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Ranch House Plans, where did they come from?

Ranch Home The first ranch home was designed and built in 1932 in San Diego by Cliff May. It was during the mid industrial revolution, when the automobile became a popular form of transportation that ranch homes spread rapidly through North America over the next 20 years. As the ranch home spread throughout the United States, it became a more and more popular home style and soon became the most common home style during the 50’s and 60’s.

  1. Single story.
  2. Low pitched gable roof.
  3. Deep-set eaves.
  4. Horizontal, rambling layout: Long, narrow, and low to the ground.
  5. Rectangular, L-shaped, or U-shaped design.
  6. Asymmetrical.
  7. Large windows: double-hung, sliding, and picture.
  8. Sliding glass doors leading out to patio.
  9. Attached garage.
  10. Simple floor plans.
  11. Emphasis on openness (few interior walls) and efficient use of space.
  12. Built from natural materials: Oak floors, wood or brick exterior.
  13. Lack decorative detailing, aside from decorative shutters and porch-roof supports.

Ranch homes are also referred to as the American Ranch Home, The Western Ranch Home, or the California Rambler. While Ranch Homes are mostly one-story homes, creative ideas of different designers and architects over time evolved what is referred to as raised ranch homes, or the Split Level Home.

During their respective time line, ranch homes mirrored the simple life of the hard working blue collar American. Today ranch homes are often disregarded, due to their simplistic design and frequency among homes in rural America. However, the ranch home is still a wonderful choice for economical home. The simplistic design of the ranch home makes the cost of building one attractive. Since it’s birth in the 30’s, the ranch home has evolved with many new design features that give this classic that was once considered by many to have no style, a fresh start.

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