Dressing up a ranch home
Revamp gives one-level, classic expanse a modern personality, replacing house’s dated elements with a ‘beachy, fresh vibe’
The long, low, ground-hugging, ranch-style homes that spread across North America after the Second World War, when land for suburban development was still abundant, were popular for good reasons.
They were both practical and handsome, sharing design traits with impressive antecedents, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School style — most notably a conveniently open-concept design — typically arranged on one rectangular, L- or Ushaped main floor.
Communal spaces were accessible and family friendly, and sleeping quarters at either end offered privacy.
Ranch homes often featured large expanses of windows that let in light and connected the home’s interior to the outside world, while minimally adorned exteriors offered a clean, esthetically pleasing façade.
Ranch and bungalow styles began falling out of vogue in the ’70s, when they began to be usurped by the multi-storey faux chateau and ersatz Georgian models that are now so prevalent.
That’s why Kris Brigden, owner of design firm North Muskoka House, was impressed when a young, working mom with a partner and kids called her about redecorating the 3,000-square-foot, one-level lakefront ranch home they had bought near Huntsville, Ont., in a community that includes both full-time young residents and cottagers.
“A lot of people would have thought it was dated, so good for her for seeing the potential. It’s actually a brilliant layout; you can be together or have quiet time, and you’re never that far away from one another,” says Brigden.
The house, which features a large, public area separated by a low, open railing that visually divides it without chopping space into rooms, reminded Brigden of the houses she saw while at university in Florida. “They were often horseshoeshaped, sometimes with a pool in the middle,” recalls Brigden. Maybe it was those memories that put Brigden so in tune with the “beachy, fresh vibe” the client wanted.
The design refresh started with creamy, white paint on all walls.
Orange-toned pine bookshelves were also painted in white, and a pink-toned marble fireplace surround was switched out for slate grey stone.
Those changes addressed a common problem in homes in rustic settings — it was dark.
“You’re basically living in a tree house, and when there is wood everywhere, it’s hard to get enough light in,” explains Brigden.
Full, neutral-toned draperies complete the look, but they’re more of an esthetic addition than a functional requirement.
“Out here, it’s very private. So you don’t really need them for that. But without draperies, a place can feel cold and echoey,” says Brigden.
Consistent wood flooring creates flow, and is a practical choice.
“It’s durable for dogs and kids and traffic, but it can feel antiseptic. I like to ground a space with a rug, especially in open places like this. It sort of says, ‘Come sit here.’ ”
Living and dining areas were tied together by the use of matching area rugs with a tree motif, while furniture and textiles were restricted to shades of white and grey.
Wood and other natural materials also show up in such pieces as a coffee table with an interesting pebble top.
“I repeat elements, because it visu- ally ties the spaces together. You’re actually guiding people’s eyes and telling them how to use the space. Of course, that’s initially driven by how the homeowner wants to use it.”
The space works, says Brigden, because uniformity of tone, texture and textiles are balanced with unique pieces and well-edited accent colours.
“There’s a calm flow that happens throughout this house, but each space has its own personality. Just not to the extent that it’s jarring.”