If you want a house with characteristics of the classic medieval era that is easy to maintain, and affordably priced, a Ranch Style Home is a perfect fit! Over the years, Ranch Style Homes have become a popular attraction among buyers. Their structural layout includes a single story with low-pitched roofs and long windows. The floor planning adopts the open layout concept with space for a patio garden or deck. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it?
You’ll find different types of ranch-style homes in various neighborhoods. They may have different structures, but they share some iconic elements. This post gives you a closer look at what goes into a ranch-style home. Read on to learn about the history, types, and characteristics of the house.
Ranch Style Homes: History
The roots of this design trace back to California in the 1920s, a decade that witnessed several revolutionary architectural designs. During that period, Spanish colonial architecture was popular, and ranch-style homes emerged taking inspiration from them. Ranch Style brought a fresh concept of open layout and ease of outdoor/indoor living.
It became popular post World War 2 among returning soldiers. The open spaces in the house attracted the forlorn soldiers looking to settle with their families. It picked up pace in the northern region and, soon every 9 out of 10 houses that were built had ranch-style structures. However, by the 1950s, its popularity dwindled and interest piqued in two-story houses again.
Ranch Style Homes: A Dive Into The Architecture
Ranch Style Homes have different categories depending on their size and shape. However, the basic characteristics remain the same. They are low-slung and generally have a single floor. Additionally, they have low-pitched roofs, long windows, and a dedicated open space for patio or deck.
The essence of floor planning lies in providing a smooth transition between the indoor and outdoor areas. For instance, you can have a sliding glass door leading you to the blooming garden area. It also includes the element of modern homes by having an attached garage.
The indoor planning has an open concept that provides the dwellers a free pass to design their dream home according to their choice. The living space dominates the center of the house whereas the bedrooms are located across the hallway ensuring privacy. The rooms and spaces are flexible and can be used as per your need.
The ranch-style homes are known to require less maintenance over the years. However, it would be a good idea to protect your investment by getting a home warranty. Generally, the roof of the house may need repairs after some heavy rain or snow. These repairs are an expensive affair, therefore it is better to stay protected.
The Ranch-style home architecture transitioned into different types over the years. The primary driving force for this was that people started moving away from the city to settle in the suburban areas. Let’s take a look at a few predominant types of ranch-style homes.
Ranch Style Homes: Types
There are several spin-off ranch-style homes in the market that have been built around the same theme but have adopted a few characteristics specific to their region. The most common ones are:
- California Ranch
The design’s credit goes to Cliff May who built the house for his personal use. The style gained popularity in the early 1930s and is still considered a classic masterpiece. The architectural style has its roots embedded in Spanish Colonial architecture.
The house is carefully structured with special attention to the exterior of the house. The house has an L or U shape structure with space dedicated to the courtyard. Ensuring wide open spaces and adequate natural lighting has always been one of the priorities of ranch homes.
- Split-Level Ranch
As the name suggests, this type of ranch house features multi-tiered levels of living. If you look at the exterior of the house, it appears to have a single level. However, the insides are built on different levels. You may have the entry leading to the living space, but there might be stairs leading down to the basement or a flight of stairs leading up to the bedroom. Thus, you can enjoy the perks of multi-story living.
However, some might not like moving between different levels whereas some may prefer the privacy that comes with it.
- Suburban Ranch
This type of house gained popularity post World War 2 among families looking to move away from city life. These colonies settled in suburbs and so began the suburban ranches. The original ranch design was simple and easy to replicate and hence these colonies preferred this style of home. They were smaller in size as compared to their predecessors but involved the concept of open layout floor planning.
- Storybook Ranch
Commonly known as Cinderella Ranches, this category has its unique characteristics. Unlike the original ranches, the storybook ranch has a charming exterior. As the name suggests, the design took inspiration from fairytales and cozy cottages. The layout consists of steep gabled roofs and stone or brick for the exterior look. Most of the attention is paid to ornamental details such as installing decorative chimneys and having tall and long windows with diamond-shaped window panes.
- Raised Ranch
People tend to get confused between Split-level ranch and Raised ranch. Split-level ranches may include several levels whereas raised ranches mostly have two floors. Typically the entrance is situated at the ground level leading you to the living space. You then have the choice to either proceed ahead or use the flight of stairs to go to the upper level. A typical floor plan includes a kitchen, bedrooms, and living space upstairs. The basement or utility area and the garage are situated at the lower level. The streamlined approach of this architecture makes this design more appealing than the original ranches.
Summary
The ranch-style homes are the perfect choice for those who are looking to enjoy the most of the exterior as well as the interior of their home. The open concept layout provides ample space for people to walk around the house. It also provides the comfort and ambiance to enjoy life with your family. Overall, it proves to be an ideal home for those looking to lead a minimalist lifestyle. +
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