1901, Liebbe, Nourse and Rasmussen. 331 SW 28th St.
The turn-of-the-century willingness to combine varied elements from more than one past style is well captured in this dwelling surfaced with brick and dark stained shingles. The gables with their sawed patterned bargeboards and the diamond-paned windows establish a loosely English medieval theme. And then there is the commanding presence of the entrance; projecting above a Colonial Revival entrance and side lights is a wide, open seashell with carved medallions at the spring of the arch. The entrance leads out onto a low-walled terrace, in a somewhat miniaturized Italianate style. The seashell entrance is certainly one of the high points of domestic architecture in Des Moines.