Sunday, April 28, 2024

What Is A Ranch Style Home? Ranch House Guide

rancher house

Raised ranches typically have a broad upper level atop a narrower lower level, creating what is known as a 'capping' effect. This usually means the living area is on the upper floor while a garage is directly beneath it. Depending on the property, the lower level of this style is often below ground level. After WWII, ranch-style houses boomed in popularity in California when the rising need for housing was answered with improved building materials and simple design. Universal design ensures that residents, from kids to older adults, can comfortably reside in one location. A single-floor layout alleviates strain on knees, while an open design minimizes the risk of bumping into walls, providing a safe and adaptable living space for all.

Key Features of the American Ranch

Whether searching for an affordable, simple ranch house plan or a more luxurious design, browse through The Plan Collection’s portfolio of more than 3,000 unique ranch home designs. To add square footage to a one-story ranch, explore adding a lower-level basement. Building on a basement rather than a slab foundation increases livable and storage space. The primary suite is typically on the main level, but the basement space allows more bedrooms to be built.

rancher house

Ranch House Plans FAQ

WWII had just ended, and millions of soldiers returned from overseas to civilian life. Such incentives enabled young people to marry, have children, and pursue home ownership in short order. Due to the home's simple adaptability and affordable design, new renditions emerged on the East Coast. It's common to find various styles of ranch houses in neighborhoods throughout New York, Philadelphia, Maryland, and Virginia. Later, when May relocated to Los Angeles in the 1930s, he streamlined his style for private clients. There, he blended aspects of adobe ranch houses and modern architecture to build casual and cost-effective homes.

#14 // Spanish Rustic Modern Ranch Style Home

The main living areas, including the kitchen, dining room, and living room, are usually located in the center of the home. Like raised ranch homes, split-level ranch homes also have multiple floors linked by an entryway staircase, but with three levels instead of two. They have asymmetrical exteriors which, like suburban ranches, are extremely simple and designed for function over form. Also called a rambler house, a ranch house is a single-story, no-frills home frequently boasting an open concept layout and low-pitched room. A contrast to the small, segmented rooms of a craftsman, a traditional ranch home featured an open floor plan with special attention paid to accessibility, openness, and space.

rancher house

In ranch homes with a basement, it’s quite common for the floor of that space to be poured concrete. Ranch house plans are designed for an informal and relaxed approach to living and entertaining. Great rooms open to courtyards through large doors that blur the distinction between inside and out. The extensive use of windows allows natural light to flood the interior of the home.

These are normally the smallest of the ranch homes, with a simple, minimalist exterior, an open-concept interior, and concrete slab foundations. This style was also popular in the 1920s and '30s California, replacing the Spanish-influenced designs with ornate, baroque designs inspired by fairytales and cozy cottages. Storybook ranch homes might eschew low-pitched roofs for steep, gabled ones covered in thatched shingles, brick or stone exteriors, decorative chimneys, and tall, narrow windows. There are many styles of ranch houses that put different spins on similar themes or merge them with similar architectural styles.

Highlands Ranch gingerbread house gets national attention - Highlands Ranch Herald - Colorado Community Media

Highlands Ranch gingerbread house gets national attention - Highlands Ranch Herald.

Posted: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Decks and pools are common additions that make ranch homes ideal for family gatherings and outdoor entertaining. Ranch style homes are often U or L-shaped, creating an enclosed back patio with glass doors seamlessly connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces. Large windows are commonly used to flood the interior with natural light.

Cons of ranch houses

This size often works well for individuals, couples, or small families. It's worth noting that these houses were designed to emphasize casual, family-friendly living. They are typically built on a slab foundation, eliminating the need for stairs, making them a popular choice for individuals with mobility concerns or those who prefer single-level living. This home style continues to be favored for its practicality and timeless appeal.

Are Ranch Houses in Style?

With sprawling ranch homes, it’s important to mix materials to provide visual interest across the width of the home. Above, we rendered the brick and vertical board-and-batten siding in Amherst Gray by Benjamin Moore and brought in contrast with the warm stone cladding. Wood columns and lintels offer natural warmth while black accents provide contrast.

Alison is part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about housing affordability and home interior design ideas. Her dream home is a cottage-style house with a chef’s kitchen and a cozy room to store and play vinyl records. Another reason there are so many ranch homes around is that they are the perfect type of property for so many residents, as we’ll discuss next. We talked about the post-WWII baby boom years when affordable homes were in demand for growing families, which helps to explain the great increase in number of ranch homes in the 1940s and ’50s.

In essence, ranch houses achieved casual elegance through a minimalist layout and practical use of space. The raised ranch house came about to meet the growing need for homes in suburban areas. It’s designed to fit on smaller lots, so you won’t have a ton of space outside. It looks like it has two floors, but really, it’s just one floor split into two levels. Please get to know our Ranch style house plans with an endless variety of features, floor plan layouts, and accompanying architectural styles.

Though the house is single-story, it often features a garage and finished basement space. Ranch homes are thought to have originated in California during the 1930s when architect Clifford May, known as the "father of the ranch house," began to design single-story homes built for casual outdoor living. Ranch house plans are typically single-story structures with an extended, low profile. They are characterized by their simple, open layouts, which often include large living areas that flow into the dining and kitchen spaces without interrupting walls or doors.

You’ll recognize these ranches if you’re a fellow Zillow listing hunter. Rustic ranch-style houses draw inspiration from nature and blend right in with the countryside. They’re all about simple living and embracing the rugged beauty of country life. Inside, you’ll often find farmhouse-style decorations that add to the cozy, rustic feel. You’ll probably think of the Wild West, where cowboys ride horses and livestock graze endless fields. Today, these houses are more modern and perfect for a first-time homeowner to enjoy.

Naturally, we also love the seating nook that helps blend indoors and outdoors — as a true ranch should. Over the years, Lindal has collaborated with some of the US and Canada’s most influential architects – as seen in the Lindal Architects Collaborative portfolio of architect-designed homes for Lindal. Dowling Studios, a bi-coastal architectural firm owned by the Dowling sisters, designed this simple yet exquisite home. Private interior spaces are organized around a large central living area with clear views of the front and rear landscapes. The Lindal post and beam structure enables deep overhangs for shade and protection from the elements.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Why Harry Potter Fans Think Kreacher Is The Best House Elf In The Series

Table Of Content Black family Magical abilities and skills Centaurs JK Rowling reveals the fate of Kreacher the house elf – but is this Harr...