives added privacy to bath and extra-large dressing closet.

Being a resident of Houston, Texas, Raymond Brogniez knew exactly the kind of house that would bring him the greatest amount of comfort there on a limited budget. Since old Sol beams down most of the year, a wide overhanging roof was planned to shut out glare and heat. Four vents were placed on the underside of the eaves so that a suction fan can draw out any hot air in the attic space. Windows were carefully placed, with emphasis on cross ventilation, to snare every vagrant breeze. For further heat protection and relief during sudden cold spells, the roof was fully insulated with rock wool and plaster applied on inside wallboard.

In addition to being an architect, the owner is also a student of the psychology of color, line, and texture. Therefore, sketches were made of all interiors before color schemes were chosen. Furniture, too, was selected in proportion to the size of the house in order to avoid any feeling of overcrowding. It is not surprising that in such a hot climate cool tones have been used in every room. The living room, for example, has gray plaster walls, gray-green carpet and accents of yellow, gray, coral and white on upholstery and draperies. Though living and dining rooms are one, subtle differences give each individuality. Three thin columns, placed adjacent the entrance, help with furniture arrangement while one dining room wall has been given a coat of dark gray-green. A built-in cupboard under a bank of windows allows for linen and china storage. Its top forms a most convenient serving table. Kitchen and garage form the front wing with plenty of working space at rear of latter. Two bedrooms, bath, and lots of closets complete plan. Its blue ribbon was earned in the National Association of Home Builders competition.

The Donald Simpsons frankly admit that most of the ideas for their charming white-painted brick house came from their favorite magazine. The result is a house reminiscent of the best tradition, to which has been added the most up- to-the-minute planning for modern living.

Clean-cut lines emphasize the simple, good proportions of the exterior; grey shutters and a black asphalt roof bring the well selected ground planting and towering background foliage into focus. Radiant heat makes floors comfortable for two active youngsters. The house is larger than it first appears; there is a full-sized dining room and bedroom suite on the first floor while upstairs we find two more bedrooms with their own bath. The lower room is used for overnight guests and arranged to insure them complete privacy and quiet.

The Stephens house is located in the center of a residential district; but because of its towering pines and hilly site, it might well be far in the country. Split shakes gives the exterior a thoroughly authentic look. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are avid collectors of Vermont antiques, and their home affords a perfect background for their treasures. A large picture window in the living room affords a gorgeous view of the surrounding landscape and is flanked by open bookcases whose backgrounds are painted a deep red. There's a pine panelled study and blue and white lining room on the first floor. This house has been kept low in appearance by the wise use of heavy white painted eaves across its front. Bedrooms above are spacious and well lighted.

The  Herbert C. Bergstrom home is contemporary in design with little recall of any previous architectural style. Only in early western ranch houses do we find any comparison. Materials are used honestly and simply with no attempt at camouflaging their natural beauty. Its one-story exterior walls are of unfinished siding, eaves are wide and overhanging with rugged, exposed stone accents. An open car port, adjacent to the front entrance, can easily substitute for a covered porch, made doubly useful in combination with the living-room terrace. This is a home for two grownups and a school-age child. Two large bedrooms plus one small sleeping room are adequate to take care of the family's needs.

Since the most favored exposure is to the south, a living-room wall of glazed doors on this side brings in magnificent views of surrounding rolling hills. The living room also takes care of the bulk of the traffic-clever planning of doorways has restricted this traffic to one side. There's a separate entrance into the well-lighted kitchen, though this room can be reached, too, from the front hallway. Extra overnight guests, who might draft the living room as sleeping quarters, will find the entrance hall bathroom a convenient asset for privacy. In the basement, reached by stairs from either kitchen or living room, we find a root cellar, storage and heater room. The large living room also serves as eating quarters.

In fact, every square inch of this compact plan has been utilized in spite of the general rambling effect one gains upon first approaching the house.

This contemporary house is one of a group, built as a co-operative unit. Each house is different though materials are similar for better uniformity. These young couples and their families discovered that by pooling some of their resources, many advantages which as individuals they were not able to afford were theirs. Get-togethers on weekends provide a large part of the social life while craft projects help furnish the houses.

AN attractive modern house in a rustic setting is the home of the Joseph Diano family. The Dianos built their house in a cooperative community called Bryn called Bryn Gweled about 20 miles northeast of Philadelphia. It is one of twelve houses so far completed in the 240-acre- tract the community bought back in 1940. Like the other houses in Bryn Gweled, the Diano house is on two acres of fields and woodland.

The large windows in the studioliving room are on the north side of the house. This room was practically built around the large north window since it also doubles as a studio for Mr. Diano who is a stained glass artisan. Mrs. Diano and the wives of the other Bryn Gweleders frequently use the room also when the sewing circle meets. Ceilings in the studio-living room are 10 feet high, adding greatly to the spaciousness of the room. Large glass areas on the east and south sides of the house are provided with overhang to utilize heat from the sun in winter and to keep the sun out in summer. These windows afford a good view of Bryn Gweled's rolling countryside.

The Dianos, like many of their friends and neighbors in the community, did much of the work on their house themselves. A contractor erected the framework and sheathed the house and then the Dianos took over the work from there on. They installed the steel sash, put on the siding and did all the finish work on the interiors. By doing so much of the work themselves, they were able to get much more house for the money they had to invest. There is no paint or varnish on the exterior and the interiors are natural wood also, but varnished. Fireplace, forming one wall of entry, is of fieldstone.

The kitchen is U-shaped with ample dining area at the north end. One of the fine features of this plan is that the kitchen is easily accessible to the car shelter and also to the basement stairs. The basement extends under the living room, entrance hall and kitchen. There is only crawling space under the bedroom wing.

The Dianos do not own the land on which their house is built. Like the other homesteaders who live in Bryn Gweled community, they lease the land from the community on a long term lease. This arrangement was agreed upon before the houses were built so that it would be possible to have the community retain its character and principles. Other-ise, it was felt, some of the property might be willed or sold to persons who did not have a genuine interest in cooperative living, therefore losing the whole purpose and spirit of the original venture.

The William H. Lollar home, though located among the soft-rolling hills of New Jersey, could be perfectly happy in any other state in the Union. Its ancestry is Georgian, but Marcel Villanueva, the architect, has given it a definitely modern look. Good form has not been sacrificed to a new emphasis on utility, rather the two have been combined into a harmonious whole. There's beauty and dignity in its red brick walls, wide windows and broad porches. Here we find the same sense of good line and balance which all good building has possessed from early Grecian times. Here's the perfect house for those who crave a certain amount of formal dignity in their living. The same quiet charm, so evident on the outside, is reflected throughout the interiors. Cool white, black and turquoise marbleized flooring, in the stair hall, complement the pale green carpeting of the graceful curving stair. Walls are of light plum and oyster-white striped paper, colors reflected also in many of the downstairs rooms. Sectional furniture and built-ins in both living and dining rooms are of bleached mahogany and, because of similarity of design, afford great flexibility in entertaining. One ingenious touch, and a space saver to boot, is the built-in desk, telephone table and bookcase arrangement in the living room. This unit continues unbroken to form storage cupboards for silver and linen in the dining area. When entertaining is on a large scale, the rose-colored leather chairs in the latter room can be easily drafted into service. Draperies in both of these rooms are of spun glass, horizontally striped in chartreuse and oyster white, over ivory Venetian blinds.

Color, too, is apparent in the kitchen where we find a breakfast nook in burgundy and white leather. An entrance, direct from the garage, saves wear and tear. At the head of the graceful stairway one entire wall of the second floor hall is completely devoted to storage cabinets. Their doors give the appearance of a completely paneled wall. Naturally, a southern exposure was selected for the baby's room in order to take advantage of every available ray of sunshine. Appropriate, too, are this room's appointments in pink and white, made gay by many multicolored animals. The feeling of spaciousness felt throughout the house is perhaps most apparent in the large master room with adjoining bath and sun deck. Here mirrored walls have been used to repeat the reflections seen through the extra large windows. These outdoor colors have also been used in the furnishings of soft greens, browns and grays. A green-tinted mirror stands behind the twin beds, unified by a running head- board of tufted oyster-white patent leather. Indirect lighting is concealed in this headboard where also we find built-in radio and telephone cabinet. 

On the opposite wall is another built-in unit, double mahogany chests on leather bases, crowned by an enormous mirror. Hand-painted spreads in green and white with dark green corduroy flounces cover the beds. The little vanity below the dressing table consists entirely of mirrors and its accompanying stool matches the bed benches of raspberry twill. There's a definitely modern feeling both indoors and out, reflecting good living everywhere. Set in its dogwood-studded lawn, blending harmoniously with its surroundings, we have a good contemporary house, proof that a new architecture, like a young child, can be brought into rich maturity by the proper guidance and integrity of its designers.

For those who don't hold with extreme modernists yet aren't quite satisfied with tradition for tradition's sake, this gray clapboard house, with its spanking white trim, dark-green shutters, nostalgic flavor of Early American farmhouses, should have a definite appeal. The oversize trellis, flanking the projecting stair hall at the entrance, adds a certain zest to the street elevation and is in keeping with the clean cut restraint found both indoors and out. Notice the living-room fireplace, almost devoid of detail, yet adding welcome contrast to the scalloped bookcases. Lime green on walls of this room combines handsomely with the rose, green and white floral chintz of the draperies. All the woodwork has been left natural birch. Upstairs, a light, minimum stair hall leads directly to the bedrooms, nursery, bath, and linen closet.

Moreland Griffith Smith built his home all at one time. He had plenty of land and so, a more expansive, rambling plan seemed a proper choice. All rooms are on one floor; all rooms have been arranged for maximum privacy. This has been accomplished by a series of small interior hallways which cut circulation into certain set patterns. For instance, access from the master bedroom to kitchen can be accomplished without disturbing the occupants of the living room. The adults may use the den and master bedroom without interfering with the youngsters entertaining in the living room. The den, too, may be drafted into service as an extra guest room, since it has been placed conveniently near a private bath. It is a large house, one designed for hospitality and expansive family living. In addition to a well-proportioned dining room, we find a breakfast room which may also serve as pantry, since it is located right next to the kitchen. A clever innovation is the hobby storage room off the den, where games and card tables may be neatly stacked out of sight. This is always a problem, especially in a home where there are children. Toys are usually bulky, cumbersome affairs at best, and are not provided for in house plans.

The exterior of this charming, low-eaved house is of siding, painted white and accented by a brilliant red door. The roof is of metal shingles. Because a porch can be used the year round in this part of the country, we find an ample, L-shaped screened one forming an important part of the front elevation. Its roof, lower than that of the main building, does much to settle the house low into its level plot. In fact, horizontal lines have been stressed everywhere on the exterior. A two-car garage, connected with the main portion of the house by a heater room and service porch, adds to the sprawly effect.

Entrance to the house is directly into the living room, where, looking straight ahead, one sees a graceful fireplace surmounted by a large mirror which reaches to the ceiling. Cactus green is the predominating color in this room, with accents of walnut brown. The color, plus furniture arrangement, creates an atmosphere at once modern and homelike. Floors of main living rooms are oak.

The den, with its built-in bookcases and distinctive fireplace arrangement, has natural cypress-paneled walls. Here's a room for quiet study or for enjoying the companionship of a few intimate friends. It is not large, and it is convenient to porch, living room, and master bedroom. In the dining room we find an unusual, yet exciting use of color. As contrast to the clear white wall, the ceiling has been painted red. A blond wood table and black Hitchcock chairs add further to the unconventional, colorful effect. A built-in cabinet under the window stores silver and linens.

Located in North Hollywood. The property had nothing special to recommend it, being just another narrow lot with houses on either side, but the designer, Ernest Fegte, is gifted with more than a fair share of imagination. He saw immediately the house had to be placed at the north line of the property in order to save the entire south for garden. This meant stringing the house, one room wide, all the way back. Because of such an arrangement the garage was placed right up front. When passing along the street, one sees nothing except a mass of heavy planting, a small paved driveway and the two-car garage. The result is absolute privacy.

The house itself is long and low with pale yellow plaster walls, clean white trim and a dark green cornice edging the flat-topped terrace roof. Delicate metal poles, painted white, support the extra wide overhang protecting the walk from garage to front entrance door. Above are vents which keep the roof of the house cool. The result is a pleasant feeling of horizontal lines broken only by dark green scallops. Low cropped hedges guide the visitor and are in keeping with the general low look of the house.

Going in the front door directly to the living room is like stepping into a cool, colorful house in the tropics. The walls are a quiet shade of smokey emerald green, contrasted by a white ceiling and soft white draperies at banks of windows at two ends of the room. The room, itself, is not large, though its furniture arrangement makes it seem spacious and uncluttered. There's a comfortable big couch in dark green cotton, upholstered with cushions gay with tropical flowers and vines in green and red. The same red is picked up in a man-sized chair by the window and in the modern lacquered coffee table. A couple of occasional chairs make for flexible grouping and are covered in nubby yellow-green fabric. In front of one window bank, we find a simple black lacquered drop-leaf dining table with chairs of the same color, seats covered with a yellow and gray striped cotton. This table can seat six people and, when closed, doubles as an attractive, out-of-the-way piece of furniture.

Adjoining the dining corner is a serving counter covered in red leather with valance of the same color, edged in white wood. This counter makes for easy serving and, being movable, may be swung back against the wall. A trick of this comfortable little room is the use of a wide opening into the bedroom hall with its slid- ing mirror door. Either opened or closed, this door presents a fascinating outlook and makes the reflected interior appear larger than it is. A similar sliding door is located at the opposite end of the bedroom hall.

This wide central hallway through the middle of the house is most un- usual. It leads to kitchen and bath on the north side and directly into two separate dressing rooms on the opposite wall. These small, efficient rooms are complete with built-in wardrobes and chests of drawers, and are lighted by round windows opening on the terrace. Between the two dressing rooms is a spacious linen closet. At the end of the hall is the master bedroom with huge windows at either end. A separate door leads directly on the terrace. Because all wardrobes and storage space has been taken care of outside the bedroom, the floor area is much more usable. It really becomes a second small living room when the owners so desire.

Also unusual and extremely practical in this small house is the overall use of the same types of windows, extending from floor to ceiling and giving a feeling of continuity to all rooms. Since doors and windows are also of the same size, shifting around of these units is possible when and if wanted. The second bedroom or guest room adjoins the living room, though there is no connecting door. This allows the family and their guests complete privacy. The guest walks through the garden to his own quarters which consist of a many-windowed room, bath, and spacious. wardrobe. However, the Schreiers have an amusing communication system between these two parts of their home. An electric bell sends out code messages to the guest. One ring means "Soup's on": two rings means "Telephone!" And there are infinite. variations on the social themes of, "How about a cup of tea," or "Want to go to a movie tonight?" Too, a connecting door can be cut through whenever it is desired.

As you see it's really a small house -three rooms in all-living-dining room, master bedroom, and guest room, yet there's a marked degree of openness, a feeling of great stature and dignity. It captures the very essence of a little house in the country, unconcerned with surrounding houses, passing cars and noisy boulevards.