by Debra on Thursday, October 16, 2008
With the economic downturn in the housing market, many homeowners are choosing to remodel or renovate their existing homes rather than moving to a new home. If your home is a brick ranch, ideas about remodeling may seem limited. Here are some places you may be able to find ideas on how to update or renovate your home.
Decide what you need to have more of so you know what changes you need to make to your home. Is your kitchen too small for the appliances you’ve always dreamed of? Has your family size increased and you need additional bedroom space? Have you started a home business and need an office?
Or do you merely want to make a break from the ordinary by creating something extraordinary in your home? It really doesn’t matter what your reason is for renovating your home, but knowing what that reason is ahead of time can make finding brick ranch ideas easier.
One of the best ways to begin compiling ideas for remodeling your brick ranch is to drive through your area. Take a look at the other homes in your neighborhood or within your city. Someone near you may have already added on or renovated in a way that you could see doing.
Another place to look for brick ranch ideas is by looking at architecture books and magazines at your local library. The library will have access to a myriad of sources and what they don’t have on their shelves; you can probably get through inter-library loan.
Check out your favorite search engine and look up the type of remodeling you’re thinking of doing. Make the decision of what you’d like to do to your home before you speak with a contractor or architect. They will be able to give you the best advice if the changes you want to make to your home are even feasible or not.
As risky as it may be, take a trip with your spouse to the home improvement stores near you. They will have trained staff that can help you weed through all of the information you’ve compiled and make final decision.
If your brick ranch is a raised ranch, you may want to take in your garage and make it into extra living space. You can then add another garage at the end of your existing home so you still have that prime parking space.
Extend your roofline to create a new porch for the front of your house. If the front appeals to you and you don’t want to change it, the back of the house is fair game for changes. This is usually the best location to make changes to your home especially if you can’t match your brick perfectly.
These are a few of the places you can go to get brick house ideas for renovations. Print out the ideas you like, talk to someone who is knowledgeable, and then seek out the help of a professional before jumping in on the changes. Most importantly, if there’s something you’d really like to do, unless it is structurally unsound, don’t let anyone keep you from creating the brick ranch house of your dreams.
Ranches: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New
photo credit: me-2007
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by Debra on Monday, October 13, 2008
photo credit: finna dat
Despite the political upheaval of the era, the 1960s were considered to be a time of prosperity for many in the United States. It was during this time that larger homes were being built and mankind began his race to the moon. 1960s ranch style homes continued to be popular throughout the country.
Homes of the 1960s began to expand beyond the size of the 1950s ranch homes that were so plentiful across the country. Concrete driveways became a common sight around neighborhoods and new methods of applying wall surfaces were used. There were other changes among houses of this time, as well.
Rather than having several small rooms and closets like the earlier ranch homes of the 50s, 1960s ranch style homes had larger living rooms and the bedrooms actually had room enough to hang more than a few suits and dresses. Because entertaining friends and neighbors was done more often during this time, houses of this era had larger yards to accommodate groups of people. Many even had built-in swimming pools to enjoy during the extra leisure time families had.
Raised ranch houses and other split level homes became more popular during this time especially as the 1960s drew to a close. Whereas the ranch homes of the 50s may have had a full basement, the homes of the 60s capitalized on the space with many homeowners finishing the basement for additional living space.
On the outside of the home, more care was given to landscaping around the homes during these years. Covered back and screened porches began to be seen on 1960’sRanch Style Homes particularly in the Western states.
Within the home state-of-the-art materials were used. Kitchen cabinets were made with Formica. Other cabinets were made of hardwoods and included magnetic catches and ball bearing drawer glides. Electric stoves generally replaced gas stoves and the home was also furnished with a dishwasher.
As the 1960s ended, the ranch house began to lose popularity among builders and homeowners alike. Builders seemed to become bored with this type of house and their workmanship began to suffer for their lack of enthusiasm. Buyers wanted houses that were anything but ordinary and sought out designers who could provide them with something more eclectic.
Within the last twenty years, however, the ranch style house has been having a revival of sorts. Designers and architects are using the basic 1960s ranch style house as the beginning point for creating beautiful and spacious houses today.
Today’s homes have spacious kitchens that allow for plenty of natural lighting, an improved traffic throughout the house, and larger master bedroom suites. It is true that the 1960s ranch style house may not be as popular as it once was, but it is still the backbone of many of today’s most recognizable homes.
Click Here to watch a fun video on Ranch Kitchen Remodels.
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by Debra on Monday, June 23, 2008
What is the difference between Ranch Style Homes and Southwest Ranch Style Houses?
Let’s look at what’s the same in all Ranch Style Homes:
They are not always one story. Their are some ranch style homes that are called “raised ranch houses”. These homes are actually 2 story, but the first floor is garage and basement below grade… or partially submerged.
Their are also “split level ranch style” homes. These houses have 3 or more levels.
Ranch houses are generally one story.
They have a low or gabled roof with deep eaves.
Windows – even in the older styles – were often large picture windows or sliding/double hung.
They have a rambling layout shaped in a rectangle, L shape or U shape.
Modern styles are usually more open than the styles of the 1950’s. Space is used more efficiently. Most ranch styles are devoid of decorative details.
Why Is A Southwest Ranch Style House Different?
They are still usually one story with a few minor (or major) changes.
The Hacienda style ranch would look more like a Spanish Colonial Revival Style.
Southwest Ranch style might have a flat pueblo style roof line.
photo credit: Aaron Jacobs
Often these pueblo style homes will have the round timbers (sort of a telephone pole look) jutting out from the exterior roof line.
Rustic wood doors, window trims and wrought iron gates often are used on southwest style homes.
They might even have real or fake brick walls.
Living in the Southwest United States does not make a home Southwest Style… I can attest to that. Our ranch home was a boring ho-hum run of the mill track house… But we have transformed most of our home to reflect a hacienda style on the inside.
Our Ranch Style Home Exterior is next to get a face lift.
The wood shingle roof will be replaced with composite tile.
The traditional style front door will be replaced with a mesquite solid wood door covered in large hand hammered Mexican style nail heads.
The paint color will change from light yellow-beige to something that resembles coffee with cream.
The garage door will be replaced… I am hoping for a rustic wooden gate look.
Most of the grass will be yanked out… and replaced with crushed gravel, brick paver’s and potted plants. We aren’t big on desert landscaping, but with our large mesquite shade trees… the grass isn’t happy anyway.
When you live in the desert southwest… it’s a bit difficult to explain the difference between a ranch style home and a Southwest Ranch Style House.
The differences can be huge or just subtle changes. The exterior could be pure southwestern style with the inside still resembling a basic ranch style tract house.
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