Ranch’s appeal starts in kitchen
Though mid-century modern furniture and architecture has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity for a while now, the ubiquitous ranch home — especially the more basic ones — seems to remain the dorky, distant cousin of those boxy, International Modern dwellings.
But there’s a reason the style of the low-rise house was so popular from the 1930s through the 1970s, and it wasn’t only because they often met federal financing guidelines. It’s because they’re good-looking, family-friendly and efficient.
The quirky ranch at 84 Brook Farm Road in West Roxbury — wedged between Brookline and Newton — is no exception.
Listed for just under $750,000, the nearly 2,000-square-foot home has a yard and garage.
Often thought of as somewhat generic and plain in style, ranch homes in reality can hold an atypical personality, even if hidden under a veneer of Western conformity. At least that’s the case with 84 Brook Farm Road. The big personality here is in the over-sized, busy kitchen with built-in seats, high ceilings, two sinks, and endless counter and cabinet space. It feels like it was designed by someone who wanted to replicate the feeling of eating and cooking in a casual restaurant.
Besides the yard, garage and size of the home, the kitchen’s size will be the biggest draw for the future owner, even if it will likely get reworked to that buyer’s liking. The rest of the main first floor is respectable and frankly, what you’d expect: a living room with a big fireplace, a den, and three bedrooms, including a surprisingly big master bedroom.
Downstairs in the basement, the 1950s dwelling also appears as you’d envision a ranch’s interior would appear: like a scene out of The Brady Bunch. There’s tan wood paneling and the outside has that iconic, low-pitched, cross-gabled roof and belowgrade garage that are so common for ranches.
But none of this is meant to criticize the home. It’s perfectly livable, even comfortable and handsome, and it has had several systems upgrades in recent years. Though none of the inside looks like it was remodeled in the past decade or so, much of its style has come back in style, including the retro-looking bathrooms. In addition, fitting with the California origins of the ranch movement, this home beckons that mythical So. Cal. progressive, with its electric car charging station and overall casual vibe.