Please post a pic. There are many different looks for home.

A lot of single floor ranches go transitional. We are kind of mid-century modest and like a retro vibe. There are a lot of split levels. The homes in our area vary quite a bit.

But, yes, please post some photos.

Here is a photo of the exterior. What should we consider when choosing an interior design style? We will be painting the shutters and front door and replacing windows, but little else will change out front to the structure.

Natural materials (wood, rattan, clay, wool), earthy colors and bold patterns, geometric designs, handmade items from your travels, lots of books...texture and pattern. The era was about self-expression, so you have a lot of leeway. You can be eclectic and mix MCM with a little opulence using heavy fabrics and mixed metals. An indoor garden would not be unusual. I would probably pass on the floral draperies, foil wallpaper and paneling; but, you must pick up one of these...

Enjoy the process!

I can't see anything that needs changing on your exterior, except a bit of landscaping.

It looks really nice! Many homes in our area have gone to colorful front doors. I agree with the PP about adding some more color on the landscaping. Some interesting planters on the front, too. The rows of azalea hedges are super common. We have azaleas and holly. The azaleas need to be either major pruned at our house or else removed. We also want to put some mulch and decorative landscaping around the trees.

your home has a fairly dark exterior with the brick color, and the hedges seem to be protecting against intruders. please don't be offended; I grew up in a house like this. it was the look. why not let your interior surprise everyone with a lighter, airier look that is more relaxed and homey? I think we all try to follow a style too much sometimes, instead of filling our homes with what we actually want and feel comfortable with. let your home be a little of everything - all the styles you've mentioned blended together. if you love your stuff, then it will look good side by side regardless of "style." you obviously have an open personality because you went to the web to ask for opinions. show that openness in your home. it will make it perfect! but, that's just my opinion. and have fun while you do it. if it is forced, it will show.

I know this sounds backwards but, for me, when doing our reno with an eclectic/transitional style in mind, I picked out a great mid century modern light fixture I loved and built the room around that. Those kind of fixtures mix really well with traditional furnishing IMO. West Elm has some nice ones.

!st get rid of the sutters they do not belong on that house . I think you could go MCM or contemporary easily , get a door to match the style you choose and then work on landscaping I like MCM landscaping and please do not ever think about painting the brick

Can we see pictures of the interior? I was thinking open floor plan, but not sure if that's already what you have or if you plan expensive renovations.

That's a great-looking house and the shutters absolutely belong--they are a feature of midcentury-70s homes and they are fabulous. They are decorative on houses of this period and in spite of what you might read, they are not intended to fool anyone.

Pal is very correct about the size of most new furniture vs the furniture that fits into these homes. I've found that stores that do MCM knockoffs and reproductions (Room & Board type stores ) are pretty good for properly scaled furniture. Case goods I love vintage--cheaper, better, entirely cleanable, and the right sizes. But upholstery I prefer new. :)

Oddly enough, I do have a Curtis Mathis walnut stereo!

We are working on our 60s ranch house too. It was all original but very poorly maintained with termite and dry rot damage. We are in a coastal town also eclectic with authentic Victoria's, beach cottages and 50-60s builder basic ranches. Our house was ugly with cheap builder grade "traditional" everything, and everything was falling apart. We decided to do transitional style with beachy influence.

Bathroom is a floating ikea vanity with plain mirror and transitional light fixture, bathtub with solid surface surround. Our furniture is mostly IKEA so sort of modern-ish anyway. Light fixtures when we get around to changing them will be simple glass "dish" flush mounts and some kind of pendant for the dining room. We kept the red brick fireplace, as is -?it's traditional looking but has a nice simple painted mantel - nothing ornate or too traditional.

I can only say do what makes you happy. I have what I call a ranchburger, built 1980, but updated with French doors and windows, ceiling 8 feet high. I have Oriental rugs over tile, a large collection of antique Chinese porcelain, lots of art on the wall, mostly traditional but also modern realistic and abstract art, and soft furniture that is very comfortable and classic in style. Coffee tables are glass and metal, some wood furniture is antique and some modern and not expensive. People remark how welcoming and comfortable our home is. I just did what made me happy, with colors that stimulated me and made me feel warm and cozy. Just do what you love and let it evolve over time as your taste changes and matures.

Fori, what a pleasant surprise to read that you have a Curtis Mathis stereo. Unfortunately, the one we grew up with is long gone. I literally teethed on ours (chewed the edge while watching the turntable go around), and spent my childhood listening to everything my parents had on vinyl. Ah, the sounds of the '70s...

BTW, becmckee, we live in a 1980 four-level split built with the same brick and western-style porch posts as your house. At least your's was ahead of the trend!

That's the nice thing about these houses, Anglo--they accept just about every style. As long as it's not too large! Unless of course we have some funky 60s stuff to maybe incorporate...

Show us what the inside is like, Bec! And keep the replacement window frames dark like the old ones.

Technically this is not a stereo; it predates stereo by a year. :) The pull-out record player is very handy if you are using it as a TV console. Not all CM models fit in with the "keep it small" philosophy.

I would paint the shutters something like these colours. Not sure what they are. It's almost like a deep grey chocolate.

Fori, that is beautiful! And, a very clever design. Thanks for sharing.

I generally belong to the "shutters have to look like they work" school, but I think Mid-Century houses are an exception. I think it's more important on a house built in a traditional style where the aim is authenticity.

So I do think the obviously ornamental shutters do add something to houses like this. I still think they are goofy on picture or bay windows but on typical casement or double hung pairs, I think it's ok.

Re: the comment about shutters being a decorative element and not intended to fool anyway - Im LOL and slapping my forehead - of course! When's the last time anyone has shut their shutters to.... I dunno, what did they use shutters for in the 1600s anyway, to conserve heat or did they not have glass windows? Anyway.... I tdaresay theyve been purely decorative forthe last 100 yrs.

TM not seeing any shutters in your pics.

OP, what a beautiful house - all the elements fit together so well. Including shutters! When replacing windows stick to a dark tone - looks so much classier with red brick than the ubiquitous and overdone white.

I think shutters would have been helpful for all those bracing against the recent hurricanes. Instead the modern way is to hang plywood. If they don't function they really aren't living up to their expectation--which was to keep storms from breaking windows.

@gsciencechick: Can you give examples of mid century modest?

Covered chair/sofa legs?

Thanks to all so far! We have no interior pics because we are just now purchasing. I'll get those loaded when I can get in there. My intent is to keep the shutters, but paint them black or taupe, replace the storm door on the front with a nicer one, and paint the existing door and side panels a bright color. I will keep the bushes, but trim back and add some beds for color. I love these comments, keep them coming, and I'll add pics as the progress goes. Thanks Current Resident for the advice on dark replacement windows -- I was wondering if lighter ones would work or not...

More soon.

Nosoccermom, they use mid century modest a lot on RetroRenovation. It's for a house like ours that was built in the 60's but is really not a true MCM. We have mid-century features but not all-out. We would like to retro-renovate our hall bath and put the color tile back in.

My modest home:

Always learn something new. I thought it was your spell check.

I remember your beautiful reupholstery job!

I love the house and pretty setting. Just have to agree the shutters should go.