With their roots tracing back to the Spanish Colonial Architecture of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, ranch-style homes have been popular in the southwest corner of America since the 1950s. The ranch-style homes eventually adopted the moniker “ramblers”, and those who own a home with such a style today may feel that it’s a bit dated. Thankfully, your home doesn’t have to feel this way as there are some ways you can update it.
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Lift the Ceiling – During the 1950s, the ranch-style home often featured eight-foot high ceilings, making the house feel low and claustrophobic. However, the original ranch-style homes actually had vaulted ceilings that go all the way to the rafters. With that in mind, consider lifting the ceiling by raising them up to the angled roof line to make the home feel larger and spacious.
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Remove the Carpet – While ranch-style homes commonly used natural materials in their construction, builders also often added carpet to the home. While this was a common practice in the 1970s and 1980s, it may be time to remove that carpeting and let the natural floor beneath it take center stage to give your home a more natural feel.
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Get Larger Windows – During the 1960s, the expansive windows that were commonly found in ranch-style homes were shrunk down to double-hung windows and other window styles of smaller styles due to energy cost concerns. However, if you want to make your home feel more authentic, you can replace those windows with expansive ones. You can even choose to replace the old ones with ENERGY STAR® windows if you want to save energy while you’re at it.
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Replace the Doors – Back then, using cheap hollow-core doors for ranch-style homes was common practice, especially during the 1960s. If you’re looking to make your home feel more genuine, replace those doors with solid-wood, frame-and-panel doors that are manufactured in the Prairie or Craftsman style instead.
To install energy-efficient windows in your home, don’t hesitate to turn to Renewal by Andersen® of Southwest Missouri. We are your number one provider of various window styles and door installation services. Give us a call at (417) 351-2801, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.
