Have you tried an internet (google) search for 1950s Ranch Style House Plans or similar?

About hiring an Architect -- find one local and ask.

The problem with stock plans is they are not designed for your climate, building site or your specific needs.

https://archive.org/details/HouseplansHeadquartersInc.

https://archive.org/details/AuthenticPubIncNewestPlansofRanchHousesFarmMotels0001

https://archive.org/details/AlwinCassensJrRanchhomesfortoday0001

https://archive.org/details/ArchwayPressIllustratedRanchHomes0001

https://archive.org/details/NationalPlanServiceTownandCountryRanchHomes0001

and many more

That plan is like trying to fit a 10 pound bag of flour in a 2 pound canister. If one can only afford a plan with limited square footage, using so much of it for a huge bathroom and closet is just ridiculous. All your other rooms are so small as to be unusable. And spending money on those big porches is also a waste. It's hot in the south and with AC, one rarely uses a porch - too buggy and to damed humid and hot.

Hire an architect and be realistic about what you can get for your money where size is concerned.

See ifarchitectrunnerguy here on this forum can help you design what you want.

@Anglophilia I couldnt agree more about the bathroom! i Will never understand the need for huge master suites. I spend no time there! I definitely want a nice porch for southern fall and winter (ha!) but agree, in our current house we barely use the porch. We could probably afford a pretty big house especially if I was wrinkling to have bedrooms upstairs, but I’m just not a fan of huge/grand rooms and I’m adamant at a Ranch plan since it will be our forever home when we’re old and less mobile.

Yes! It won’t let me tag DE but these are so similar to what I’m looking for and would be a good starting place for an architect. Of course everyone may laugh at me that this is my taste.

One Of these plans could be a rough starting point to show what I like. Then my must haves are a half bath room, large kitchen pantry, large master closet, and secondary bath that has the sinks separate from the toilet. And our in progress lot is sloped, so a basement for room to expand later.

My taste may be because I lived in the same house for 22 years with my parents that was very similar to the one attached below. But.... it feels like home! The other white picture is the current floor plan we are living in which isn’t bad, I just hate the huge great room, 12+ foot high ceilings, eTc. It’s a pretty good plan though just not our forever home. Need one more bedroom and something more cozy. The kitchen is AMAZING though.

An architect, on your site, can help you marry your wishes with that site. The interior with the exterior. The blend of open and closed spaces. All of it. Be prepared to have DE disagree with this concept .

I have a truly traditional ranch it is 72’ long and 25’ wide and has 3 bedrooms and one main bathroom and one ensuite Mostly glass all across the long side with huge overhangs and a huge fireplace that devides the kitchen from the LR so a bit open concept but still keeping the feel of the original. I don’t see that in the styles posted

Google Cliff May.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting do you have a copy of the floor plan you could share?

This has been soooo helpful!! I just wasn’t searching the right terms.

These two are SO close to what I want. Architectural designs 430010LY and 430009LY. These are close enough to where I feel like I could have Architectural Designs most it. interiors are almost perfect. Exteriors are a little too modular looking. Any advice on exterior modifications For a more traditional look?

"How much more expensive would it be to have a custom plan drawn vs going with Architectural Designs?"

Are you talking about dollars or integrity?

The chances of finding a preconceived design that meets your needs and fits your site would be infinitely less than if your were to have an architect design a home with you. I may be partial, but engaging a local architect is your best opportunity for success.

I think if you share a bit more about your family and lifestyle it would help.We have at the moment 2 international students each with their own bedroom and ours at the end of the house. I repeat none of these houses are what you describe in your initial post. I have a full walkout baseemnt becaause we are built on a slope so we end up with 3200 sq ft of living space . How much space do you need. We entertain large groupds 4 -6 times a year and never have an issues our bathrooms are small and our bedrooms are 12x 15 15 x 25 and because we stole 2 ‘ from one bedroom for the kitchen that bedroom is 9 x12 . I think if I had not been a designr and knew exactly what I wanted and was building new I would hire an architect and a KD. I will try to post my floor plan tomorrow.

Melissa, a stock plan would be anywhere from $600-$2500.

the architect's I talked to wanted $15000-$50000.

there are so many ranch plan books that if you can't find the one that fits your needs and your lot you didn't look diligently enough.

good luck. I like ranch houses too and I hope you find what you are looking for

@Patricia Colwell Consulting

@Patricia Colwell Consulting here is a little about us! Would love any examples of floor plans that may suit or other advice.

Right now it’s my husband and I and our four month old daughter. We want at least two kids but up to four. Our future lot is sloping which will allow for a walkout basement which is important since we don’t know how much space we will ultimately need. We like to entertain, but casual entertaining, not formal. I work from home but don’t need much space. A small pocket office will do or nook within the master Bedroom.

This will be our forever home. I am adamant we have at least three main level bedrooms - master and two secondary that share a bathroom. Doesn’t have to be jack and Jill style but sink area needs to be separated from shower and toilet. MUST have a half bath for common areas.

A Big kitchen is important. And big pantry. I like to be able to see into family room from kitchen but prefer it to not be as open as the floor plan in my first post. Our current floor plans kitchen is amazing.

I DONT want a huge great room. I prefer cozy spaces - no tall Ceilings.

Would Like a bonus space for the kids and their friends.

Our parents will not need to live with us in the future

We don‘t need a formal dining room but do want enough casual dining spaces (bars, nook, breakfast area). Don’t need a formal living separate from family/great room but wouldn’t mind some sort of separate space for a separate escape.

need more main level storage outside of bedrooms than current plan (see first post) has. One extra hall closet would go a long way.

Laundry room should be big enough to iron in.

Bedrooms don’t have to be huge, just comfortable.

When I look at plans I always think “where would the Christmas tree go?” In my mind it belongs by the fireplace.

Out of town guests are rare and usually stay at a hotel. But basement would allow for expansion later for guest room but it isn’t vital to start off.

question for Melissa. completely different than what you described but would you like something like this?

@Patricia Colwell Consulting a few other random things I thought of. garage For two or three cars is fine either way and I prefer laundry connected to master closet.

Cant figure out how to tag you DE but that’s not bad. I like how all the bedrooms are on one side of the house. I prefer that over split actually. I’d want the kitchen closed off a bit more (add more cabinets between kitchen and great room) and more storage.

I dont think you can tag on the app. on the website you just use the @ sign

there are thousands of good plans out there(and even more bad ones). you just have to know what you want and need and then filter from all the plans to get the one you want

that plan is a life magazine dream home plan by hugh newell Jacobsen. I think I read that hundreds have been built including one not too far from me.

http://www.dreamhouseplans.biz/

the page shows a more closed off kitchen.

Melissa, a stock plan would be anywhere from $600-$2500.

Yes a stock plan will cost you what DE says but she forgets to include the changes needed to meet local codes and all the things that are not included in a stock plan. Minor things like HVAC plans, electrical plans, plumbing plans, etc. Plus any needed changes to work with the site.

Just the fact you have a sloping lot says you'll need to work more closely with someone with design skills.

@cpartist yeah we are more strongly considering that now more than we were initially. Being our planned forever home it is important we get it right for us. May push our timelines back budget wise but the payoff should be worth it. I just honestly have no idea what to expect in cost going that route Or how to choose the right architect. I have one firm I’ve started preliminary conversations with so we will do the free consultation soon and hopefully get s better ides.

I recommended Architectrunnerguy who works with people remotely. I posted his link above. :)

Melissa - also look for solo practitioners, who might cost quite a lot less than a firm while being more interested in a unique project like yours. I did a google search in my town and was very much surprised how many names turned up.

Totally agree with CP. Arg is awesome to work with. You will get your home designed just for your family. he will not disappoint And I know this from experience.

Melissa, if you are going to work with an architect you should also contact res3dsketches here. he has demonstrated a wealth of knowledge on the boards.

you would probably like my grandson's house. 3 nice size bedrooms, all with nice size reach in closets, the shared bath is just down the hall, easily accessible from all bedrooms, 2 more closets in the hall. These are to the right of the front door, small entryway.

Straight ahead is a nice sized room, one wall of shelving, double doors to the backyard/patio. To the left of that room is the kitchen, but to the left of the front door is the LR/DR - one combined room. This is the only area that is open concept and I expect it was NOT originally that way. It would not have been difficult to have had the rooms more closed off.

The kitchen is the ONLY room without a window, but it does get a decent amount of light from those double doors and overhead lighting. Behind the kitchen is a generous laundry room and to the left of the laundry room is a small bath (shower, no tub).

Along the final wall to the left (alongside the kitchen and LR/DR is what had been the garage but some previous owner enclosed it (which is why no kitchen window). The entire interior wall is storage, the entire exterior wall is window. At one end there is an additional entry door, at the other end a HUGE walk in storage area.

The storage space in this house is amazing! Two rooms deep, probably built in the 50-60s. I think the ceilings are probably 9 ft. Last week they had a casual party for at least 40 in attendance at a given time (60 had been invited and they 'came and went' over 9 hours!)

Be sure to make your "Forever Home" sellable. I have had two "Forever Homes" so far, but I am not to the point where I eat dessert first.

@new-beginning so wish I could see this house! Sounds like I would love it.

@Mark Bischak, Architect fair enough! I eat dessert first but hope To do so for about 50-60 more years . Pretty certain we won’t ever need or want to move but dont Want such a strange/personalized house that it isn’t a good option if we need to.

I wonder what the average lifetime statistic may be for "forever homes".

@Virgil Carter Fine Art my parents are in their 60s and are still in the house my dad bought in 1980. For each of them it’s the only home they’ve lived in besides their parents’ house they grew up in and We are in the same town. So they’re each only in the second house of their lifetime - in my family the record is pretty good for staying put.

in my family the record is pretty good for staying put.

with that record, it's even more important to get it right the first time and to work with a person of design talent.

Melissa, I'm not sure but my sense is that you and your parents are in a small minority.

Of course, I could be wrong. It's happened...

I built my "forever home" 6 years ago. We just talked with a few realtors about selling it soon. So for me, forever lasted approximately 6 years.

I built that forever home from the ground up. (Well, had it built for me. I never touched a hammer....)

If I could do it all over again, I'd get an architect. It was a nice piece of land with some nice views. I hunted the internet for a plan, moved some walls around, and plunked it onsite.

I don't recommend that approach. I'm now 6 years older and a lot wiser. If you can find a way in your budget to accommodate an architect, I would recommend that over the "plunking" method.

Melissa - here is the listing from when they purchased. The 'short' driveway leads to the 'add on' a previous owner did. https://www.redfin.com/TX/Bellville/144-N-Granville-St-77418/home/44841127

@new-beginning You were right, I love it! Kind of a mix between open and closed concept. I don’t want open concept, but with a little one I do need to be able to be in the kitchen but still have her in my line of sight, so really what I need/want is a hybrid like this!

If you were anywhere near Brenham, TX I would invite you to visit. Truthfully, if I had been the person who did the add-on I would have done things a bit differently, but grandson, his wife, 9 and 5 yr old find it works extremely well for them.

I wonder what the average lifetime statistic may be for "forever homes".

Who knows.... but my folks have lived in the house I grew up in for 42 years...