Help! One story ranch exterior design dilemma.
Stephanie
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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Stephanie
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Exterior paint dilemma on a 1966 brick ranch
Comments (10)Thanks for the helpful replies. LWO: Yes, the next step is to start redesigning the landscaping. I've already planted the seed in my dh's mind about replacing the cracked concrete driveway and widening the front walkway. That would lead to making the front porch a bit bigger and maybe adding a little patio under the window- sigh...I hope the seed germinates. Eggplant? I thought of that color initially and dh almost choked. I thought a grayish green w/o any blue would work with the brick. @Pal: Darn it! I thought I had that color wheel figured out. Next question: dh and neighbors think we should paint the trim around the garage doors a contrasting color. I'm trying to stay firm about making that side of the house monochrome but am beginning to waffle. Would using larger house numbers painted a contrasting color work instead of painting the trim? I could use the same color as the main door to tie it together. Maureen...See MoreRanch versus Modified Ranch dilemma
Comments (32)Ok. I got 3350 just doing a rough rectangular measurement of interior room dimensions. My guess is this plan might be over 3,500 when accounting for walls. That is a big plan! I'm sure you are trying to get going by spring, so you may feel a little rushed. I'm nearly 2 years in my plan now. I wouldn't recommend taking that long, but do take some time to get it right. This plan looks like something thrown together by a draftsman, rather than an architect. Which is fine if that is the way you choose to go. I would suggest thinking more about how you want your spaces laid out, and the size and location of the spaces. Your inspiration plan had the stairs off the living space. This plan has them tucked off by the bedrooms. Is that how you wanted it, or did it just "fit" there? Is the laundry how you envisioned, or is it just placed awkwardly? Do you like the long hallway to the master bath and office? If these answers are yes, Great! Just tweak the plan. But if they aren't what you want in your dream forever home, then think about starting fresh instead of tweaking this plan. You should have some great spaces to spread out in a nearly 3,500 sq ft home. You should be able to have a nice large pantry and hers closet AND a nice laundry. I know you liked the idea of a 1.5 story. That is mine and DH dream style home. I really wanted my girls' rooms on the 2nd floor with a combined hangout space. Ultimately, I decided that it wasn't worth it as a 1.5 story is the most expensive to build, and I would have the basement and a 2nd floor even after kids are out of the house. I decided that I could give my kids HUGE (think kiddie suite large!) rooms in the walkout basement. Many on this forum don't like it due to sneak away teens. But looking at your plan, your kids could easily go down the stairs from their rooms just as easily. My kids are 8,11,12. The basement will still have a bar, rec room, pool table space, etc. But it will be a family and kiddo hangout space. Doing this has allowed me to get more generous spaces on the main floor. I envy your hearth room...I would have loved to have one. But we have a massive deck planned, so I have 2 extra living spaces there in addition to the basement TV space. I would have loved a formal dining space, but choose to have the only eating area large enough to hold a large table everyday. It is set up similar to your space, except the dining expands the whole width of the kitchen. (this is a much older photo to give you an idea. The dining space will be about 12/13*20. Like you, our favorite view is at the back of the house, so I wanted to be able to have the best view whenever entertaining for dinner also. We will also have a nice eating space on the deck, and an eat-in booth, barstools, and could turn the pool table into a dining table downstairs for extra eating options, so a formal dining room would have just been a pretty but overly redundant space for us. Your dining space is the same length as your other dining space, so you can't really get a larger dining table there? If you expanded your dining room to the length of your kitchen, I think your view would improve. You would also have a nicer larger dining space with room for a buffet on the left. Not saying your plan needs to match mine, but maybe this longwinded ramble will give you some idea of ways to get more/better of what you want ....See MoreL-Shaped Ranch Porch/Exterior Design Help
Comments (14)I agree with you 150% about the driveway!!! We are hoping for a "phased" approach to the whole transformation considering we don't have a ton of money to throw into it at one time. I think maybe I should just tell you "dark blue" for the paint color! I can't thank you enough for this - I am assuming you are a designer?...See More2 story fireplace design dilemma
Comments (10)I don't care for either one of these mirrors against the stone. Unless they reflected a fabulous view or chandelier I wouldn't do that. I would try to come up with something unexpected. We don't know your style, so it is hard to suggest the right idea. This ladder vignette made me think of a big antique ladder with some interesting tapestries folded and hung over a few of the rungs. Here's a variation on the horse idea....See More
rrah
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoStephanie
5 years ago
lrunner
5 years agolrunner
5 years ago
ghatta
5 years agoNot a great picture of ours. Still needs doors painted in this picture. They match the siding now. I don’t have a great picture of the front yet. After the snow is gone I will take another. In shade and sun. Royal vinyl siding.
User
5 years ago
cpartist
5 years agoghatta
5 years ago@DE. Thank you. It is Royal Building products Bark. We just looked it up on their website and apparently they don’t carry it anymore. Sigh. And here’s a picture of the front of the house. I really need a new one. It wasn’t quite finished at this point either. And I don’t have copy of the plan to share right now. Here’s a link to my finished pictures of the first floor. The walkout level is framed but not finished. We are doing that ourselves.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/naagli73lf80md8/AADIA7rDvsDwxrzQdxiAKE11a?dl=0
User
5 years agoghatta
5 years agoUser
5 years agoStephanie
5 years agoStephanie
5 years agoStephanie
5 years agoroof and window colors are hard to see in pics, but hoping to have a large rustic screened porch off the back to help bring it all together...
PROAnglophilia
5 years agoUser
5 years agorustic
- relating to the countryside; rural.
- made in a plain and simple fashion.
If you don't like cedar shingles that turn gray with age then you shouldn't list "rustic" a goal. Painted clapboards and thin stone skirts aren't rustic.
Nothing could look more rustic than cedar shakes that are hand split and have a very thick bottom edge and a stone foundation should stop at the bottom of the floor framing like a foundation normally does. What you have drawn looks decidedly suburban and developer-ish.
The best finish for shakes is to have them factory dipped in a stain of any color you like but I wouldn't choose one as dark as the windows nor mix them with other claddings.
ILoveRed
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
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