A split-level home already has the structural breaks that make this kind of mix look perfect. The landing is presented upon entering and the choice to go up or down stairs must be made immediately. It is not Zillow's intention to solicit or interfere with any established agency relationship you may have with a real estate professional. The raised ranch introduces some stair climbing into the mix. The raised ranch homes and split levels became popular in the 1960s and apparently, were still being built in the 1980s. In the early 1960s, for instance, no floor plan concept seemed better suited to the demands of modern life than the split level . With recessed lighting, you can even highlight the best features in each of the different rooms. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Skylights allow for natural, warm lighting to permeate the room. They first became popular in the 1940s and 50s as soldiers returned home and demand for suburban houses was high. Facing a set of steps every time you enter your house can get old, especially when you are doing stuff like bringing groceries in the house. Anything you do on any floor of a split-level home will affect the other floors. On terrain that is rough, rugged, or hilly, sometimes staggering the floors is the best option for building a home. One reason for its popularity was the competitive cost in comparison to the rancher design being built at that time. We store towels, medicine, toiletry supplies, first-aid gear, massage devices, facial steamers, spare Painting your garage is a great way to improve the look of the space and make the walls easier to clean. Both. The roof lines create an interesting look and this style never seems to be out-dated. Not a lot of homeowners who own this type of home realize that there are actually workarounds or hacks when it comes to updating the look and feel of a split-level home. One set of stairs leads to the upper level, while the other leads to the bottom level. The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. Most of the time, they are downright ugly. Its much easier to move things in and out of the house when everything is on one level. If you dont plan on staying in your home for the long term, you might want to consider a ranch to lower your moving costsitll take an extra person or two for you or the moving company to get things up and down the stairs when you get ready to move. [Dining Room] The split level can be built on a sloping a sloping lot (cheaper) with more square footage under one roof (cheaper! Two bedrooms are combined to form one big bedroom, the living room is adjusted to get a bigger kitchen and dining room, or vice versa. The kitchen and dining room are on a separate floor from both the bedrooms and living room. Tri-level homes already look unbalanced and adding extensions to its sides makes it look even more unbalanced if not done properly. This Plain Jane split foyer was given more than a facelift, it was given a whole new second-floor by constructing an addition changing its style to a Colonial. Split foyer houses have two levels, with two sets of stairs. Copyright 2023 Real Estate Witch Photo Credit: Inspiration for a transitional kitchen remodel in New York, Mid Century Modern Split Level Renovation, Inspiration for a 1960s gray floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Other with white walls, This house began as a typical, low-lying split-level. Get new garage doors. Photo and copyright by Renovation Design Group. A new paver pathway, planters, and landscaping add curb appeal. Now we know why Art Deco is popular in Miami! Tastes change; so, too, an owner's requirements of their home. Perhaps the most popular home style in America today is the ranch. Nowadays, its very common to see split-level construction when it comes to building a home on the side of a hill. Changing the aesthetic of the exterior of your split-level can come down to some very simplistic changes. We wont keep you guessing for so long you can make additions to a split-level home, despite the space constraints. What Companies Offer the Lowest Real Estate Fees? To modernize a split-level home you can take action and add some recessed lighting to the first floor, as well as some skylights, throughout the home. The lot needs to have a certain slope for the split level style to work. What made this transformation was raising the entrance to the main level, building out the attic space for an added level, and relocating the staircase to access all 3 levels. Ryan Shaw is the founder of Real Estate Witch, which he created to help consumers avoid unnecessary expenses when they buy or sell a house. Or, maybe youre considering one of many types of split-level homes. This can come in handy for those who want to rent their extra space out for additional income to a potential roommate. The original 1950s split level was expanded and completely reworked. The original spec was probably a steel door with very little curb appeal. Landscaping is new. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. If you are working with a limited budget, even a fresh coat of paint can dramatically change the look of your home. Although you have limited remodeling options, you can still turn your home into something worthy of a spot in an architecture magazine. But if extending your home is not a viable option for you, the next best thing is to gut existing rooms or sections to make certain areas bigger. Even if the contractor promised to deliver the work at a certain time, you still need to make allowances for possible unforeseen delays that may happen. From the outside, this type of split-level house looks like a tri-level home but its technically bi-level, with a distinct wing for the entry. Add A Level to Convert Ranch to Colonial Convert a Cape or Ranch to Colonial As a general contractor I had the chance to renovate many homes in the lovely state of Connecticut, but nothing beats the wow factor you receive whenever you convert a single story cape or ranch into a beautiful colonial. One of the major concepts of the modern home is that it has an open floor plan. You are almost done - fill out this last step, Main entryway or door located at the middle level (often the part of the house with the single-story), or in-between the upper and lower levels (this style is also known as the split-entry home), The lower level is often the garage or an informal entertainment or recreational space, The middle level is the main living space that typically contains the living room, dining room, and kitchen, The higher floor is where bedrooms are located, How the rooms and functional spaces are divided in each level, Narrow passageways and very limited space near the main entrance (if the home incorporates the split-entry style), Minimal lights and details that are typical to this kind of home, Limited storage spaces, cabinets, and closets, Presence of cold and hot spots in certain areas of your home. We will not contact you with anything else. A split-level home has a few great places to start. A very simple way of updating the look of a traditional split-level is to add some bling to the design. It is a product that can handle any type of sloping lot and is as efficient as a house can get. In some places, homeowners with exterior steps will install a mailbox at street level. The problem is that it may not be the easiest of plans to execute. Look for ideas in your neighborhood. Taken fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKS8AnI6Ahk. Also, your current foundations wont have to support the additional weight, because these additions will have their own foundations. En cliquant sur Accepter , j'accepte l'utilisation des cookies telle qu'elle est dcrite plus en dtail dans la Politique d'Utilisation des Cookies de Houzz. Although only minimal work was done on this home, primarily with a fresh coat of paint and better landscaping, you can see how these seemingly simple works already made a huge difference to it. Given the limited space that split-level homes are known for, you might wonder if expansion is possible at all. Since split-level houses are stacked, they dont take up as much yard space and still provide plenty of square footage vertically on the interior. Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. Benefits The story and a is my favorite, especially if the children in the house are a bit older and dont need to be close to the adults,or if you have out of town company. Magazine pictures of modern homes tend to make them look almost sterile; recessed lighting offers more light without it becoming impractical. Since tri-level homes generally dont look symmetrical, adding additions to it will be challenging. This is in place of having to excavate bedrock to build a basement on a single-level home. [Master Suite] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. The outdatedness of a split-level home isnt specific to the interior. Dont let the limited space of a split-level home hinder you from making all sorts of additions to your home. Split-level homes can be beneficial for those who are light sleepers easily awakened by noise or night shift workers who sleep during the day. Your email address will not be published. In todays world many people find the formal areas of a colonial to be a waste of space. On the outside, you have paint chipping off, loose steps, landscaping that is in bad shape, the list goes on. ), Plus it looks like a really sophisticated structure, so neighbors will be impressed (good!). Required fields are marked *. Design-wise, it is also much easier for you to work with new home additions that are placed at the back. But times have changed, and modern garage door designs can transform the look of the front of your home. There are also one or two chimneys (remember in the old days how they kept the place warm). When a home is cared for, it doesnt have that old, uncared for look that we think of with outdated homes. For example, the laundry room will most likely be on a different floor than the bedrooms and bathrooms. One of the biggest issues plaguing split-level homes is that water can pool up at the lower points of the house. Split-levels also showcase natural materials, minimal decorations, and double-hung windows with one large picture window. Moreover, it presents serious challenges when it comes to renovating the entire space. Whats most important is that your home works the best for you. But the good news is that there are plenty of methods for bringing a more modern aesthetic to your split-level home. There is typically a short section of stairs that then leads to the other sections of the home. The bedrooms would be upstairs, and the basement or garage would go down. With traditional multilevel homes, you have the freedom to do whatever you want with it. This browser is no longer supported. Split-level homes are built in a simple style that lends itself well to many different appearances: Tudor, Victorian and ranch. The split level came into prominence in the 1950s and 60s when returning GIs and others wanted a more grand looking home with a small budget. With a little landscaping, you can really jazz up your ranch! Youll want to arm yourself with this information so you can be prepared when flipping through listings. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros, Split-Level Main Floor Remodel in West Seattle. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. However, this staggered design is not ideal for the elderly or individuals with disabilities. bi-level exterior remodeling | Bi-level converted to a colonial style home traditional-exterior Raised Ranch Entryway Raised Ranch Exterior Exterior House Remodel Home Exterior Makeover House Siding Choices Split Level House Exterior Split Entry Remodel Split Foyer Colonial Style Homes More information . For listings in Canada, the trademarks REALTOR, REALTORS, and the REALTOR logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. The Colonial-style renovation upgraded the plain portico into a spacious covered porch, which allows room for plenty of outdoor furniture. This open-plan layout made the space look a lot bigger. Placement of the family room, kitchen, dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms can all vary in this style. More square footage on a smaller lota way to separate children and parents for increased sense of independence and privacy. This question is important and your answer will serve as your guide when it comes to updating your home. Conversely, you can consider adding in a window or two to really allow more natural light to permeate the space. Painted a crisp shade of white with black trim details, the home now boasts modern farmhouse style. Skylights are a great modern addition that can bring a split-level home into the 21st century. Garage doors are often taken for granted. Recessed lighting, also known as can lights, can be an excellent addition to ergonomic, modern kitchens. The trend these days is to minimize , and cottages do just thatkeeping heating and cooling costs down and making maintenance chores a breeze. The U shaped ranch gives you a ton of options for the open space in the middleyou can put a pool, front porch or a courtyard area there. The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Connect with top-rated agents near you and save thousands on commission fees. The triangular shelves in the corner are quite accessible when the pullouts are extended. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. The shutters on the windows were originally used to protect the windows from the wind during a storm and the ceilings are kept low to maximize heat conservation. Split-level remodel: exterior lighting. As a result, everything should be carefully thought out; you have to keep in mind that all the floors are interconnected. The problem is that it may not be the easiest of plans to execute. Consider these options for altering the exterior: This isnt as simple as yes or no. Updating a split-level home is hard. Below you can get a better understanding of the different types of split-level homes to help you determine which design is perfect for you. Have questions about buying, selling or renting during COVID-19? Contractors are updated with the cost of most construction materials, which makes setting a budget for your project much easier. While adding a new floor is a possibility, the most ideal way to extend your home is by expanding your main living space at the back. Each style has unique features, but all split-level houses consist of multiple floors connected by short flights of stairs. If you were to view the home from the side or the back, youd be able to see the individual levels of the house. These are just a few ideas, and you can use them as a simple spark of design inspiration to get you going. Back additions are also generally cheaper than top level additions to a tri-level home. With some proper planning and a little bit of flexibility, it is possible to transform that 1950s look into something that has a much more modern, updated feel to it. Create low cabinets that can also double as window seats, which allow you to save space and makes for a unique piece. The entire house was remodeled, plus we designed a screened porch and patio / fire pit for the rear yard. Split-levels, also sometimes called "tri-levels," are an architectural dead end that were built in abundance from the 1930s to the 1970s. To the right of the front door is a tiny window allowing peek-a-boo views of guest arrivals from inside the daughter's closet. link to What Kind Of Paint For Garage Walls. Dark colors tend to work well with shingle roofs, and the potential to switch to a standing seam metal roof should also be considered. You can find the majority of colonial style houses in the northeastern and southern U.S. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. Even better, that natural light will light up just about every corner of the room. There are many sub types of the Colonial style, with each world power at the time putting its own unique stamp on this traditional style. In Miamis South Beach, the Art Deco style saw a resurgence in the 1980s with pastel colors. Cape Cods are a story and a half high with a steep, pitched roof designed to keep the snow from piling up on the roof. Generally speaking, a split-level has a kitchen, a main entry, and the living room on the main level. Its nothing that cant be remedied with a little green thumb! Since the house is all on one level, you will need more square footage to get privacy from other household members. 05 of 22 Beautiful Colonial Home Renovation Weve already explored some of the advantages and disadvantages of each individual type of split-level house. The remodel welcomes a covered front porch that was absent in the original. You can also place raised garden beds if you want to disguise the slope of the land. The garage is usually the first to attract the attention of anyone who looks at this type of home, since its door takes a lot of space. Aside from these two requirements, the design work involved aesthetics: enhancing the front faade with a modern architecture and high quality materials. If youve seen one, youve seen them all. In these instances, the floor plan will usually be designed by an architect to suit the specific topography of the lot. A lot of homeowners who want to add space to their homes make the mistake of not considering how it would look like in the end. The short answer is that, yes, you can convert a split-level to open up the home and make it feel more modern. A front porch was added, siding and stone are new, as are all the windows. Use landscaping to your advantage. The homeowners are enthusiasts of residential modern architecture and wanted to update their 1960s split-foyer home with a modern design. Thanks to its inexpensive style, the Cape Cod was a popular choice for many of the first major housing developments after soldiers came back from World War II. Common features of split-level houses include large living areas, low-pitched roofs, and multiple attics with ample storage space. Whether architects like it or not, the split-level may be the "it" remodel of the future. There are many sub types of the Colonial style, with each world power at the time putting it's own unique stamp on this traditional style. For the first idea, let's take a look at the picture of this traditional split-level house located in Minneapolis. Another great idea is to replace old windows with newer ones and tearing down some of your interior walls to make space and bring in more natural light. We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood. Popularity for the split level style was at its greatest in the 70s after the style was featured as the Brady Bunch home. Many homeowners concentrate on remodeling the inside of their home and neglect to work on the exteriors as well. Exterior accessories such as light fixtures and house numbers can make a huge difference. Now, lets take a more comprehensive look at the pros and cons of the split-level architectural style as a whole. More information The idea with the Split level is that you can accommodate a large family on a modest budget. Maximize this by getting larger windows for your home to allow more light inside your home during the day. It is not only the planning stage that you need to focus on the execution is equally important. Residential inquiries: 404.446.3881 Commercial: 404.446.3882 Contact Us, Split level homes are efficient machines of 60s and 70 living, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). The lower demand in most markets means that they are readily available for a cheaper price than other types of homes. The dining room had once been the homes living room, but we had other plans in mind. Thoughtful updates, such as a cedar shake roof, an expansive dormer, and a glass-panel front door, transformed the home's previously lackluster exterior. [Hall Bathroom] Photo: Robert Braddock. In most cases, these homes have a garage with the bedrooms situated directly above it on one side of the house. Surprisingly, this style of home was developed not due to aesthetic reasons but out of necessity. Unlike traditional home layouts, split-level homes, also referred to as tri-level, feature at least three levels that are connected by stairs. With some fresh mulch and flowers, it can provide that freshness that can elevate any home. link to How To Organize A Bathroom Closet. The big tree doesnt help at all, since it just makes the left side heavier than the other side. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. People want more bedrooms, more bedrooms, more bedrooms at the expense of the communal space. There is also hardly any room for experimentation when it comes to remodeling a tri-level home. Because of all these inconveniences, consider scheduling the work at a period when its effects on your household will be most minimal. Some split-level homes use an open-plan layout, which can feel overwhelming for some. Consider casement windows, which feature cranks and swing out to open up. It can be difficult to downsize and there are challenges with smaller spaces ,storage etc. Meanwhile, the topmost level is where all of the bedrooms and bathrooms are. Therefore, we thought it would be a good time to revisit strategies to turn the split level monster into a piece of architecture. Of all split level homes, the raised ranch has the toughest exterior to deal with. There is a large chimney in the center of the house used to keep the home warm during the harsh northeastern winters. Clients goal was to update the main floor and allow more natural light into this small-footprint home. Over the years and more recently, we, as architects, have been more involved due to the riddle of the split level being so hard to solve. The use of mirrored sliding cabinets not only saved space but it also added to the illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is. Always consider even the most extreme ideas if youre planning to be in the home for a long time. The exterior of a split-level home is whats giving away its age. [Office] The more steps you have, the more difficult snow removal is going to be in the winter months. It also helps to ensure that the drainage is properly taken care of. Oftentimes, this floor will have a bedroom, bathroom, and possibly a laundry room. While the ranch will need more roof to cover the square footage than a multi-level house, the roof lines of a ranch are cheaper to construct, so youre still coming out ahead overall. To remedy this without putting up walls, visual breaks can be used. . Additionally, if you plan on constructing a home on an uneven or hilly property, a split-level home is often the ideal choice. This may involve a major structural overhaul, but its worth considering. For people that have trouble making it up and down the stairs, the ranch style is ideal. Windows can look simple at first glance, but they actually play a major role in the entire feel of the home. The L shaped ranch is a great way to incorporate a garage into the house plans. That pop of color can give the right contrast to the rest of the home to make it stand out in a positive way. A cottage is typically a one bedroom dwelling meant for travelers or people on vacation. In most cases, the garage will sit on the ground level and the bedroom area will be stacked above it. The colonial style is associated with the style of building used from the 17th to the 19th century, particularly in colonial America. Most split-level homes that have never been updated retain the retro vibe from more than half a century ago it makes the entire house look like it should have stayed on that era. The entry has sets of stairs leading up the main floor and another set that leads to the lower level of the home. While its rare that a person requests to have a split level house built today, it can be a great house for a new family breaking into home ownership in the suburbs. #OvercomingObstaclesScholarship: Lets Put Mental Health on the Agenda and Change the Narrative on Social Media Together! Whereas, the upper level will have a dining room, living room, and kitchen on one side and more bathrooms and bedrooms on the other. This type of split-level home boasts four or five levels and numerous sets of stairs. If youre looking for a home with plenty of space for your family and for hosting guests, the stacked split design is an excellent choice. Keep in mind that easiest homes to maintain and make additions to tend to be rancheswhich is why they have become one of the most popular style of home! And while the change in floor level creates a partial separation of spaces, they are visually connected from one level to the next. Stucco is the most common material used to achieve this look, and thankfully, its not very difficult to stucco over many existing exterior siding products, such as T1-11. The first staircase that leads downwards goes to either the basement or some other type of informal living space. With standard split homes, inhabitants and visitors enter the house from the ground level. Unleashed by production builders in the 60's and 70's, split level homes are the most difficult type of house to transform into the way our customers want to live today. Colonial Home Style The colonial style is associated with the style of building used from the 17th to the 19th century, particularly in colonial America. You actually get 3 levels for living space so you really get a sense of depth being in the house. With a split-level house, you could have at least three bedrooms and still have plenty of space for backyard recreation. Contrast is key for on-trend style. Balodemas said real estate developers saw them as a way. Again, the main advantage to this type of split level is the fact that there arent a ton of staircases that separate the floors. It is the literal antithesis of the modern floorplan. It is fairly easy to spot most split-level homes from the outside, as they seem to be half a two-story home and half a bungalow or ranch-style home that are combined to form a single house. We removed two walls to open up this kitchen to the adjacent dining and family room area in this classic Split Level style home. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan. The French, Spanish, German, and Colonial Georgian are all sub types of this once dominant architectural style. You can also lengthen the front stoop of your main entryway by increasing the size of your entryways canopy or roof. Updating the siding, materials used in the lower faade, or simply giving it a fresh paint job are some of the easiest ways to renovate a split-level home, but can also make a big impact. If there are multiple bedrooms present and you dont need some of them, merge two or more to create a bigger room. Clients were also interested in: low maintenance finishes, usage of low/no VOC materials, good indoor air quality as they lived on site during the remodel, and preserving and refinishing salvageable resources. Split entry homes have, as the name suggests, an entry that is between floors. While split level homes can be gorgeous, with their high ceilings and efficient use of space, they can also seem outdated and not reflect your unique taste in design. The major disadvantage to this style of split-level home is the middle area that has no real function at all. If you come across an early cape it might seem a bit utilitarian on the inside but thats an easy fix with a little charm! You can choose from stacked-split, split-foyer, split-entry, back-split, standard-split, or side-split. There are various shapes for the ranch style, but the main theme is that the entire house is on one levelwhich has its perks. None have been built since the late 1970s. You are generally stuck with their traditional layout. If done properly, this can tie in wonderfully with the natural stone sections of wall mentioned above. Je peux rejeter les cookies non essentiels en cliquant sur Grer mes prfrences . Looking at listings and come across descriptions saying cozy ranch or colonial and wonder what differentiates thesehomestyles and what it means for livability and cost? Foyers in split-level homes typically contain the linen closets, coat racks, and other storage. However, most of these homes were built on the cheap. The predominant surface is generally smooth and clean. The roof lines create an interesting look and this style never seems to be out-dated.
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