The separation of the floors means that youll be less likely to be awakened by the sounds happening on the lower levels. The landing is presented upon entering and the choice to go up or down stairs must be made immediately. Modern home styles are generally made up of two surface types. If you live in a suburban area and your home has been around since the 1950s, 1960s, or 1970s, chances are you are living in a split-level home. They wanted an open, spacious, airy feeling to this floor. Another common complaint about the ranch style of home is that the outside can tend to have a boring, lackluster appeal. The addition of Colonial-style features, from the cupola on the garage roof to the dramatic front porch supported by traditional columns, lends antique intrigue . In the case of side additions, it is vital that it blends with the existing faade, which means getting the same windows, paint color, type of roof, etc. Your house payment will be lower, property taxes will be less, fewer headaches, less clutter. Some split-level homes have ample space at the back and on one side. Popularity for the split level style was at its greatest in the 70s after the style was featured as the Brady Bunch home. Being a Los Angeles resident, Jessica spends a lot of her time looking for her next DIY project and sharing her love for home design. 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. For ranches, this can extend off the main house and connect to a garage that was once completely separate from the rest of the home. . On the other hand, this is not something you can do with split-level homes. The predominant surface is generally smooth and clean. We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. The big tree doesnt help at all, since it just makes the left side heavier than the other side. Do you now have at least a vague idea of what kind of remodeling you should do to your home? 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. Bathroom closets are often catch-alls for anything and everything remotely related to self-care. The aesthetic lends itself to an imaginative use of color, glass and circles. You can certainly look on the bright side and see it as an opportunity to get more exercise in your home. A split-level home has a few great places to start. The exterior can have a look that might be considered dated. Most people use the terms bi-level and split-level interchangeably. If there are multiple bedrooms present and you dont need some of them, merge two or more to create a bigger room. You actually get 3 levels for living space so you really get a sense of depth being in the house. Je peux rejeter les cookies non essentiels en cliquant sur Grer mes prfrences . With proper drainage, you can keep the yard dry and clean, making it more appealing for potential suitors. If youve recently fallen in love with this type of floor plan, its worth familiarizing yourself with your options. This type of split-level home boasts four or five levels and numerous sets of stairs. The possibilities are endless. Functionally, the client sought to replace a single-car carport with a new oversized two-car garage and to create a protected entry porch for their home. Taking inspiration from the typical ranch home, split-level homes were designed to maximize the very limited space available in suburban neighborhoods, while being budget-friendly for families to afford or construct. The short answer is that, yes, you can convert a split-level to open up the home and make it feel more modern. The Colonial-style renovation upgraded the plain portico into a spacious covered porch, which allows room for plenty of outdoor furniture. Split-level homes can feel dated. A common configuration is having the first stairs from the entryway leading to the dining room or kitchen. The content on this site is not intended to provide legal, financial or real estate advice. We wont keep you guessing for so long you can make additions to a split-level home, despite the space constraints. The top floor typically features taller ceilings and houses the main rooms, such as the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, dining room, and living room. And voila! 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. The entrance is a small section that is separate from all the main floors of the home. With recessed lighting, you can even highlight the best features in each of the different rooms. The need to climb stairs tends to lower the value a little bit, which can help first-time homebuyers that are looking to break into home ownership. Your Do You Need an Addition or Remodel Contractor? Split Foyer Conversion to Two Story Exterior 16,244 views Oct 26, 2018 60 Dislike Share Save owingsbrothers 222 subscribers This Plain Jane split foyer was given more than a facelift, it was. Consider all of the pros and cons of the different types of split-level homes before making a final decision. The raised ranch came into popularity as land in the suburbs became more scarce and families wanted to get more of a house on a smaller piece of property. She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home. 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. Location: Marietta's Indian Hills neighborhood Size: 4,500 square feet, five bedrooms and six bathrooms Year built/bought: 1972/2017 Architectural style: Split-level ranch converted into. Check out another split-level project by Jones Pierce Studios: https://jonespierce.com/marietta-split-level-facelift/, 400 Plasters Ave. NE, #225 Atlanta, GA 30324 Split-level houses feature an architectural style that was most popular in the 40s and 50s, and each type of split-level house has distinct features. For the first idea, let's take a look at the picture of this traditional split-level house located in Minneapolis. Whole House Remodeling This home was transformed from a split-foyer into a french colonial. Placement of the family room, kitchen, dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms can all vary in this style. The original spec was probably a steel door with very little curb appeal. [Living Room] In some parts of the country flat roofs can be a problem and need continual maintenance. The Empire State Building is a glowing example of the Art Deco style and its reach for the sky ethos. Whereas, the upper level will have a dining room, living room, and kitchen on one side and more bathrooms and bedrooms on the other. Weve been getting a lot of questions on this so we figured we would dive and and provide the definitive guide on home styles and how each style affects the livability, aesthetics, and the cost to make changes / additions to each style. Again, the main advantage to this type of split-level home is the lack of staircases connecting each level of the house. 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. While we know that the design of a split-level house can vary, many of them will have a set of stairs outside that lead to the front door instead of a flat sidewalk. The home will include many sets of stairs, or in some cases, just a couple of steps, but the entry is generally at ground level. [Kitchen] Light can be the biggest factor in transforming a split-level home from an outdated space into one that looks fresh and modern. Although each type of split-level home is different from one another, they all share the same characteristic of having multiple floors that are connected by short flights of stairs. But you might be struggling to figure out what kind of paint to use on garage walls. The functionality and cost-efficiency of split-level homes made it a hit for families that prioritize practicality over aesthetics. The ranch has no stairs, the entire house is on one level. It also helps to ensure that the drainage is properly taken care of. Lighting is one of the most important features in just about any home layout. 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. Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. Look for ideas in your neighborhood. 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. Again, split-level homes tend to struggle with natural lighting. To even out the temperature all over your home, you can get furnace fans installed and get them to run at a low setting. This additional floor either becomes the highest floor or is the cellar or basement located just below the floor where your main living space is. Moreover, it presents serious challenges when it comes to renovating the entire space. While some styles create space with doors, the colonial does it with staircase. They were an off-shoot of the post-war modern movement. Opendoor: How Much Will It Pay For My Home. Fixed glass is another very modern type of window, but it wont work for bedrooms that require an emergency escape and ventilation. All rights reserved. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. My standard corner with 28"-deep diagonal pullouts. The outdatedness of a split-level home isnt specific to the interior. In most cases, the bottom level is a garage, a den, a playroom, a recreation room, or other informal living areas. Of all split level homes, the raised ranch has the toughest exterior to deal with. In most cases, these homes have a garage with the bedrooms situated directly above it on one side of the house. Used under license. By replacing current windows with something that let in a lot more light and are more efficient, you can bring in more natural light to the home, making the space feel bigger, and help to cut down on energy costs over time. Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you. In most cases, the garage will sit on the ground level and the bedroom area will be stacked above it. 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. Even better, adding a skylight has a ton of benefits from every aspect: economical, functional, and aesthetic. This is partially because they are seen as being out of date. Written by The defining characteristic of the Colonial style of home is two stories, with a formally defined living room and dining room on the first floor and maybe one bedroom, with the other bedrooms being on the second story of the home. And many of them are Colonial style, meaning that they feature grids that divide the window into 12 or more small lites, rather than larger panes of glass. So, that means sprucing up the curb appeal becomes important. The classic faade of a split-level home is very simple. These give an illusion that the areas in the open space still have divisions that separate them. This question is important and your answer will serve as your guide when it comes to updating your home. A new paver pathway, planters, and landscaping add curb appeal. However, the major disadvantage is the fact that you must climb multiple sets of stairs to reach each individual level of the home. The bedrooms would be upstairs, and the basement or garage would go down. You can also have skylights placed on the section of your roof directly above your living space or bedrooms. The lights will stay relatively hidden and wont become a distraction, either. And for split-level homes, the ideal remodel involves also the sides of the house. Magazine pictures of modern homes tend to make them look almost sterile; recessed lighting offers more light without it becoming impractical. Doors with glass-like, translucent flat panels are beautiful in daylight and at night, when interior light can turn them into giant night lights all while obscuring the contents of your garage from neighbors. You are generally stuck with their traditional layout. If youve seen one, youve seen them all. You can also place raised garden beds if you want to disguise the slope of the land. Single-hung windows, which feature bottom panes that slide up to open the windows, are common in split-level homes from the 60s, 70s and 80s. 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. With traditional multilevel homes, you have the freedom to do whatever you want with it. 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. You can divert and make your main door or entryway as the focal point of your faade by installing an eye-catching front entry. Split-levels are cool on the inside. If you prefer a home that still separates the living space from the bedrooms, but doesnt require a full flight of stairs to reach, you may consider a side split style house. Split-levels, also sometimes called "tri-levels," are an architectural dead end that were built in abundance from the 1930s to the 1970s. Garage doors are often taken for granted. This floor plan features three to four floors and many sets of stairs. Make no mistake, retro is chic but split-level homes, to many, are still out of style. As a result, their homes look even more unbalanced and the new additions are blatantly obvious not a look you should strive for. Use landscaping to your advantage. Any split-level modernization project should look very closely at ways to make those exterior walls smooth. If you were a fan of The Brady Bunch, then you know exactly what a split-level house is. 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 cape cod style originates in 17th century New England and was built with total practicality in mind. Dont let the limited space of a split-level home hinder you from making all sorts of additions to your home. 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. Keep in mind that the costs could be elevated from a standard renovation project because of the potential removal of walls and their load-bearing implications. A split level home is often a great investment, and there are lots of pros to buying one. 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 . Read more, Your email address will not be published. Noticing a theme yet? It only takes 2 minutes to fill out the form. The most significant change done to this space is removing the small room in the middle of the floor that housed the kitchen. The entire house was remodeled, plus we designed a screened porch and patio / fire pit for the rear yard. We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood. Try taking out some of the interior walls wherever possible. The split level house design has evolved in the world of production builders following the ranch home. 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. Consider this if you are more concerned about maintaining an even temperature in your home than the expenses that it can lead to. The roof is an oft-overlooked aspect of a homes exterior, which is surprising given the size of both the visible surface area of the roof and the investment required to have a new one installed.