It is the common practice here to place a portion of what are called the domestic offices, as the kitchen, pantries, etc., in the basement story of the house, directly beneath the living rooms. This has partly arisen from the circumstance of the comparative economy of this method of constructing them under the same roof; and partly from the difficulty of adding wings to the main building for those purposes, which will not mar the simplicity and elegance of a Grecian villa. In the better class of houses in England, the domestic offices, which include the kitchen and its appurtenances, and also the stable, coach-house, harness-room, etc., are in the majority of cases attached to the main body of the building on one side. The great advantage of having all these conveniences on the same floor with the principal rooms, and communicating in such a way as to be easily accessible at all times without going into the open air, is undeniable. It must also be admitted that these domestic offices, extending out from the main building, partly visible and partly concealed by trees and foliage, add much to the extent and importance of a villa or mansion in the country. In the old English style these appendages are made to unite happily with the building, which is in itself irregular. Picturesque effect is certainly increased by thus extending the pile and increasing the variety of its outline.
