10 Cool Updated Ranch Houses

Ranch-style homes enjoyed immense popularity from the 1950s to the 1970s. Today many of those same homes are still around — faux-wood paneling, avocado-green tile and all. If you are looking to update a ranch-style home, gather inspiration from these 10 homeowners who have brought their homes into the 21st century with style.

Tara Bussema - Neat Organization and Design

Tara Bussema - Neat Organization and Design

Revamped Ranch in Costa Mesa

Who lives here: Ryan and Catherine Gale, daughter Gianna and son Rowen
Location: Costa Mesa, California

Concrete walkways, low-maintenance plantings and a new wood fence brought Ryan and Catherine Gale’s 1960s ranch-style home up to date while maintaining the home’s original footprint. The revamped central courtyard provides ample outdoor living space — which the family can use year-round, thanks to the mild Southern California climate.

See the rest of this home

Heather Merenda

Heather Merenda

Indoor-Outdoor Flow in Vancouver

Who lives here: Patti Houston, Rick Williams and their youngest daughter, Jordan (age 21)
Location: North Vancouver

When Patti Houston and Rick Williams set out to completely renovate their 1954 ranch-style house in North Vancouver, they started with the kitchen. “We removed all the walls between the kitchen, dining and living areas to create a totally open space,” says Houston. “I love to cook, and that’s where we all hang out.” A bank of folding windows by NanaWall behind the sink connects to an exterior counter with stools, making it the perfect spot for entertaining and relaxing.

See the rest of this home

Amity Worrel & Co.

Cheerful Color in Austin

Who lives here: James Spindler, Mina Kumar and their children, Rosemary and Louis
Location: Austin, Texas

Mina Kumar and James Spindler gave their ranch home in Austin a fresh, updated look with beautiful hickory wood floors, a custom turquoise kitchen island and a striking wall of encaustic cement tiles.

Tiles: Architerra

See the rest of this home

Susan Teare, Professional Photographer

Susan Teare, Professional Photographer

Bright and Ecofriendly in Vermont

Who lives here: Tom Marrinson and Allison Beach
Location: Hinesburg, Vermont

When Tom Marrinson and Allison Beach bought their 1973 split-level ranch home in Vermont, it was more for the stunning property surrounding it than for the home itself, which was drafty and dark.

After living with things as they were for more than 10 years, the couple embarked on a major renovation to create a lighter, brighter and more energy-efficient home. The new kitchen features an open plan, custom cabinetry and energy-efficient windows and appliances.

Exterior galvanized steel: MBCI; fiber-cement siding: Certainteed

See the rest of this home

Valerie McCaskill Dickman

Bill Bolin Photography

Southern Style in Texas

Who lives here: Christy and Adam Blumenfeld and their children, Alexandra and Ben
Location: Dallas

Homeowner Christy Blumenfeld loves to garden, so one of the first things she did after her family moved into their 1948 ranch-style house in Dallas was to plant 25 dogwood trees — which serve as a reminder of her Alabama roots — around the property. Now the tree-shaded drive creates a welcoming entrance to the home, which the couple also updated with larger windows, shutters and carriage-style garage doors.

In the kitchen two separate sinks and two faucets are flanked by appliances. The countertops are Calacatta gold marble, and the island is concrete. “Concrete is so easy to keep,” she says.

See the rest of this home

Angela Flournoy

DIY Determination in Dallas

Who lives here: Ilya and Arina Gurfinkel and their son, Milan
Location: Dallas

Ilia and Arina Gurfinkel gave the master bath of their 1975 ranch-style home a major upgrade by replacing the outdated tile and a too-big tub with an elegant new bathtub, a floor-length mirror and a custom vanity. By doing most of the labor themselves, the couple was able to splurge on the new fixtures they really wanted.

Tub, sinks: Victoria + Albert Baths; vanity: (similar) Classic Double Sink Console, Pottery Barn

See the rest of this home

Dana Nichols

Dana Nichols

Casual Coastal Style in Orange County

Who lives here: Michelle and Brad Perozzi with their 9-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter
Location: Santa Ana, California

One of the first things the Perozzis did when remodeling their 1960 ranch home was to remove an awkward pony wall dividing the entry area from the rest of the living room, opening up the space. Elsewhere in the home, the couple used sturdy materials, like jute rugs, to create coastal-feeling interiors that can stand up to active family life.

Previously floor-to-ceiling glass and skylights made the dining room too hot during the day, and blinds were dust collectors. The designers replaced all that glass with transoms and French doors to match the original style of the home.

See the rest of this home

Sarah Greenman

Sarah Greenman

Kid-Friendly Home in Dallas

Who lives here: Ryan and Erin McLaughlin; their children, Kate (10) and Owen (5); and their pets, Lemon, a parakeet, and Scout, a terrier mix
Location: Lake Highlands neighborhood of Dallas

A farmhouse sink and lighting from Schoolhouse Electric set a charming tone in the McLaughlins’ newly opened-up kitchen. The kitchen in the family’s 1950s-era ranch home used to be much smaller, until the couple took down a wall separating it from the family room, creating one open-concept space. The new breakfast bar provides the perfect spot for the children to draw, do homework and snack.

The furniture in daughter Kate’s bedroom is hand-me-downs and vintage finds from local garage sales. A friend gave her the pouf covered in a geometric print. A cascading gallery wall of art, mirrors, frames and ephemera hangs above her headboard.

Paint: Reflecting Pool, Sherwin-Williams

See the rest of this home

Kimberley Bryan

Kimberley Bryan

Diamond in the Rough in Portland

Who lives here: Heather Tucker
Location: Piedmont neighborhood of Portland, Oregon

When first-time home buyer Heather Tucker purchased her 1938 home, it had sat unoccupied for four years and was in terrible shape. “When I bought it, there were lots of issues,” she says, “like how the previous homeowner had plastered over live wires in the ceiling.” After hiring pros to take care of the safety issues, Tucker did much of the landscaping and painting herself — today, after four years of hard work, her home is bright, cheerful and charming, inside and out.

See the rest of this home

Sarah Greenman

Sarah Greenman

A Twister’s Silver Lining in Dallas

Who lives here: John Gilliland and Lenore LoCascio; their children, Jack (age 16), Finn (14) and Haymanot (10); their dog, Lulu; and cats Ziggy and Marley
Location: Forest Hills neighborhood of Dallas

When a tornado damaged their ranch-style home, John Gilliland and Lenore LoCascio took it as an opportunity to remodel. Working with Melissa Williams of W2 Studio, the family added a fourth bedroom, guest bath and second family room, and reconfigured the kitchen — all while staying within the original footprint of the house.

Outside, concrete squares create a modular, low-maintenance walkway to the new facade. Geometric planters, a built-in teak bench and a bright green ground cover respect the modern feel of the remodeled house.

See the rest of this home

SOURCE

www.americanhomecontractors.com/blog

Six Rockin Red Plants for Winter Gardens

With a little planning, it’s possible to have bold, beautiful red in the garden year-round. What a difference color makes during the colder months, when there’s little to catch the eye. If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to bring more pizzazz to your outdoor spaces or want to design now for a winter garden next year, here’s my list of top plants with colorful berries or branches for cold climates, along with recommendations for how to use them.

Paintbox Garden

Sparkleberry Winterberry
(Ilex ‘Sparkleberry’)

This cultivar produces bright red fruits that attract birds during winter. Plant with Ilex ‘Apollo’ (the male cultivar) for the best fruit set. Use it as a small tree if space is limited.

Origin: This is the female cultivar of the eastern U.S. native.
Where it will grow: Hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA zones 5 to 9; find your zone)
Water requirement: Medium to wet soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 5 to 9 feet tall
Benefits and tolerances: Tolerates wet soils; attracts birds

Paintbox Garden

Winter Red Winterberry
(Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’)

This is a better selection for gardeners in cold regions — and it’s more compact. The male cultivar for this plant is I. ‘Southern Gentleman’. It makes for an eye-catching border and is very low maintenance.

Burke Brothers Landscape Design/Build

For winter containers branches of winterberry holly look fantastic mixed with pine boughs, fir tips and other evergreens, and they last a long time indoors, too.

In the landscape birds will eat the red berries — watch for robins, cardinals, juncoes, grosbeaks and cedar waxwings.

Origin: This is the female cultivar of the eastern U.S. native.
Where it will grow: Hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (zones 3 to 9)
Water requirement: Medium to wet soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 6 to 8 feet tall
Benefits and tolerances: Adapted to swamps and wetlands; attracts birds

English Holly
(Ilex aquifolium)

There are male and female plants in the species; both flower, but the females produce berries. In the Pacific Northwest, this species is listed as invasive, so check with your local cooperative extension office before you buy.

Origin: Europe
Where it will grow: Hardy to 0 degrees Fahrenheit (zones 7 to 9)
Water requirement: Medium soil
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: 30 to 50 feet
Benefits and tolerances: Attracts birds; you can shear it to make a hedge

Paintbox Garden

Redtwig Dogwood
(Cornus sericea ‘Baileyi’)

With its colorful branches, redtwig dogwood makes an outstanding focal point in winter, especially when paired with ornamental grasses.

Kim Gamel

What would a winter container be without a dash of red? I love birch branches, but they are hard to find and break easily. Use redtwig dogwood instead, adding it to your pots by the entry or front porch; the branches can also be trimmed and added to smaller arrangements indoors, too.

Origin: This is a cultivar of the eastern U.S. native.
Where it will grow: Hardy to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (zones 3 to 8)
Water requirement: Medium to wet soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 6 to 10 feet tall
Benefits and tolerances:Attracts birds; deer resistant; good for erosion control, as a screen plant and in a rain garden

Paintbox Garden

Donald Wyman Crabapple 
(Malus ‘Donald Wyman’)

The crabapple tree in my yard is loaded with bright red berries that attract scores of birds, including flocks of cedar waxwings.

Origin: Discovered at Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University
Where it will grow: Hardy to -30 degrees Fahrenheit (zones 4 to 8)
Water requirement: Medium soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 20 feet tall and wide
Benefits and tolerances: Spring flowers; the fruit attracts wildlife; has good disease resistance

Paintbox Garden

Winter King Hawthorne
(Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’)

Named a Gold Medal Plant by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, this award-winningcultivar is noteworthy for its abundant fruit.

Paintbox Garden

Any tree that looks this good in the middle of winter deserves applause. ‘Winter King’ is in a class of its own with a great form and year-round interest.

There are thorns, but thankfully the tree requires practically no pruning. Interestingly, birds much prefer crabapples and winterberries and leave this fruit on the branch.

Origin: This is a cultivar of the southeastern U.S. native.
Where it will grow: Hardy to -30 degrees Fahrenheit (zones 4 to 7)
Water requirement: Dry to medium soil
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 25 feet tall and wide
Benefits and tolerances: Attractive spring flowers; disease resistant; pollution tolerant

-Charlotte Albers

SOURCE

http://www.americanhomecontractors.com/blog

9 Daring Front Door Colors

All too often we get confused and overwhelmed trying to nail down a complete color palette all at once and end up feeling unenthused about the individual colors selected. But if you start with, say, a fantastic front door color, and then select the other materials and hues to support this choice, you may have an easier go of it. To help inspire you, we’ve gathered examples of unusual front door colors and developed sample paint palettes you can try out on your own home.

Color by color: Houzz guides to choosing door and exterior colors

Moderna Homes, Inc.

Save

Email

If you are considering painting your front door a vibrant hue, such as the neon green here, think about keeping the remaining house colors and materials more neutral. Some architectural styles — such as ornate Victorians and clean-lined contemporary homes — can sport a mix of bold exterior hues. But most other house styles look best with a neutral supporting backdrop to such an eye-catching front door color. 

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

For a similar front door color, try Limeade, then pair it with Granite Boulder for the main house color and Dark Ash for accents or trim.

Paint colors: Behr

levitt architects

Save

Email

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

Here’s a slightly mellower green, with a good bit of blue in it. I can see this color’s working on just about any style of home. And because it’s more muted than the previous green, you don’t have to stick to a soft neutral for the main siding color.

For a similar front door color, try Kokopelli Teal, then pair it with Stonybrook for the main house color and Silver Songfor accents or trim.

Paint colors: Benjamin Moore

Imagine Construction

Save

Email

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

I see plenty of bright red and vibrant orange doors, but rarely do I see this particular shade of fiery red-orange. It’s fun and welcoming and definitely makes a statement. I think this door color needs to be partnered with a light, neutral siding color, but you can add a dramatic punch of color with a dark brown or dark gray trim color.

For a similar front door color, try Daredevil, then pair it with Sedate Gray for the main house color and Night Owl for accents or trim.

Paint colors: Sherwin-Williams

post Architecture

Save

Email

Here’s an example of a home that can sport whatever front door color the owners want. The brick acts as a neutral (most earth tones read as neutral hues on the exteriors of homes), and the dark gray accent color also won’t compete with a fun door color. Keep the exterior clean, simple and neutral and you can go bold — even hot pink — with the door.

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

For a similar front door color, try Peony, then pair it with Chelsea Gray for the main house color and Iron Mountainfor accents or trim.

Paint colors: Benjamin Moore

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

This is a project I worked on for a client who requested a soft, buttercup-yellow front door. I didn’t want to veer too soft or too orange, though, because then the door wouldn’t stand out from the cypress siding. This particular yellow is the perfect companion to the warm, orange-hued wood and the cool blue-gray siding color.

Get this look with Daffodil for the front door, then pair it with Online for the main house color and Foggy Day for accents or trim.

Paint colors: Sherwin-Williams

Taggart Construction

Save

Email

I remember being a child and begging and pleading with my mother to get me the “big box” of Crayolas because I was coveting my friend’s Periwinkle crayon. I was bewitched by this color that seemed to alternate between blue and purple. This periwinkle door looks fantastic against the weathered gray shingles. It’s a cool palette, but the texture of the shingles combined with the pretty periwinkle gives it a warm and welcoming vibe.

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

For a similar front door color, try Simply Periwinkle, then pair it with Mark Twain House Ombra Gray for the main house color and Seashell Grayfor accents or trim.

Paint colors: Valspar

Linda L. Floyd, Inc., Interior Design

Save

Email

Here’s another unusual blue for a front door — a medium blue that has a touch of green. The small bit of green keeps the blue from feeling too icy and cool. This door color works well with warm or cool siding colors.

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

For a similar front door color, try Aqua Blue, then pair it with Whiskers for the main house color and Midnight Hour for accents or trim.

Paint colors: PPG Pittsburgh Paints

Save

Email

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

Bright yellow-green hues are continuing their run as hip colors for interior accents and accessories, but they also make fantastic front door colors. Neon versions of the hue can be rather intense in large chunks, but if your front door has glazing, the glass panels can help break up and soften the color.

For a similar front door color, try Wow, then pair it with Snowflake Confetti for the main house color and Drizzle for accents or trim.

Paint colors: Kelly-Moore Paints

crestviewdoors

Save

Email

Jennifer Ott Design

Save

Email

Painting the exterior of a home can be time consuming and expensive, so it makes sense to keep the main house color and hard-to-reach trim areas classic neutrals. But it’s relatively quick, easy and affordable to paint the door, so why not go bold here? Not only is it a great way to add personality to the front of your home, it’ll also help call out the entrance to visitors.

For a similar front door color, try Emerald City, then pair it with Misty Windowpane for the main house color and Keddington for accents or trim.

Paint colors: Mythic

Keep in mind that the paint colors you see on your monitor are likely not an exact match to the actual paint color used. Whenever I see a photograph of a paint color I like, I follow this strategy for matching it up. Always buy small test-size samples of any colors you are considering, and paint a scrap piece of wood, drywall or even poster board with them, so you can move them around the space you are considering painting. - Jennifer Ott

SOURCE

http://www.americanhomecontractors.com/blog