by Debra on Friday, November 7, 2008
Those considering making renovations to their homes are often plagued by doubts. They know what they want, and yet they’re afraid that their dream home may not have resell value in the future.
Many people will suggest that you renovate raised ranch homes to suit yourself rather than worrying about how well it will sell years down the road.
Knowing ahead of time how long you plan to remain in your home may make renovation decisions easier to make. If you plan on remaining in the home for a number of years, you’ll feel freer to make changes to suit yourself.
When you’re relatively sure you won’t be staying in your home more than a year or two, you may be less willing to make changes that won’t necessarily bring higher dollars on the sale.
If you plan to add on to your ranch house, try to use similar materials that were originally used in the house unless you plan on completely redoing the exterior. This will help maintain the character of the original house as well as keeping some of the outside elements.
Remember the basics.
When you renovate raised ranch houses, it is probably better to avoid thinking horizontal if you want to add on. Instead, try adding onto the rear of the house especially if the visual from the curb is already a long box. It would also be better to have an additions offset rather than plunked down at one end or the other.
In some cases it is alright to add onto the end of a raised ranch if it is a true split level house. It would be best, if you’re going to add onto one side of the house, that you also increase the window size nearest the addition. This will help the curb appeal and make the house not look lopsided.
Another option for adding onto the length rather than onto the back of the house is to incorporate the built-in garage into the actual living space. You can then build a new garage onto the opposite side of living area which will create a more of a symmetrical look rather than an asymmetrical one. Of course, if you move the garage, don’t forget to redo the driveway as well.
Check with the local building ordinances in your city or town. They may have restrictions to the type of additions that can be made on particular models of homes. It is also a good idea to have an idea of what you would like to do and then talk with an architect.
Your primary goal is to maintain the curb appeal when you renovate raised ranch houses in addition to giving you more space. Talk with an architect and listen to their suggestions. The ideas you have may be great, but then again they may be better left on the paper.
When you renovate raised ranch homes you want to maintain the integrity of the house without destroying the look of it. There are ways to make renovations that will help the curb appeal and things that you can do to destroy it. Your best bet is to look, listen, and then decide what is best for your renovate raised ranch style house.
Ranches: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New
photo credit: Yme Bosma photo credit: jared703 photo credit: Simon Davison
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by Debra on Sunday, October 26, 2008
Entryways have a lot to say about the homeowner. For those that have a ranch, entryways say “Welcome, we’re glad you’re here.” If the entryway to your ranch home isn’t so welcoming, there are ways to change it so it does.
If your home is pleasing to the eye and leads guests to your front door it is said to have Curb Appeal. Start at the curb or sidewalk in front of your home. Draw people to your front door by winding the sidewalk toward the house rather than having a straight line from point A to point B. You may also consider lining the sidewalk with flowers or plants.
Lighting is another element that can give your home a more welcoming look. No one likes to walk up to a dark doorway because they can’t see who or what may be lurking in the shadows. Add some outside light fixtures by the door to help your guests feel more secure when approaching your home.
If you have a stoop or porch, decorating the front of the house can be a great way to make it seem more welcoming. Depending on how big your porch is, you may be able to set out a small table and two chairs. Plants can also make the porch look more comfortable to the eye, which will help set guests at ease.
Finally, your Door itself can speak volumes. You may want to keep the door similar to the original style but do you know what type of door would have been placed on a 1950s style ranch? It seems that doors currently built are designed for more modern homes or homes that are more formal than a mid-century ranch.
Unfortunately, many of the doors you’ll find on 1950s ranch homes are wooden slab flat-front doors. They do little to welcome a guest to your home. You may consider changing out your door, as well as painting and decorating around it, to make it more welcoming.
Doors that would be good choices to remain in the style of home include plain doors with three to four small windows cut in them. These were generally placed on a diagonal line. You may have also seen flat doors with three larger windows inset in them.
Whatever you choose to do to make your home more welcoming, the ranch entryway can be decorated to suit your style and your tastes. Don’t feel pressured into sticking with the original style, the home is supposed to be an extension of your personality, so choose what you will.
Be sure to consider how your guests see your home when you’re decorating or renovating your ranch entryway. Remember that you want people to feel welcomed when they come to your home, and your entryway can be a great start!
Check out this great book on Design Ideas for Curb Appeal
photo credit: toolfan.hess
photo credit: Here in Van Nuys
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by Debra on Friday, September 26, 2008
The door is more than an entrance to your home; it’s a way to invite others into your life. Traditional doors for 1950s ranch style homes were solid wood doors that had small windows in various configurations to allow you to see who was at the door.
When homeowners remodel, they often switch out the front door of a home hoping to make it look like a different style of house. If you’re remodeling your house, you may be interested in finding traditional doors for 1950s ranch style houses to bring back the original look of your home.
There are manufacturers around the country that have taken great pains to research mid-century ranch homes from across the country. They then create the doors that will be best on your home to give it that authentic 1950s ranch style look. The benefit of the new doors is that they’re energy-efficient and built to withstand any weather that may come in contact with them.
What do you do if you’re not familiar with traditional doors from 1950s ranch style houses? Go to your public library and check out an architectural design book with the varying styles of houses from the 1950s. The book should have a number of pictures that will allow you to see the doors.
Ranch house doors changed somewhat when new architectural styles developed. From the late 1930s to the present, considered to be the Modern and Mid-century Modern style, the doors were plain and unassuming. There was little decoration except for thin, sometimes frosted, horizontal windows in several configurations. Others had vertical, square, or diamond shaped windows.
The Post-War years, late 1940s to early 1950s, showed how the doors reflected more of a traditional design. Some believed these changes were based upon British plank doors. The windows were much smaller and were often placed diagonally on the door.
Between 1950 and the 1970s, Ranch/Rambler style houses were becoming less popular, traditional doors changed again. They became more geometric in an effort to help this style home appear more modern.
If you’re thinking about returning your 1950s ranch house to its original glory, at least from the outside, you may want to find a traditional looking door. Look through library books, online, or tour neighborhoods to see this type of door for yourself.
Finding traditional doors for 1950s ranch style houses is possible today. Besides finding manufacturers that can recreate new doors in the style you want, you may be able to find actual doors from that era at architectural supply companies. Decide on the look you’d like to have and then do the best to find that traditional looking door that will welcome guests for years to come.
photo credit: David Boyle in DC
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