convert split level to colonial

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. I've evolved this design to where the center pullout and adjacent shelves can be adjusted up or down. By adding skylights into the master bedroom, it can give an entirely new dimension to the space. Split-level homes can feel dated. The short answer is that, yes, you can convert a split-level to open up the home and make it feel more modern. This information makes it easier to coordinate with pros. 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. ton of options for the open space in the middle. 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. 10 Things You Need to Do When Buying A Home, 3 Reasons to Live in a New Home Before Renovating, DIY Backyard Fire Pit: Build It in Just 7 Easy Steps, This Checklist Is the Key to Taking Care of Your Home (Without the Stress), How to Actually Afford to Buy a Home in America, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures. Whether youre looking to buy or build a home from scratch, you likely have a specific architectural style in mind. 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. This is due to the fact that the sides of this type of home tend to be boringly blank youre actually lucky if you even have windows on the sides. Split-levels are cool on the inside. Tastes change; so, too, an owner's requirements of their home. We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. Updating a split-level home is hard. The split level house design has evolved in the world of production builders following the ranch home. Modern home styles are generally made up of two surface types. Since they are built vertically, that can mean that split-levels have more square footage in the yard. Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. If you want to go full-on modern, consider hiding the roof completely. You can divert and make your main door or entryway as the focal point of your faade by installing an eye-catching front entry. The bedrooms would be upstairs, and the basement or garage would go down. Colonial Homes Vs Split Level Homes: What is the Difference? No matter which you choose, youll get multiple levels connected by short flights of stairs, but each style has unique features. If this fits the bill, you can construct a detached garage at the back and use the space on the side as your driveway. There is typically a short section of stairs that then leads to the other sections of the home. The problem is that it may not be the easiest of plans to execute. We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. Exterior accessories such as light fixtures and house numbers can make a huge difference. In this idea, you must pay more attention to the front door of the house. 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. Your link to How To Organize A Bathroom Closet. Why do you want to do a renovation of your split-level home? Even better, that natural light will light up just about every corner of the room. Most people use the terms bi-level and split-level interchangeably. Instead of a centralized heating and cooling system, consider having separate thermostats for the spots known to be cooler or hotter than the rest of your home. 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. The substantial addition at the rear of the home is barely visible here--the only hint being that the main ridge is a little higher from this point of view. Even better, adding a skylight has a ton of benefits from every aspect: economical, functional, and aesthetic. The L shaped ranch is a great way to incorporate a garage into the house plans. 34 Incredible Before-and-After Exterior Home Remodels We designed a new story above, with turned-gable roof lines to complement the main roof. There is a wonderful separation of space going on in the split level thanks to the small staircaseswhich are half of what it would be for a true 2 story. New columns replicate the original style, so the addition looks like it's always been there. For now, they are also quite affordably priced. Skylights allow for natural, warm lighting to permeate the room. How to Remodel a Split Level Home | Hunker This home was transformed from a split-foyer into a french colonial 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 classic faade of a split-level home is very simple. Refer to diagram below. It is for information purposes only, and any links provided are for the user's convenience. If you were to view the home from the side or the back, youd be able to see the individual levels of the house. You should know the various types of split-level homes before you can consider buying or building one of your own. Painted a crisp shade of white with black trim details, the home now boasts modern farmhouse style. Glass is known to let in more light, and this allows you to save on electricity. The cape cod style originates in 17th century New England and was built with total practicality in mind. At the same time, these homes are also in the current sweet spot for in-town renovations because of their location on the growth rings of cities. This type of split-level house will have at least three sections but may have more. This way, the new addition is not that visible from the front of your home. Walk in the front door at ground level, and you climb a flight of stairs to reach the living room, dining, room and kitchen level . Aside from these two requirements, the design work involved aesthetics: enhancing the front faade with a modern architecture and high quality materials. So, that means sprucing up the curb appeal becomes important. The types of siding that are typical on this style are generally wood and high maintenance,it can be replaced with hardy board which is less maintenance. For some, this section seems like wasted space when you can use it as a den or mudroom. link to What Kind Of Paint For Garage Walls. Split-Level | Remodeling 05 of 22 Beautiful Colonial Home Renovation Whats not to love about a split-level home? Its also nice if you just prefer to have everything on one level. Read more, Your email address will not be published. In Miamis South Beach, the Art Deco style saw a resurgence in the 1980s with pastel colors. It only takes 2 minutes to fill out the form. Additionally, if you plan on constructing a home on an uneven or hilly property, a split-level home is often the ideal choice. Ranches tend to be easier to maintainparticularly on the outside. A roof is far more than a utilitarian way to keep precipitation out of the house its an important design element that can make or break an exterior remodel. For example, the laundry room will most likely be on a different floor than the bedrooms and bathrooms. Lengthen the present rooflines in your home, Match the paint of your garage door to the paint of your main door, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE7jN7ofmeI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKS8AnI6Ahk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHaeHzf4iBU. Although this will lead to inconvenience when moving around your home, you can also get doors placed on each level to maintain the set temperature. You may be used to shoveling the driveway, imagine if you had to add your roof to the list of items to shovel. The Straight Ranch, also known as the Rambler is generally the cheapest house to build,also in the ranch family are the L shaped ranch and a U shaped ranch. Construction by CG&S Design-Build. [Living Room] Rooms on the lower level are usually garages, dens, playrooms, and other informal living spaces. Whats most important is that your home works the best for you. 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. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. But on the other hand, this may not be enough to make significant changes to your home. A new paver pathway, planters, and landscaping add curb appeal. This is because it offers both ambient lighting and a focused illumination. There is a large chimney in the center of the house used to keep the home warm during the harsh northeastern winters. One reason for its popularity was the competitive cost in comparison to the rancher design being built at that time. Anything you do on any floor of a split-level home will affect the other floors. Oftentimes, this floor will have a bedroom, bathroom, and possibly a laundry room. Once you see the possibilities and start looking at the changes that can be made, youll realize that a split-level may have more potential to look great in decades to come than almost any other old-school design out there. Again, as with the cape cod , the siding may need regular maintenance. Drawbacks of Art DecoIn some parts of the country flat roofs can be a problem and need continual maintenance. 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. Consider a new roof color. 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. Recessed lighting, also known as can lights, can be an excellent addition to ergonomic, modern kitchens. Again, the main advantage to this type of split-level home is the lack of staircases connecting each level of the house. Split-level homes, also known as bi-level or divided-entry homes, are a very American home style. Exterior update of a split entry, two level home with board and batten, brick wainscot, and white trim. The raised ranch introduces some stair climbing into the mix. Consider installing solar lights on your property, particularly along the path leading to the main entrance of your home. 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. You can also make use of that list as an inspiration for your project. Though, split-level homes can also have more than three levels. Part of the reason that split-level homes feel so outdated is that they have a number of interior walls. The bedrooms are usually situated right above the foyer. The separation of the floors means that youll be less likely to be awakened by the sounds happening on the lower levels. That pop of color can give the right contrast to the rest of the home to make it stand out in a positive way. Design-wise, it is also much easier for you to work with new home additions that are placed at the back. The lot needs to have a certain slope for the split level style to work. Consider these options for altering the exterior: This isnt as simple as yes or no. That's not usually a good thing. Moreover, the proper windows can play an integral role in the energy-efficiency of your home. Use landscaping to your advantage. Moreover, it presents serious challenges when it comes to renovating the entire space. The good news is that you can transform the floorplan to look like something out of this century. The predominant surface is generally smooth and clean. Bryan Jones, Principal Jones Pierce Inc. An Atlanta based Architectural firm specializing in custom home transformations and custom retirement homes in fun places. Moving your furniture around to change the look of your home is usually the first step many homeowners make. Have questions about buying, selling or renting during COVID-19? The lower level, on the other hand, has lower ceilings and is partly below ground level. That is, the middle and largest level is for the dining and living areas, the upper floor is for bedrooms, and the lowest floor is for the garage or cellar. You can certainly look on the bright side and see it as an opportunity to get more exercise in your home. The split level or foyer offered a stacking of floors taking a much smaller footprint of land reducing the cost to build a new home. Most of the time, they are downright ugly. [Hall Bathroom] The style is not quite old enough to be considered a classic, but is no longer modern. The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. The floor plan is generally a story and which is popular everybody loves a big deep front porch. 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. However, there are major differences between these two home styles. Modern Capes from 1920s and after kept many of the exterior features of the original Cape with a modified interior for a more comfortable living experience. Another advantage is having the front door be level with the sidewalk outside. 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. You can use the following materials or do the following to make noticeable changes outside, while looking neutral enough to complement everything else: If you recall, we made a list of remodeling ideas for the faade and front entry in an earlier section. Typically, split level homes are good candidates for an architectural intervention. These Before-and-After Colonial Home Exteriors Boast Stately Style 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. How one couple converted a split-level into a home they could live with Comments (39) Oh, we added 1100 sq ft. We converted the old garage into the living room, moved the front door, made the old living room into the dining room, opened everything up and gutted the kitchen. Consider casement windows, which feature cranks and swing out to open up. These give an illusion that the areas in the open space still have divisions that separate them. 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. You actually get 3 levels for living space so you really get a sense of depth being in the house. Now that we are living in them, what are some split level strategies that we can use to improve the experience. Raised ranch homes flip the expected configuration upside-down. The first staircase that leads downwards goes to either the basement or some other type of informal living space. The original use of the cottage was to house agricultural workers on a farm. At twilight the house comes aglow with warmth. Heres a compilation of before-and-after photos of some eye-catching split-level home remodel projects: Notice how the small windows added on top of the garage makes this home look much more balanced, compared to how it initially looked like. Please switch to a supported browser or download one of our Mobile Apps. This way, you can maximize the space by adjusting the alignment of furniture and fixtures. A front porch was added, siding and stone are new, as are all the windows. Surprisingly, this style of home was developed not due to aesthetic reasons but out of necessity. fiber cement siding painted Cleveland Green (7" siding), Sweet Vibrations (4" siding), and Texas Leather (11" siding)all by Benjamin Moore window trim and clerestory band painted Night Horizon by Benjamin Moore soffit & fascia painted Camouflage by Benjamin Moore. Homes with two stories, or two-story homes, are built with one floor right above the other. The homeowners are enthusiasts of residential modern architecture and wanted to update their 1960s split-foyer home with a modern design. Split-level homes tend to be small, in terms of square footage . Snow can pile up, causing damage and its harder for rain to drain off. The outdatedness of a split-level home isnt specific to the interior. The south roof slope of the home hosts a large solar array, barely visible here. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs youve ever sat in. Typically, this is done to the main living space and bedrooms. 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. 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. A split foyer actually has a separate section that is on the ground level between the garage and the house. You just have less freedom to do whatever you want with it and you need to generally work with whats already there. Not only that, but those closed off, separated rooms can bring with it a claustrophobic feel. The entry has sets of stairs leading up the main floor and another set that leads to the lower level of the home. You are generally stuck with their traditional layout. However, most of these homes were built on the cheap. Converting a Cape or Ranch to Colonial | Bethany, CT | 203-915-9972 We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood. Updating the look and feel of your home, including the appliances like those in the kitchen above, will dramatically change the interiors. If you can, taking a wall or two out is a great way to open up what is largely an enclosed space. They wanted an open, spacious, airy feeling to this floor. If youve seen one, youve seen them all. Clever: Are Those Commission Savings Legit? This means youll have to climb multiple stairs in order to do your laundry in your own home. It can be difficult to downsize and there are challenges with smaller spaces ,storage etc. 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. Required fields are marked *. A split-level home already has the structural breaks that make this kind of mix look perfect. Side split homes are one of the most common types of split-level houses and are the specific style portrayed on the classic TV show The Brady Bunch.. Meanwhile, the topmost level is where all of the bedrooms and bathrooms are. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. You can use plants, tall furniture, and decorative partitions. 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. You can see the appeal here. How to Modernize a Split-Level Home to Match Your Style - Neighborly 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. This home didnt originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that youd never want to leave. Adding additional spaces to your home will require you to sacrifice either your backyard or the remaining space at the sides of your home, if they are available at all. The exterior can have a look that might be considered dated. Now that youve learned a bit more about the pros and cons of each type of home style, you can make a more informed decision when you go out and look at listings. Although you have limited remodeling options, you can still turn your home into something worthy of a spot in an architecture magazine. Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you. 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. What makes split-level homes a pain to transform is because of the limits involved. Clients goal was to update the main floor and allow more natural light into this small-footprint home. With that said, here are some ways that you can modernize your split-level home and make it more suited to your style preferences: While ultra-modern can mean different things to different people, it generally means getting more natural light into the home. Think of Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater, and take note of the contrast between perfectly smooth wall surfaces and the texture of natural stone used intermittently throughout the design. Split foyer to French colonial. There are also one or two chimneys (remember in the old days how they kept the place warm). If you are working with a limited budget, even a fresh coat of paint can dramatically change the look of your home. To put it simply, the split-level home is a design from the 1950s. Mid-Century Modern Split-Level Exterior Home Ideas - Houzz Consider this if you are more concerned about maintaining an even temperature in your home than the expenses that it can lead to. Split-level remodel: exterior lighting. Get Ready to Have No-Obligation Talks With Contractors, 2023 All rights Reserved Contractor QuotesDeveloped By ITVolcano. All rights reserved. Therefore, we thought it would be a good time to revisit strategies to turn the split level monster into a piece of architecture. As a result, everything should be carefully thought out; you have to keep in mind that all the floors are interconnected. Dont let the limited space of a split-level home hinder you from making all sorts of additions to your home. 12 /18. The major disadvantage to this style of split-level home is the middle area that has no real function at all. The familys living quarters are located on the main floor, on the other side of the house. 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. Not to mention, the steps can be a problem for elderly visitors or even simply carrying the groceries inside. 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. Personnaliser mon exprience l'aide de cookies, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists, Gregory Thomas, Architect, AKBD, CG&S Design-Build, Politique d'Utilisation des Cookies de Houzz. We added a new garage, laundry, master bedroom and bath and 1/2 guest bath on that same level. He's an authority on the Florida real estate market, as well as selling a house by owner. Just because updating or remodeling this type of home is challenging doesnt mean it is impossible. 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. Get new garage doors. The French, Spanish, German, and Colonial Georgian are all sub types of this once dominant architectural style. The chimney and fireplace became mostly decorations. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. 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. 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. 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.

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