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Robert and Elaine Ramirez |
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Suburban StyleThe Ranch House (1932-1980)
Identifying features:
"The ability to move in and out of your house freely, without the hindrance of steps, is one of the things that makes living in it pleasant and informal." -- Sunset magazine's 1946 edition on Western Ranch Houses
From the East coast to the West, no home style epitomizes the terms “Americana” and “Suburbia” quite like the Ranch Home. Indeed, many Realtors and homeowners alike simply classify anything single-story and post 1940s as “Ranch”, so perhaps the “track-home” stereotype isn’t deserving. Perhaps as an alternative to the eclectic single-story Eichler homes found throughout Marin County, Petaluma features many custom built 1950s and 60s Ranch style homes that evoke a similar Post-Modern feel: a floor plan centered around a large entertaining/living area, asymmetrical floor plans, and even innovative directional orientation to capture the maximum amount of sunlight. If you’re such an Eichler lover, you may find the custom Ranch homes of Petaluma as a very suitable substitute. Sign up on the Homestyle Finder to be notified of the next Ranch Style home to hit the market! Historical information provided by Realtor.com The Ranch Style, also known as the California Ranch, Texas Ranch or Western Ranch Style, was the ultimate symbol of the postwar American dream: a safe, affordable home promising efficiency and casual living. The style is loosely based on early Spanish Colonial precedents of the American southwest, modified by influences borrowed from Craftsman and Prairie modernism of the early 20th century. The Ranch Style became become the dominant style throughout the country during the decades of the '50s and '60s. In the 1950s almost any one-story, close-to-the-ground, rambling house was called a California ranch house. With its open kitchen/living area, the ranch was specifically geared to casual entertaining. Another key selling point was the desirable indoor/outdoor living promised by the one-story layout, which featured glass doors, picture windows, and terraces and patios secluded in a rear yard.
Having the ability to move freely about the house, without steps, into large private porches and patios from almost every room was living the "good life". Gone was the street-oriented Victorian front porch; that was replaced by a private rear one. The garage also became an integral part of this house design. The popularity of "rambling" ranch houses was made possible by the country's increasing dependence on the automobile which in turn, created the suburb. Because land was cheap, homebuyers were able to buy larger lots. Larger lots meant bigger homes so the sprawling house, a.k.a. the Ranch Style, was born. A variation of the Ranch style, the Split Level rose to popularity during the 1950s. This multi-story modification retained the horizontal lines and low-pitched roof of the Ranch house, but added another story in such a way as to create three floor levels of interior space. This addition served to create "quiet" and "noisy" areas that many families in the newly emerged TV area were seeking. Search Other Styles:
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