Renovation Revives a Ranch Home’s Midcentury Modern Vibe
Two architects open up the floor plan, create an indoor-outdoor feel and bring a house back to its midcentury roots
This family of four loved Denver’s Belcaro neighborhood and the potential this midcentury ranch house had when they bought it. “But they knew the living room was dark and that the layout wouldn’t work for their family,” architect Brooklyn Daugherty says. “And they could also see that past renovations and additions had stripped away its midcentury modern feel.” She and her partner, architect Erin Anglin, opened up the floor plan, added a two-sided fireplace, raised the roof along the back, designed a new covered patio and resurrected the home’s midcentury vibe.
Before: The front entry was uninspired and had openings to the living room (opposite the front door) and the dining room (just out of this photo’s frame on the left). “The homeowners didn’t like that it felt like there was nowhere to land, no defined entry point and no stopping point,” Anglin says.
After: The architects added the wood-and-glass door to let in light and provide a midcentury look. They also took over a coat closet space to create a landing zone with a bench and hooks. The bright blue paint on the beadboard nods to playful midcentury modern colors.
“We created an entryway that is a defined entry point,” Anglin says. They created a stopping point by closing off the opening to the living room. This means those who enter take a pause, then turn 90 degrees to enter the dining room, which in this photo is just out of frame to the left.
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“We created an entryway that is a defined entry point,” Anglin says. They created a stopping point by closing off the opening to the living room. This means those who enter take a pause, then turn 90 degrees to enter the dining room, which in this photo is just out of frame to the left.
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Before: The dining room had a dry bar and a wide opening to the entry. The view of the existing uninspired entry space was not a great one.
After: The architects relocated the dry bar and raised the opening from the entryway, creating more pleasing proportions. Part of the project included replacing the dining room windows to provide consistency in the house.
To open up the dining area to the living area, they had to remove a large load-bearing wall between the two rooms. The new location for the dry bar is on the right side of this photo in the living area. The wall behind it used to be the other opening to the living room from the entry. The architects tucked the dry bar into a corner where it’s easy to access from both spaces when the homeowners are entertaining.
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To open up the dining area to the living area, they had to remove a large load-bearing wall between the two rooms. The new location for the dry bar is on the right side of this photo in the living area. The wall behind it used to be the other opening to the living room from the entry. The architects tucked the dry bar into a corner where it’s easy to access from both spaces when the homeowners are entertaining.
Browse dining chairs in the Houzz Shop
Before: The wall on the left is the one they removed, which meant they lost the fireplace.
After: Now the dining room and living room form one open and light-filled great room. The architects tied the spaces together by repeating frosted glass, globes, brass and black on the light fixtures. They raised the roof on this back portion of the house, adding exposed beams and clerestory windows in keeping with midcentury architecture.
“The neighborhood had strict restrictions with regard to the front facade of the house,” Daugherty says. “We were able to raise the roof in the back without altering the ridgeline, so you can’t tell from the street.”
“The neighborhood had strict restrictions with regard to the front facade of the house,” Daugherty says. “We were able to raise the roof in the back without altering the ridgeline, so you can’t tell from the street.”
Before: One of the later additions to the home was a porch that had been enclosed to form a sunroom. The space wasn’t very useful and it darkened the living room. The architects removed the addition and replaced it with a patio.
After: With the sunroom gone, there was room to create an outdoor room with easy connections to the living area. “Connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces was another nod to midcentury architecture,” Anglin says.
The wall in the previous photo provided the perfect spot for a new fireplace. A glazed thin brick veneer surround in a grid pattern is a fresh take on midcentury style. The dark color helps the TV screen blend right in.
The double-sided fireplace also serves the new patio. It’s gas with glass on both sides and is vented to throw out heat. “The continuous doors that open to the patio make it feel like a California ranch house,” Anglin says.
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The wall in the previous photo provided the perfect spot for a new fireplace. A glazed thin brick veneer surround in a grid pattern is a fresh take on midcentury style. The dark color helps the TV screen blend right in.
The double-sided fireplace also serves the new patio. It’s gas with glass on both sides and is vented to throw out heat. “The continuous doors that open to the patio make it feel like a California ranch house,” Anglin says.
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Additional built-ins on either side of the sliding doors provide symmetry. Functionally, they give the owners space to display their favorite things and store items like games.
The hardwood flooring is new. The architects chose the finishes for the open shelves and ceiling beams to complement it.
The hardwood flooring is new. The architects chose the finishes for the open shelves and ceiling beams to complement it.
This cheerful powder room was also part of the project. “We started with the colors — mustard-y yellow and blue — and worked from there,” Anglin says.
The wallpaper adds a natural touch, while the grid composition of the tile and the wood vanity channel midcentury ranch house style. The tile has a matte finish and subtle variations in color.
Tile: Bedrosians Tile & Stone
The wallpaper adds a natural touch, while the grid composition of the tile and the wood vanity channel midcentury ranch house style. The tile has a matte finish and subtle variations in color.
Tile: Bedrosians Tile & Stone
Before: The house has a U-shaped layout, with the public spaces in the center, flanked by two bedroom wings and the garage. This created the opportunity for a courtyard-like outdoor space. The doors seen here opened to the existing sunroom.
After: Here’s a look at the partially covered patio space that replaced the sunroom.
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A large post-and-beam structure defines the patio and supports a partial roof for shade and protection from the elements. The new patio surface is concrete with integrated gray color.
The fireplace allows the homeowners to extend patio time into Colorado’s shoulder seasons. Globe lights tie the exterior to the interior.
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Browse photos of midcentury living rooms
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Browse photos of midcentury living rooms
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two children
Location: Belcaro neighborhood of Denver
Architects: Brooklyn Daugherty and Erin Anglin of Cult Creative
Contractor: Ascent Contracting
The ranch house was built during the midcentury era, but later renovations and additions had muddled the style inside. The homeowners were eager to bring back a midcentury modern feel to the house. “It’s always fun to work with clients who really want to go for a style,” Daugherty says.
The scope of the project was the architectural and interior design for the entry, dining room, living room, powder room and a new partially covered patio. This included new flooring, lighting, built-ins, hardware, countertops, tile and a new fireplace. From the street, a new front door and midcentury house numbers hint at the style inside.
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