Ranch House Plans

In the 1930s, a boom in building occurred in the wake of the war, and in the growing suburbs, large lots of land allowed for the sprawling house plan designs of Ranch style homes. According to The Washington Post, "It is an American original, and its echoes are in nearly every house built since World War II."  Also known as ‘Rambler’ house plans, 1950's ranch styled homes became one of the most popular home designs in America, if not the most built single floor home design. From coast to coast, people wanted these popular one floor home plans.

Ranch style house plans became popular for the openness that it promoted, and to this day, that sought after concept can be found in a plethora of single floor homes. With this ever-popular concept, combined with other attractive facets of a ranch home, building ranch style homes and even remodeling other styles to include a ranch styled kitchen or home addition are still popular. A ranch style home includes some now very well known features:

• Few interior walls, promoting a good use of space
• One story with a low-pitched side gable, hipped roof, or front-facing cross gables
• Simplistic exterior appearance: exterior décor or special features are rare with Ranch style homes
• Very large picture windows
• Long profile, which sits low to the ground
• Ranch style kitchens are typically small and have a sliding glass door that opens upon a patio
• Vaulted ceilings with or without exposed beams
• Exterior is often made from brick, wood, or stucco

Ranch house building plans were also some of the first to incorporate an attached garage into the home. Consequently, they’re typically in an L-Shape or U Shape, placing much emphasis on the patios and decks on the back of them, which usually have sliding glass doors or French doors that open up onto them.

The best way to describe a ranch style home is ‘simple.’ Not only does the outside of the home express simplicity, but so does the interior of the home. With a minimal amount of interior walls, one story living, and also the openness of the floor plan, ranch homes are great for those who want a simple, streamlined style. The ranch style home décor is typically simplistic and clutter free as well. Externally, there are many ranch style brick homes, although they can also be built with wood or stucco, while the ranch house exterior colors can vary according to the owner’s taste. Many owners find the simplistic nature of ranch style homes allows them a plethora of different options and helps keep the owners neat and streamlined, from décor to additions.

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