Ranch-style

The name Tierwelthaus, or ‘Wildlife House’ evolved from the unique relationship between the home and the land. A heavily used deer trail passes into the canyon to the north and a screech owl who had taken up quarters within the structure during construction now frequents the property. A pair of bobcats regularly patrol the yard, while birds and small creatures alike have built homes in the encompassing terrain.  Previously acquired in a bankruptcy settlement, Tierwelthaus underwent a minor remodel and a changing of hands before becoming the current clients’ forever home. The previous owner was interested only in exterior “touch up” and a modest remodel of the top floor. When the house was transferred into... More

The owners of this Wine Country residence are actively involved with the working vineyards that surround them. In remodeling the original ranch-style house, they wanted to emphasize the connection between their living space and their land. Zumaooh re-planned much of the interior, creating transparency and a connection to the land outside. We opened the exterior walls throughout the house using a series of larger windows and new doors, designed with a patterning effect that provides warmth and texture while reinforcing the classic contemporary aesthetic. The resulting space allows free-flowing circulation thru the public areas of the house while capturing views of the surrounding landscape, creating ample entertainment space as well as a pri... More

2018 Sunset Idea House updates a classic 1955 ranch-style home.   The popular Sunset Idea House concept has returned to Beverly Hills with what’s being called a “refresh” of a classic 1955 ranch-style home – and indoor-outdoor living is a big part of the dwelling’s unique charm.   “The question we asked ourselves was how to create ‘wow’ moments without a full-scale remodel,” says designer Joe Bowcott.The answer lies in the home’s use of big glass.   To make the most of the area’s year-round weather and the home’s attractive, modestly sized backyard (complete with a pool, spa and sitting area), Bowcott, president of LA-based Pemwood Designs, took adv... More

A home with character befitting an independent-minded community.To understand the Ladera Project, it helps to get to know a little about the area in which the modern home sits. The small town of Ojai, in California’s Ventura County, is upscale and breeds a sort of fierce independence, not allowing chain retailers and encouraging boutiques and the kind of small businesses that give a city its character.In other words, Ojai is the perfect site for such a boldly conceived home as Droney & Associates’ Ladera Project, a ranch-style home as unique as Ojai itself, 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.The monolithic structure, with its sleek, smooth steel finishes, takes any preconceived notions about stereotypical Southern Cal... More

Welcome to Northern California wine country at its best. It is here, on a 600-acre ranch in rustic Hopland, at the gateway tot he redwoods of Mendocino County, that the owners chose to build their future.   Taking the name from a magical setting in the Tuscan wine region, they founded Saracina Vineyards, a boutique wintery, planting just 300 acres of organic vineyards on the banks of the Russian River. Because they are passionate preservationists, they south to maintain the area’s unique, unspoiled beauty, host to a variety of native animal and plant life including sheeps, goats, herons, and Canada geese.   The owners are actively involved with the working vineyards and chose to live on the site. For their first project – a remodel of the o... More

A young family approached us to create a greater connection between the interior of their ranch-style bungalow and the rear yard. Several very small existing windows and doors were facing the yard that impeded the parents’ desire to spend copious amounts of time outdoors with their children tending the garden, chicken coop, and landscaping. The family sought to live seamlessly between the interior and exterior.The proposed kitchen, family room, office, and master suite were designed to open the home to the outdoors. A direct view from the kitchen, over the family room, and onto the rear yard allows the family to stay engaged with one another over the course of the day. Natural daylight is brought deep into the existing home with large panes... More

The clients for the Creekside Residence, a pair of Silicon Valley serial entrepreneurs, approached the firm looking to create a unique home for work and play for themselves and their three active boys. They chose the property for its unique character and placement—in Palo Alto—an existing ranch-style home on a quiet cul-de-sac with a generous front yard, and a seasonal creek running through the rear of the property.The existing home had endured a series of additions and alternations over the years that resulted in awkward spaces and confused aesthetics. For the remodel, the architects retained the footprint of the existing house, and opened it up to form the basis of the public areas, including the kitchen, living room, and dining room. The... More

With a gallery-worthy view of the Santa Monica Bay, the Glenhaven Residence was designed to showcase the majesty of the outside world. Bright white interior spaces are punctuated with dark exterior materials to mimic a framed work of art, with nature and the bustling city below as the subject. The owners are empty-nesters who were ready for a downsized home that defined the more mature pace of their current lifestyle. No longer in need of massive spaces and countless rooms, the couple bought a classic and relatively small ranch-style house with a glamorous view of Los Angeles. The existing structure was stripped down to the studs, so it could be rebuilt with crisp lines and modern figurations. From the front entranc... More

Empowered by their love of place and a history of previous renovations, the owners of this Mt. Sequoyah property sought a complete transformation for their modest ranch-style home. They came to us for a creative and modern approach to design that would provide natural light and views throughout the project. With deep ties to the surrounding neighborhood, there was also a desire to tastefully censor the adjacent homes without completely severing their connection to this charming community. The existing house faced the typological problems of small, segregated spaces with traditional windows. By opening the living areas and integrating layers of transparency into the design, the spatial boundaries of the home are purposely blurred, and at... More

Turnbull Griffin Haesloop transformed this two-unit 1940s ranch-style building into a serene, single-family retreat that captures sweeping views of San Francisco Bay. Perched on a steeply sloping hillside in Sausalito, the house is nearly invisible from the street. We replaced the original aggregation of roof shapes on the upper level with a simple, light-filled building volume. A cascading series of garden terraces creates an inviting entry sequence along the north side, allowing the original front-yard to be developed as a private garden. Inside, floor to ceiling windows and generous ceiling heights allow the living spaces to flow uninterrupted from the lush backdrop of the hillside garden, to the broad panorama of the bay. As a resul... More

A home to call one’s own – a private bedroom and bath, ample shared living space, and a front door where family and friends can be greeted. These are the principles that guided Air Force Villages in the search for their model of culture change and initiated a repositioning of its two self-contained campuses—one campus offering a more urban lifestyle and the other a more rural one. Their vision called for a strong physical connection between each home that would allow for efficient staff and service delivery as well as building a stronger sense of community. The strategic planning process focused on addressing future marketability of housing options, as well as amenities for residents. It was crucial that this planning address resident p... More

This project consisted of the renovation of the interior of a ranch-style home in suburban Seattle. The existing entry, a maze of corridors and doors, was opened up to create a "Great Room" extending the full depth of the house. Opening out to a newly landscaped rear yard, the Great Room allows for easier access to a new terrace for outdoor entertaining. The interior detailing is a contemporary take on traditional craftsman detailing. An oversize custom entry door leads to an intimate yet open and airy space for casual living. More

This project consisted of a total renovation of the interior and a partial upgrading of the exterior of a nondescript ranch-style home in suburban Seattle. Whereas the exterior was to remain largely intact, our client wanted a new interior that would be modern and contemporary, completely different from one's perception of the exterior. With a few but important changes in floor plan, we were able to resolve problems in the pre-existing layout regarding circulation and function. In addition, to increase the sense of volume and space, we adjusted ceiling heights in some areas, opening up to skylights for natural light. The interior is an interplay of rich Brazilian cherry floors and cabinets with clean unadorned white walls. From the e... More

This building is located down a narrow lane in Beaulieu, where a group of 1960s modern American ranch-style houses are located. Many of these are today in a poor condition and in need of major refurbishment. An early scheme looking into the refurbishment proved this to be an unsatisfactory as well as expensive solution. As a result we have designed a replacement dwelling. Building on the local characteristics of the immediate surroundings, the design takes the two typologies of The Hummicks and fuses these to create a new home that perfectly echoes the existing building forms. A low, wide frontage brick ‘base’ across the site at the existing footprint, provides entrance and bedrooms, while a low sloping roof, timber-clad narrow fronta... More