The Ranch renaissance

Not that I have this conversation often and, in fact, it’s pretty much exclusively a topic discussed in my own head… however it’s something I have very strong feelings about: the inherent loveliness of the boring brick ranch.

And really, I am titling this post as a “renaissance” with my fingers crossed that I’m right in thinking we’re starting to turn the corner on how we view these simple, livable homes. Unfortunately, in my research and image sourcing there were a lot of unfortunate before and afters to wade through. It’s been a very lucrative trend to “renovate” these babies and the white paint industry is thriving in this endeavor.

These homes were created around 1940-1980 and are usually a single story and built low to the ground, typically with an attached garage. Split level versions are also very common, especially in the latter end of that era. Standardization of building technologies and materials as well as replicated, efficient layouts were optimal for the ever fast-paced American lifestyle, not to mention cost effective.

However, I believe it’s their very uniformity and commonality that has turned these quaint homes out of favor lately. With farmhouse and Victorian era aesthetics gaining ground, the simple and unfussy nature of these homes are not appreciated. Often times you’ll see inappropriate millwork or molding shoehorned into these houses, especially in the kitchens. While they can funtion as a sort of “blank slate” for interiors, I believe homing in on the styles and ideals in which they were built will lend a big hand in how to style the interiors of these homes.

The most obvious interior aesthetic that lends itself to these houses is, of course, Mid-Century Modern. Even though it’s technically a different house style named “Contemporary Modern”, the short hand has become something else in today’s style terms and there’s a large overlap of dates for Contemporary and Ranch styles.

I actually think what most people believe is “Mid-Century Modern” is actually Scandinavian design inspired, but that’s an axe I’ll grind another day.

To me, the best part of owning a house like this is that you have a built-in litmus test whenever you come across a design challenge. Simply put - opt for the purest or simplest solution. Unpainted terracotta brick? Check. Natural stained wood? Yep. Simple lines and open concept living? Easy decisions. In fact, early 20th century homeowners who rip out walls for an open floor plan should have opted for a Ranch in the first place.

These are “less is more” homes and think that’s a concept we should embrace nowadays.

The Ranch renaissance

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