Revitalizing a 1950’s Ranch The owners of this property purchased the dilapidated 1950’s ranch with the intention of demolishing it and building a modern residence in its place. A yearlong demolition delay caused the owners to rethink their plan, and instead, looked to Slocum Hall to design an addition and reconfigure the existing home to meet their programmatic needs. The prominent two-car front-facing garage was converted into Living Space with 12’ ceilings. An addition towards the rear of the property housed a new Garage, Mudroom and expanded Kitchen spaces. All the living spaces were reconfigured to function more efficiently, creating four bedroom suites and an expansive basement for recreation and informal entertaining.

The Council Crest Residence is a renovation and addition to an early 1950s house built for inventor Karl Kurz, whose work included stereoscopic cameras and projectors. Designed by prominent local architect Roscoe Hemenway, the house was built with a traditional ranch exterior and a mid-century modern interior. It became known as “The View-Master House,” alluding to both the inventions of its owner and the dramatic view through the glass entry. Approached from a small neighborhood park, the home was re-clad maintaining its welcoming scale, with privacy obtained through thoughtful placement of translucent glass, clerestory windows, and a stone screen wall. The original entry was maintained as a glass aperture, a threshold between the quiet residential neighborhood and the dramatic view over the city of Portland and landscape beyond. At the south terrace, an outdoor fireplace is integrated into the stone wall providing a comfortable space for the family and their guests. Within the existing footprint, the main floor living spaces were completely remodeled. Raised ceilings and new windows create open, light filled spaces. An upper floor was added within the original profile creating a master suite, study, and south facing deck. Space flows freely around a central core while continuous clerestory windows reinforce the sense of openness and expansion as the roof and wall planes extend to the exterior. Images By: Jeremy Bitterman, Photoraphy Portland OR

Remodeling and adding on to a classic pristine 1960’s ranch home is a challenging opportunity. Our clients were clear that their own sense of style should take precedence, but also wanted to honor the home’s spirit. Our solution left the original home as intact as possible and created a linear element that serves as a threshold from old to new. The steel “spine” fulfills the owners’ desire for a dynamic contemporary environment, and sets the tone for the addition. The original kidney pool retains its shape inside the new outline of a spacious rectangle. At the owner’s request each space has a “little surprise” or interesting detail. Photographs by: Miro Dvorscak

Phil Bond Photography
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Total remodeling of the interior and exterior of this 1950's brick ranch. Exterior remodeling included new exterior doors, windows, front entry, entry enlarged and brought forward to enhance the curb appeal. Interior remodeling updated all lighting, new contemporary fireplace, sculpture window well, all new bathrooms and fixtures, kitchen/dining room totally remodeled.

Tiny and ugly, 1950s ranch house with impeccable interiors went through extreme makeover - new exterior, 2-car garage addition, great room addition and new roof structure with 2nd story underneath. All this while completely preserving the recently remodeled interiors of the original ranch. View of the front.

This renovation to a 1970's ranch house included relocating an unusable observation deck to the south elevation which affords 360 degree views of the city. Custom stainless steel and copper light fixtures illuminate both levels.

Location: Jackson Hole, WY Project Manager: Mark S. Dalby Superintendent: Matthew C. Niska Architect: Gilday Architects Photographer: David Agnello Photography Interior Designer: Tayloe Piggot

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Transformation of a 1950's ranch house overlooking the James River into a contemporary home. Design by Owner / Architect Mark Larson
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Ainslie-Davis Construction and architect Chris Luthi worked together to create this exceptional custom modern home for clients Jane and Craig. Jane had grown up on a 1950s ranch on the property, and they wanted a fresh start with a responsible and intelligent design for living. After exploring all possibilities for remodeling the existing home, we decided that recycling was the better option. So, "Ranch 2.0," as the clients call it, was born. Many of the green features were considered in the early design stages. The butterfly shape of the metal roof grew out of the need to maximize the site for solar access. It also helps channel water into the rain gardens that absorb all the runoff from the site. A large, south-facing patio for Jane's container garden tops an accessory dwelling unit for multigenerational living, which is where Jane's parents live. Efficient wooden pivot windows with clean lines were strategically used to provide cross ventilation in every room. Along the way, details like recycled glass and cement countertops, bamboo flooring and cabinets, rainscreen siding and interior steel wall panels were chosen for their beauty and sustainable characteristics. Locally sourced materials were used wherever possible on all areas of the home, including, the cabinets, counters and windows – not to mention the artisanal metalwork. To meet the client's desire to be easy on the planet, multiple active systems were employed. The photovoltaic panels should generate in excess of 8,000 KWH of electricity each year, much of which is sold back to Puget Sound Energy through their net metering program. In the warmer months, an evacuated-tube solar hot water system is designed to provide all home hot water. In the cool season, the hot water is supplemented with the excess heat from the geothermal heat pump, which provides all the heating to the home. Heat generated from the five 250-foot geothermal wells is supplied to hydronic coils embedded in the concrete floors. Extra insulation from blown in fiberglass batts and closed-cell foam help retain the heat. Simple air sealing steps included gasketing partition wall plates and checking the results with a Blower Door Test to 3.4 ACH50. The energy model was 3rd party verified on site and shows about 70% improvement in whole house performance over the current code baseline. Jane and Craig hope to live in this home a long time, so an eye toward accessibility and adaptability was used throughout the design. Their 3-story climbing wall was designed to be easily converted into an elevator down the road, and the garage includes electrical connections specifically designated for electric cars - one of which is scheduled to arrive in March!

This 1950s ranch is transported into the 21century with a modestly expanded footprint and open floor plan. Modern boxes clad in reclaimed wood siding merge with the existing brick facade which has been simply transformed with a crisp, white paint job and new gable roof. Designed for a professional chef, the new marble-topped kitchen, with its 10 foot long wood and steel dining island, provides the perfect gathering space for socializing while watching his culinary creations unfold. Expanded glass openings, large sliding doors and skylights provide a wash of natural light while connecting the interior to the landscape beyond.

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A total makeover of a 1960's ranch house in Greeley, Colorado with an emphasis on indoor outdoor relationships. Wings on either side were added in the 1980's, the center portion was added to match in 2006. Design by Doug Walter Architects. Photos: Philip Wegener Photography

Exterior of remodeled 1950's brick Mid-Century Modern ranch home. All new commerical metal windows. New natural birch wood soffits. Metal fascia and gutter to come. Brazilian redwood horizontal fence. New landscape lighting and path lighting. New fireplace visible through window. Custom white oak front door. Photo by: www.davidlauerphotography.com

Exterior of remodeled 1950's brick Mid-Century Modern ranch home. All new commerical metal windows. New natural birch wood soffits. Metal fascia and gutter to come. Brazilian redwood horizontal fence. New landscape lighting and path lighting. New fireplace visible through window. Custom white oak front door. Photo by: www.davidlauerphotography.com

The existing 1950’s ranch house was remodeled by this firm during a 4-year period commencing in 1997. Following the Phase I remodel and master bedroom loft addition, the property was sold to the present owners, a retired geologist and freelance artist. The geologist discovered the largest gas reserve in Wyoming, which he named ‘Jonah’. The new owners program included a guest bedroom suite and an office. The owners wanted the addition to express their informal lifestyle of entertaining small and large groups in a setting that would recall their worldly travels. The new 2 story, 1,475 SF guest house frames the courtyard and contains an upper level office loft and a main level guest bedroom, sitting room and bathroom suite. All rooms open to the courtyard or rear Zen garden. The centralized fire pit / water feature defines the courtyard while creating an axial alignment with the circular skylight in the guest house loft. At the time of Jonahs’ discovery, sunlight tracks through the skylight, directly into the center of the courtyard fire pit, giving the house a subliminal yet personal attachment to the present owners. Different types and textures of stone are used throughout the guest house to respond to the owner’s geological background. A rotating work-station, the courtyard ‘room’, a stainless steel Japanese soaking tub, the communal fire pit, and the juxtaposition of refined materials and textured stone reinforce the owner’s extensive travel and communal experiences.

My client came to me after staying in an upscale Hotel in the Napa valley and had an idea to change her 1960's ranch into a contemporary style ranch home. The idea was to get rid of the stucco exterior, add several dormers that brought style and light as well as change the roof to a standing seam metal roof. The entire house had metamorphisized into a whole new home and brings together a very clean lined look.

Location: Jackson Hole, WY Project Manager: Mark S. Dalby Superintendent: Matthew C. Niska Architect: Gilday Architects Photographer: David Agnello Photography Interior Designer: Tayloe Piggot

small sitting area outside of front door into this remodeled ranch home.
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Featured in Green Builder Magazine's January 2011 edition, this ranch home remodel and expansion reuses existing materials and employs sustainable building practices, resulting in a contemporary update to an existing home, while maintaining the context of the neighborhood.

Inspiration for a large contemporary gray two-story concrete fiberboard exterior home remodel in Seattle with a hip roof