Mrs. Mary Reeve Darling House
Claremont, California
1903

The design for the Mary Reeve Darling house in 1903, successfully united the broad gable with an appropriate floor plan. Balance in the façade was achieved by a central loggia on the second floor between elevated bay windows on either end of the first floor. In addition, the bays were perched on boulders, which served as a counterpoint to the downward feeling of the oversized gable. Publication of this work included illustrations for furniture and fixture designs specifically for this project, but it appears the furniture was never fabricated. This indicates the first commission in which the Greenes were concerned with designing the entire living environment. The comfort and quiet dignity of the house are a result of a subtle manipulation of space, elegant composition, and simple materials. In 1924, Dr V. Ray Townsend hired the Greenes to make repairs and alterations to this residence and to add a garage.