We own a pretty basic, rectangular Ranch-style house built 1953. I love the clean lines, but wish I could spruce it up a bit - for instance, there is no molding around any doors or windows. Also don't have much of a front porch to speak of. Are there any good resources/photos out there for transforming a typical Ranch into a more bungalow-y type style? It's just SOOOOO plain....
We are in the midst of designing an Arts & Crafts inspired facelift to our plain old 1954 brick rancher. We are putting on an addition that will have a nice shed dormer. We are also putting a shed roof w/columns over the front porch area (currently uncovered space) and then adding 2 more shed dormers on the existing house to match the addition shed dormer. Changing the windows to be "mission" style. Hopefully it will work out - the elevations look great!
If you want to see a great example of a ranch turned bungalow, get the most recent Southern Living magazine. This same house was also featured on the cover of another home magazine (I may still have it). They took a 50's rancher and put on a second story with overhanging porch & tapered columns. Beautiful!
Sorry, but I don't know what a shed dormer is?! I will definitely get the latest Southern Living and have a look. Not prepared to put on a second story, though! Just wish we could at least do something with the front porch (there really isn't one) and the boring rectangle footprint.
Here is a shed dormer. Look at the picture in the link and the shed dormer is the angled thing on the second story with windows, angled down out of the main roof line:
Can you attach a picture of your home? I will tell you, on modern homes, there is much that can be done by wrapping.. Most people think (for example) that to make a porch support (post) more decorative, it needs to be replaced with a more decorative post, when it can simply be wrapped in new material to make it look more traditional. Same with adding decorative supports, flower boxes etc.. attach a picture, the ideas that can be gleaned are endless...
Originally posted by eric: Here is a shed dormer. Look at the picture in the link and the shed dormer is the angled thing on the second story with windows, angled down out of the main roof line:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by HouseOfYesteryear: Hello,
Can you attach a picture of your home? I will tell you, on modern homes, there is much that can be done by wrapping.. Most people think (for example) that to make a porch support (post) more decorative, it needs to be replaced with a more decorative post, when it can simply be wrapped in new material to make it look more traditional. Same with adding decorative supports, flower boxes etc.. attach a picture, the ideas that can be gleaned are endless...
Rob Bennett
Sorry not to have a better picture, but here it is - as I said, it's a rectangle box, with a low-pitched roof and casement windows.
I welcome any advice - from anyone here! Please feel free to speak up with your creative ideas - we sure could use them. I'm thinking that the front porch (or lack thereof) is the place to start...that, and painting the exterior something other than white.
I also am new to this site. We just recently purchased a 1923 California Bungalow but priviously we owned a 1952 rancher that we were transforming into a craftsman inspired home. Our rancher had great bones and we could see that through some simple trim and light remodeling our rancher would shine as a craftsman. Our inspiration came from a rancher remodel featured in a magazine we found. I can't remember the magazine but here is the link to the home we loved.
I just did a search on transforming a 50's ranch to a bungalow and signed on to this site. I know your posts are a year old, but did anyone here wind up remodeling? Do you have pics if you did?
Originally posted by oldehouse: I just did a search on transforming a 50's ranch to a bungalow and signed on to this site. I know your posts are a year old, but did anyone here wind up remodeling? Do you have pics if you did?
We are finishing up some small details on ours. It started as a pretty boring, yet functional '50s rancher and it is now more of a cottage. Not quite a bungalow, but several A&C-inspired details and numerous reclaimed materials used.
Here is before:
And after. The painting was not quite finished when I took this picture probably a month ago.
Fantastic! The dormers are really nice and the addition looks like it has always been there. The front porch also looks really useful on pleasant fall evenings!
Hi, I'm new to the site and was looking for an architect to do an addition and change a 50's ranch into an arts and crafts style ranch..I've searched for an architect in the area (I'm in conn.} but i'm finding it difficult to find anyone with knowledge without spending a fortune. I'm just looking for a builder's set of prints. The closest I've found is in new york but there license wouldn't cover conn. therefore would not consider it. I appreciate any help...thanks..Ed K
We have a designer in our area who is phenominal. He started out as a draftsman and began to design residential. (You do not need a license to design homes but you do need it for business, government contracts, etc.) His homes have that comfortable human scale with great attention to detail. Eric Spurlock now designs homes all over the world and has been featured in several magazines. He has the ability to design in any style and make it work. He has done some A & C homes that looked great.
If you are interested, I could give you his contact information but I am not sure I can do that on this site. We may have to do that in a private E-mail. Eric's prices are reasonable and he loves a good challenege. He also listens to the client and designs what they want not only what he wants.
Thanks Bev it sounds just what i'm looking for.. I have a layout for an addition but want an arts and crafts look. I'd appreciate any info on him..My email is ldkflip@optonline.net....thanks again
