In my short yet eventful career at Southern Living, I have written several
stories on ranch renovations and transformations. Needless to say, some of the
feedback concerning those articles has not been exactly favorable. So let me
take this opportunity to state that I am not an enemy of the American ranch
house.
But when I find an example that successfully updates the style, I feel compelled
to laud the accomplishment. Such is the case with this home.
Getting Started
Brian Pope's situation is probably similar to many homeowners. While he enjoyed
his Baton Rouge neighborhood and the privacy his property allowed, he was never
satisfied with the appearance of his 1970s house. Because a garage dominated the
facade, the front door was lost in the shadows. To complete the effect, a
skylight situated above the entry created an awkward cutout in the roof.
Seeking a change, Brian consulted architect Kevin Harris for help. "Following
the idea of a formal entrance that both faces the street and serves as a door to
an exterior side porch, we extended a shed roof at the garage entrance," Kevin
explains. This design element, along with a new street entrance composed of a
cedar door flanked by fixed shutters, hides the garage door and establishes the
desired porch appearance. Kevin even treated the concrete flooring under this
covered space in a texture different from the driveway.
Other features also changed in the makeover. To define the structure, Kevin
introduced a brick water table topped with a drip course banding. Fiber-cement
siding was installed, which provides a low-maintenance alternative to
conventional siding. For the roof, builder Bobby Devillier replaced the rafters
over the garage with new members at a steeper, more appealing slope. He also
dismantled the unsightly skylight and filled in this area as well. Then the
entire roof was covered with new shingles.
Details Make the Difference
The original aluminum windows were another concern. "Because the large panes
were out of scale," Kevin states, "we replaced them with wood windows outfitted
with true divided lights." New copper canopies supported by heavy wooden
brackets also enhance the windows and protect them from the elements.
Both homeowner and architect are satisfied with the results. Kevin concludes,
"Brian's enthusiasm helped make this project a pleasure." Ranch house or not,
now that's a renovation worth celebrating.
"Improved Facade" is from the November 2002 issue of Southern Living.
