Customer Reviews

Ranches: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I haven't read this book, just wanted to point out that there are a suspicious 7 reviews in 5 days, 2 from 'Joshua,' 2 from 'Jeann,' and three others that were all apparently submitted by the same person with a grudge to throw off the rating. I checked a couple of them and this book is the only one 'they' have reviewed.

I have no connection to this book or the author, but it bugs me when I'm trying to decide whether to get a book, based on the ratings, to have them intentionally weighted like this.

After having lived for years in a boring, utilitarian ranch home, I had no idea that a ranch house could be as elegant as the homes in this book. Even though the authors present some very high-end renovations, with some imagination many of the basic ideas can be translated into more economical ways of updating your home.

The first thing you notice when flipping through the book is the sheer number and beauty of the color photographs. There is a color photo on just about every page. When there's not, then there is a diagram, such as "Fireplace Options," which shows you several ways to design an updated fireplace. Other diagrams show "before and after" floor plans, and a plan showing the early roots of the original ranch homes. Thus, it's not just pretty pictures presented here--there's a lot of nuts and bolts information.

The authors start off with a history of the ranch style, since it helps when updating to keep within the original concepts that the style evolved with. I learned that the current ranch design was originally popularized by designer Cliff May in California. But May drew inspiration from the traditional ranchos of the southwest. These ranchos in turn had evolved over the millenia from the atrium houses of the Romans. These ancient houses were "closed off" from the streets, whilst providing a private outdoor space for family living, the same as many ranches today.

The authors discuss how in ranch houses form follows function. For instance, typical ranch houses have been built with large windows to allow for passive solar heating--thus these were the some of the first energy efficient houses. Also, there were often more large windows and glass doors in the back of the house than the front. This is because ranches were built for privacy on the street side, with openness to the back yard in order to integrate indoor and outdoor living. Thus in ranches, windows are designed with energy use, privacy, and enjoyment of nature in mind. When remodeling an older ranch this information can be valuable in improving the look and functioning of the house.

The ranch home doesn't have to be boring and ugly. As the authors state, many ranch neighborhoods are becoming attractive to buyers again. That's because they have shady trees, and attractive back yards with an abundance of natural beauty which can be enjoyed from the house. The ranch design was built with adding on and remodeling in mind, so removing walls or tinkering with floor plans is often easier than with other styles of houses. This lovely book shows you how, and will inspire you to dream of ways to do it in a more modest fashion if your budget requires economizing.

The title implied that this book would be ideal for me; I like ranches, I feel that they are undervalued, and I see many that are ripe for renovation after years of benign neglect. They're often small by today's standards, too, and I'd like to know how other people have expanded or changed their ranches while maintaining the buildings' architectural identity. For all these reasons, I didn't like this book much. The author disparages the architectural style that some of us appreciate--she is downright insulting about the exteriors--and seems to feel that the reader/owner's main goal will be to ignore the exterior of their house or transform it into something very different such as a developer-style colonial. Little advice is given about maintaining or updating the wonderful horizontal form of the ranch, choosing trim, siding, roofing, hardware, doors, windows, etc., or maintaining and enhancing the architecture-nature connection that makes ranches interesting through appropriate landscaping, decks, gardens, and other outdoor features. If you find it at your library or a charity book sale, it's worth a look, but it didn't contain what I thought it would.

Despite what some other reviewers have said, I think this book can serve as a great inspiration for owners of all sizes of ranch homes. My own ranch home, in need of some updating and built in 1970, is on the small side but I found more than a few ideas in this book.

A note: This book is not for someone looking to DIY a project on the weekend, and there are other books that are more appropriate for those who can live with particle board and $5 "oops" paint from Home Depot as their "home renovation." The updates in this book are beautiful and of architectural quality, ideal for someone who wants to make a solid investment in their home.

I recommend this book - easy and interesting to read and lovely photographs.

The initial review may have been a little hasty.

The photo lay-outs are certainly a bit overpowering, but I find the text as well as the photos give somewhat a practical quality to this book.

I bought a ranch some 13 years ago, and have been making the improvements that seem called for. Most of this time my only resource materials were magazines from the late '50s and early '60s (and I had to buy them in antique stores).

As I think back, had I had this book when I moved in, I wouldn't have spent so much time with the "should I or shouldn't I" dilemmas that go with major remodeling.

For instance, it took me over a year just to decide on adding a 300 square foot sun room. The authors showed examples how well this upgrade works when done to maintain the basic integrity of the architecture.

New windows, room make overs, bathrooms, kitchens and on it goes, but with an insight you seldom get from another source.

There are plenty of TV programs devoted to remodeling . . . ripping off old dark paneling and snatching up shag carpeting, but considering the rampant "real life" examples of bad remodeling projects, due in some measure to a lack of clear conceptual assistance, I argue this book should be "standard equipment" with the purchase of any ranch.

Before buying, I was offended by the spate of terse, one-star reviews of this book (which may or may not have been written by the same person) and took the advice of others who seemed to love it. I was so wrong. This book is for people who find themselves stuck with a ranch house ("Very few people love the exteriors of ranch houses") when they might have preferred a bungalow or a cottage. The photos are well-shot, the design ideas apparently fill a need, but this book is by no means Atomic Ranch.

Most of older surban neighborhoods are filled with older ranch houses. This books will give you an outline (Handbook) of the problems you will encounter fixing your older ranch house. You do not buy this book if you do not have a ranch house.

Again, when renovating these type of homes (Ranch), it is a good idea to be informed and knowledgeable. Unless, you have endless amount of money to hire the best contractor, and blindly not compare prices with the construction project.

This book is more than a coffee table book. People that give this book one star are missing the "point," and should just buy an Architectural Magazine.

The collaborative effort of landscape architect M. Caren Connolly and professional architect Louis Wasserman, Updating Classic America Ranches: Design Ideas For Renovating, Remodeling, And Building New is a superbly showcased sourcebook of design ideas for remodeling, renovating, and building ranch-style houses. Stunning full-color photography and insightful commentary makes Updating Classic America Ranches a simple joy to page through whether the reader is seriously considering modifications for a ranch-style home, or just casually browsing contemporary architecture.

The common ranch house was developed shortly after World War II. The design fit the needs and desires of the returning servicemen and the workers leaving the wartime industries for traditional employment.

The ranch style house had several new design concepts. Typically they were built somewhat remote from the downtown area, this was the era of the automobile. They were very well made, and designed to be easy to expand (thanks to the coming Baby Boom). The building lots of the time tended to be quite large, with plenty of room in the back yard.

Many of these homes, built in the 1950's or early sixties are available at quite good prices. In addition, with a house over fifty years old, many states and localities give preferential treatment in taxes, loan guarantees or other advantages to remodelling, renovating or updating an existing structure.

This book looks at a series of ranch style homes that have been updated to meet the needs of their current owner. This is a beautifully illustrated idea book. It is filled with ideas that ranch remodellers have used to update their homes. And while some of these ideas are expensive, so is moving into a new larger home.

I really liked this book. My brother and sister in law recently inherited the most horrible ranch and we have been trying to figure out how to make it work for them and their family. This book was exactly what we were looking for. I love seeing how architects have really worked with the houses to make them truly beautiful. The pictures are gorgeous and the houses are too. this is a great christmas present for people who live in ugly--or beautiful ranches!