Lofts in a Ranch?

last year

I have a 50's ranch with low 8 ft. ceilings and our attic space is very low. We never use it but for Christmas decorations and it's hard to access through a drop down ladder. I want to just get rid of the entire ceiling and vault the ceilings in the entire house. But we have a long stretch of linen closets that run the entire length of our back hallway to the third bedroom which is a walk-through to the kitchen. The closets have never been well utilized as they are large, deep and tall. If we vaulted the ceilings would it be weird to create a raised loft/sitting space/office out of where the closets are located? We have very long living room space which could use to be broken up a bit and storage space under the loft could still be utilized. Would this work? Or would that be weird?

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Comments (6)

gustaviatex
last year
Is your heater in the attic? What about a/c vents?
Cole Woods
last year
I think that is good idea.
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Please...new plan thoughts. I am begging.
Q
Comments (72)
Renovator8- I don't understand why you're acting like the injured party here. You give great advice...at times. And I think you've helped a lot of people. But sometimes, you come across pretty harsh and that advice is not appreciated. Everyone else- When a poster asks not to have negative comments...I think we should do as they wish. If this means their plan is not as good as it could be or just awful altogether....and normally a few people have already pointed that out...then let them live in a dream world. We're not morally obligated to force them to go see an architect. Live and let live, at that point. However, it is also not necessary to jump into a thread and change its entire direction by harping on one comment...that probably was not directed at anyone, specifically. Architects are expensive...and that's a fact. That makes them seem overpriced to some people...although their service is probably worth the expense. As in any industry....some are better than others. I've seen too many threads, where a few individuals will de-rail the entire thing and the OP leaves in frustration and hurt feelings. How did that help??? Is that why the forum is here??? I don't think so. I try very hard to NOT lose my patience with people, understand that we all have our indiosyncracies and allow latitude to those I know are trying to help. The same is true on the kitchen forum. And sometimes those very individuals have the best ideas...when they're not shooting someone's entire plan down. And let's face it...some plans are not good. But, we say that...we tell them to think about a KD or architect...and then we move on! Time to move on and let this go. Not only on this thread, but on others, too. There's no upside to this on-going issue of berating people, who do not do what we think they should do. Let it go, let them do what they want...and save your ideas and help for the next person, who may be more willing to accept it. Let's not make the forum such a negative place that no one wants to be here anymore. I was gone for a year, while my husband was sick...and while it's nice to 'see' some familiar faces, I could do without the harsh criticism "for their own good".
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RE: Quality Store in East TX, Dallas, etc...
Q
Comments (9)
Got to Dallas last Wed. before flying out for Thanksgiving. Ended up in the North Dallas Design District for a bit. We had a good time looking in some of the stores. Many seemed to be very trendy, and more for an upscale downtown loft than a country ranch, which is what we have. We then happened upon Gabberts. (If they are going out of business there were no indicators) They had a few recliners that we found, but none were the big plush comfy kind my wife seems set on. They were the only motion furniture that we saw. She did like a Century leather group that was not motion, but it was a bit more expensive than what we had hoped to have to spend. They closed early so we were only in the store about 20 minutes. The sales people left us alone, which was better than some of the other places, but when we did find the Century group we would have liked to ask some questions, but didn't get a chance. We did like a motioncraft leather love seat that we saw in Tyler, TX a few weeks ago, but that was the only piece they had. I think it was a special order, but turned back for some reason. Could have been the squeeky sounds you heard when you sat in the left hand recliner? I would like to be able to see more of what Motioncraft offers, but have not been able to find a link on the Net or even another furniture store in the area that deals in it.
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Raised Ranch Addition Need Assistance
Q
Comments (7)
It might help if you drove around and looked at some of the homes that are similar to yours. Have any of these been remodeled? If, so, you might pop a note into their mailbox asking who their architect was. Also, asking around and seeing if anyone knows of anyone who has a good architect. I found that my realtor had a huge rolodex of people that led me to the person who I eventually hired to draw my remodel. Sometimes it's a friend of a friend of a friend who leads you to the "right" person. Some builders are "full service" and have a list of architects that they use for their projects. I also perused the internet for local architects and looked at their work. We live in an area with tons of ranchers. It wasn't hard to find someone who did remodels of these because it's just about time for most of these ranchers to be re-done! Anything made in 1960 needs a bunch of updating about now! An architect who has experience with these ranchers will help minimize any problems associated with making the house look too long. In addition, I'd advise that you go into your city planner's office and find out what the codes and rules are for your area--are you allowed to add on? Have you already maxed out your square footage? Your footprint? What are your setback requirements? The planning division will have all that info, and they can also tell you what your property has been zoned for. Also, start looking at magazines and on the net for pictures of styles and things that appeal to you--make a binder of all the remodels that your love. This info can be very helpful when you go shopping around for an architect. It can show the person you talk to whether you are going to take this ranch-style remodel in a more modern direction, in a more farmstyle direction, in an authentic mid-century modern direction, etc. Good Luck!
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How much did you put away before considering building?
Q
Comments (46)
For what it is worth, and it is worth exactly what you are paying for it, I would build sooner rather than later. Right now interest rates are just so low, most people think they have to come up soon. Right now according to what I can find, Asheville Savings Bank is charging about $4.70 per thousand financed. So a $320,000 loan will run you about $1,504; a 1% increase (which many say a 2% increase is inevitable) will run run you $5.29 per thousand or $1,693. While that might not seem a whole lot of difference, it really is. In fact, it is a 12.5% increase in payment. A 2% rate jump takes you up to $5.92/$1,000 or $1,894 per month. My advice would be sooner rather than later. However, before you go act on this advice, I am personally of the minority opinion that rates will stay low a while longer. The EU has to raise their rates with the U.S. or we can't do it and right now the E.U. essentially has negative interest rates. Again, this is my opinion, many people think the increases will happen sooner.
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kandrewspa
last year
That sounds very expensive. If it were me I would just vault the main living space (not including the kitchen and maybe one other area to get the extra space you're hoping for. Make sure you will have enough head room for an office space in the attic. If your roof pitch is low you may not be able to achieve what you're hoping for. If you have a generous lot maybe you can bump out over a slab or crawlspace to create an office. If this would enable you to be happy living in this house for another 10+ years it could be worth it. If you're still not really going to be comfortable there maybe it's time to look elsewhere. Maybe you've just grown out of this house.
3onthetree
last year
Existing roofs are not as easily "vaulted" as people seem to think. If it can be done, it is a very expensive and obtrusive project. Alternatively, sometimes you can raise a ceiling a foot or so. Though I don't understand why you would go to that trouble to raise a small section of floor, with the required stair taking up square footage and guardrails/walls closing off a space, to be able to store things below the floor (what, maybe 2 1/2' high?), instead of just preparing your existing attic floor structure to store more items.
Jennifer K
last year
Why do you want to vault your ceiling? Is it just that you feel that 8' is low? It's really not. Very few people are more that 6.5' tall so extra head room is more about aesthetics than function. Are you willing to pay an awful lot and suffer through a great deal of aggravation just for aesthetics?
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Basically you will remove the roof and rebuild it . Is this a good idea ? IMO not worth the money but only you can decide that. I love my 8' ceilings and I do own a 1956 MCM ranch one of many things Ilove about the style .We have really non existant attic space our electrician had to do some work lying on his tummy. IMO vaulted ceiling create issues that people do not think about often. Heating and cooling are affected, noise travels differently and not in a good way. A loft high enough to allow a n office will completely ruin the look of the original house too. Why not address those cabinets to make tehm work better instaed of this goofy plan that will cost a fortune .

Lofts in a Ranch?

Comments (6)

gustaviatex

Cole Woods

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kandrewspa

3onthetree

Jennifer K

Patricia Colwell Consulting

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