The Hosmer house establishes the Greenes’ growing attention
to specific building materials during the early years of their
practice. The Hosmer house relates simultaneously to Dutch Colonial
and Mission Revival styles, though classical details are inserted,
too, including fluted columns, scrolled brackets and a wreath-and-garland
relief. The tile roof's galvanized iron gutters channeled rain
to gooseneck pipes. The pipes terminated in cement gargoyles'
mouths that spat the rain, waterfall-like, into wide collectors
and downspouts anchored by elaborately scrolled iron straps.
The interior rooms are identified with the predominant wood
to be used: the main hall and dining rooms to be in oak-paneled
wainscoting, the living room in curly redwood, and the parlor
in Shasta pine. The intricate leaded-glass stair-landing window
and stair-hall skylight designs were detailed on separate sheets
of linen.
