convert split level to colonial

Your garage takes up a lot of frontage, so it's a large portion of your guests' first impression. 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. You can also make use of that list as an inspiration for your project. The split level can be built on a sloping a sloping lot (cheaper) with more square footage under one roof (cheaper! If you were a fan of The Brady Bunch, then you know exactly what a split-level house is. Sadly, youre limited to these three choices. There is a large chimney in the center of the house used to keep the home warm during the harsh northeastern winters. Whats most important is that your home works the best for you. The classic faade of a split-level home is very simple. 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. 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. The second exterior wall surface, which can make a huge impact and is easily retrofitted, is a natural stone of some sort. If your home doesnt have windows on the sides, which is typical to this type, get them installed as well. You can use this hallway as a small mudroom and storage space for stuff you usually take with you when you go out. 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. Despite all that youve read about them being outdated, split-level houses do have some positives to them. If you are moving from a large house to a cottage or a bungalow, you really need to plan out what you can take and what you need to leave behind. Foyers in split-level homes typically contain the linen closets, coat racks, and other storage. That pop of color can give the right contrast to the rest of the home to make it stand out in a positive way. This type of split-level home boasts four or five levels and numerous sets of stairs. Another reason why these types of houses are desirable to homeowners is that the layout separates the living area from the sleeping area, offering more privacy. The shutters on the windows were originally used to protect the windows from the wind during a storm and the ceilings are kept low to maximize heat conservation. 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.. Even if your dream is to have a log cabin-type of home but you live in area that gets a lot of rain and snow all year, using even the sturdiest kind of wood may be the worst decision you can make in your life. Photography by Tre Dunham, Fine focus Photography. The scope also included the living and dining rooms, plus the front entry and stairwell. A cottage is typically a one bedroom dwelling meant for travelers or people on vacation. Split foyer to French colonial. You need to consider if the changes you plan to make to your home will have a negative impact in terms of your entire homes functionality. For people that have trouble making it up and down the stairs, the ranch style is ideal. Raised ranch homes flip the expected configuration upside-down. 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. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. Consider a new roof color. 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 . [Kitchen] Read This Before You Pay For a Flat Fee MLS Service. Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you. On the outside, you have paint chipping off, loose steps, landscaping that is in bad shape, the list goes on. It is not Zillow's intention to solicit or interfere with any established agency relationship you may have with a real estate professional. But you might be struggling to figure out what kind of paint to use on garage walls. Installing glass panes or other decorative elements, especially on the foyer and main entryway, to draw the attention to that part of your home instead of the garage. Since tri-level homes generally dont look symmetrical, adding additions to it will be challenging. The colonial style is associated with the style of building used from the 17th to the 19th century, particularly in colonial America. The cape cod style originates in 17th century New England and was built with total practicality in mind. When a home is cared for, it doesnt have that old, uncared for look that we think of with outdated homes. 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. 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. What's the difference between a colonial, split, bi-level, ranch and Changing the aesthetic of the exterior of your split-level can come down to some very simplistic changes. We removed two walls to open up this kitchen to the adjacent dining and family room area in this classic Split Level style home. Pin on House Ideas - Pinterest The advantage to split entry houses is the spacious design that offers plenty of room for larger families or those who entertain often. link to What Kind Of Paint For Garage Walls. Any split-level modernization project should look very closely at ways to make those exterior walls smooth. Again, the main advantage to this type of split-level home is the lack of staircases connecting each level of the house. Plants and trees will help balance the overall look of your home and make it look much more even. Cape Cods are a story and a half high with a steep, pitched roof designed to keep the snow from piling up on the roof. In most cases, these homes have a garage with the bedrooms situated directly above it on one side of the house. While adding a new floor is a possibility, the most ideal way to extend your home is by expanding your main living space at the back. The interior spaces flow. 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. Je peux rejeter les cookies non essentiels en cliquant sur Grer mes prfrences . Updating a split-level home is hard. Split-level homes can be beneficial for those who are light sleepers easily awakened by noise or night shift workers who sleep during the day. 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. Tri-level homes usually have small hallways that connect the garage and the main living space. It is a product that can handle any type of sloping lot and is as efficient as a house can get. The Raised Ranch: Living at the Top of the Stairs - Contractor Quotes We removed the walls between the kitchen, living, and dining rooms to create a large open concept space that still allows a clear definition of space, while offering sight lines between spaces and functions. Do you now have at least a vague idea of what kind of remodeling you should do to your home? The kitchen and dining room are on a separate floor from both the bedrooms and living room. 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. Required fields are marked *. Since they are built vertically, that can mean that split-levels have more square footage in the yard. Try painting the front door to something fresh with a pop of color involved. It is the literal antithesis of the modern floorplan. If you want to change the look of your home on the outside, even without doing much work on the interiors, dont worry you have some safe options available. Typically, this is done to the main living space and bedrooms. We designed a new story above, with turned-gable roof lines to complement the main roof. Using bricks or decorative stones attached to the walls as accents, Adding more windows to balance out the elements of your home. Split-level homes, also known as bi-level or divided-entry homes, are a very American home style. However, there are major differences between these two home styles. 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. Maximize this by getting larger windows for your home to allow more light inside your home during the day. Many people have different ideas of what a cottage truly is, but the universal agreement is that a cottage is a small, cozy and old-fashioned house. 11 of 68 The entry has sets of stairs leading up the main floor and another set that leads to the lower level of the home. 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. Breathe new life into a dated split-level with these tips you have more options than you might think! Light can be the biggest factor in transforming a split-level home from an outdated space into one that looks fresh and modern. The reason is to prevent on-foot postal carriers from having to climb stairs to deliver the mail. Split Foyer Conversion to Two Story Exterior - YouTube Thanks to its inexpensive style, the Cape Cod was a popular choice for many of the first major housing developments after soldiers came back from World War II. Using a solid paint color ended up making the entire room look a lot more spacious than when wallpaper was used. [Office] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. The landing is presented upon entering and the choice to go up or down stairs must be made immediately. 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. You'll usually find the bedrooms stacked above the foyer with stairs coming off the kitchen or dining room. They first became popular in the 1940s and 50s as soldiers returned home and demand for suburban houses was high. Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. Garage doors are clad in metal. Bi-level houses are also commonly referred to as a raised ranch. In most cases, the lower level is partially underground but still has windows. Photo Credit: Mid-Century Split Level Addition/Whole House Remodel, Front Yard She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home. For now, they are also quite affordably priced. You just have less freedom to do whatever you want with it and you need to generally work with whats already there. You can find the majority of colonial style houses in the northeastern and southern U.S. bryan@jonespierce.com. If you are still stumped but updating your home is something that excites you, visuals might help you picture out what you can do. 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. Ryan Shaw. Drawbacks of Art DecoIn some parts of the country flat roofs can be a problem and need continual maintenance. On terrain that is rough, rugged, or hilly, sometimes staggering the floors is the best option for building a home. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. 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. Painted a crisp shade of white with black trim details, the home now boasts modern farmhouse style. A split foyer conversion is no simple renovation, but Owings Brothers Contracting is up to the task! Skylights are a great modern addition that can bring a split-level home into the 21st century. Your house payment will be lower, property taxes will be less, fewer headaches, less clutter. You can also have skylights placed on the section of your roof directly above your living space or bedrooms. 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. That allows for expansive decks to be put on or to simply enjoy the extra yard space for kids and pets. In todays world many people find the formal areas of a colonial to be a waste of space. But you might be struggling to figure out what kind of paint to use on garage walls. AFTER: Our design includes a new entryway gabled roof along with a combination a shake and lap siding, cultured stone, Pella craftsman style garage/entry doors and Pella 450 Series Casement windows with decorative flower boxes below. 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. You are generally stuck with their traditional layout. Read more, Your email address will not be published. Looking at listings and come across descriptions saying cozy ranch or colonial and wonder what differentiates thesehomestyles and what it means for livability and cost? Unlike conventional floor plans, when you walk into the front door of a split foyer home, youll be greeted by the two sets of stairs. Fixed glass is another very modern type of window, but it wont work for bedrooms that require an emergency escape and ventilation. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. While some styles create space with doors, the colonial does it with staircase. Unlike standard split homes, there isnt a functioning middle level with split foyer houses. The use of mirrored sliding cabinets not only saved space but it also added to the illusion that the room is bigger than it actually is. The functionality and cost-efficiency of split-level homes made it a hit for families that prioritize practicality over aesthetics. If you have a bigger budget, you can actually expand your home through the back. A very simple way of updating the look of a traditional split-level is to add some bling to the design. You can place bedrooms on the top floor or at the ground level, put your laundry area in the basement, have your living room at a floor somewhere above the ground level, and the entertainment room on the floor below it, and more. For listings in Canada, the trademarks REALTOR, REALTORS, and the REALTOR logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. By even changing out those outdated windows for something modern and new, it can really change the look of the home. You can add a number of design elements, such as siding, tiles, wood, stone, and other decorative pieces to give it a new look. 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. The dining room had once been the homes living room, but we had other plans in mind. Modern home styles are generally made up of two surface types. 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. 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. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan. For some, this section seems like wasted space when you can use it as a den or mudroom. You can divert and make your main door or entryway as the focal point of your faade by installing an eye-catching front entry. Its also nice if you just prefer to have everything on one level. 34 Incredible Before-and-After Exterior Home Remodels 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. One of the major concepts of the modern home is that it has an open floor plan. A split-level home has a few great places to start. Benefits 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. When you open the front door, you are led to a distinct foyer or entry space. One set of stairs leads to the upper level, while the other leads to the bottom level. If this fits the bill, you can construct a detached garage at the back and use the space on the side as your driveway. I've evolved this design to where the center pullout and adjacent shelves can be adjusted up or down. Brokerage. The original 1950s split level was expanded and completely reworked. Notice the symmetry and 2 level design. Anything you do on any floor of a split-level home will affect the other floors. Art Deco has a cool, interesting style that sets it apart from other homes. The Art Deco designed home was made popular during the Roaring Twenties. Discovery of King Tuts tomb, as well as a surging industrial revolution inspired a generation of flat roofs, smooth, rounded walls and vibrant colors. Cobb home converted from split-level ranch to farmhouse-style house - ajc If your land slopes and the main entrance to your home is higher than the pavement, which is often the case, add steps or a small flight of stairs leading to the door. Bryan Jones, Principal Jones Pierce Inc. An Atlanta based Architectural firm specializing in custom home transformations and custom retirement homes in fun places. With proper drainage, you can keep the yard dry and clean, making it more appealing for potential suitors. While the ranch will need more roof to cover the square footage than a multi-level house, the roof lines of a ranch are cheaper to construct, so youre still coming out ahead overall. How to Modernize a Split-Level Home to Match Your Style - Neighborly Moreover, the proper windows can play an integral role in the energy-efficiency of your home. The things you can do when remodeling a split-level home is not limited to what we have included in our list. In some places, homeowners with exterior steps will install a mailbox at street level. They were an off-shoot of the post-war modern movement. These give an illusion that the areas in the open space still have divisions that separate them. On the other hand, bi-level houses have two levels that are accessed via a common entrance between the floors. 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. A front porch was added, siding and stone are new, as are all the windows. You can also turn it into your home office and place all your filing cabinets, bookcase, and other similar items there. That's not usually a good thing. 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. Again, as with the cape cod , the siding may need regular maintenance. 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. Zillow, Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple states. The three resulting levels connect with staggering staircases. It packs a large amount of square footage into a relatively small footprint, something growing families appreciate. In most cases, the garage will sit on the ground level and the bedroom area will be stacked above it. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. Whether youre looking to buy or build a home from scratch, you likely have a specific architectural style in mind. Transfer your coat rack or closet from the landing to the top of the stairs instead, creating room for you to welcome your guests as soon as they step inside. He's an authority on the Florida real estate market, as well as selling a house by owner. Colonial Homes Vs Split Level Homes: What is the Difference? A circa 1960's split-level enhanced by a 300 square foot addition, a re-configured main level floor plan and a seamlessly remade front elevation will be featured in a "Remodeled Home Tour". Horizontal sliders can also provide a more modern look. Consider casement windows, which feature cranks and swing out to open up. 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. Aside from the limited space you can work on, from the total space to the narrow hallways and short stairs, you also need to consider the function of every floor and how they would connect to the other floors in terms of their function. Generally speaking, a split-level has a kitchen, a main entry, and the living room on the main level. The major disadvantage to this style of split-level home is the middle area that has no real function at all. Bathroom closets are often catch-alls for anything and everything remotely related to self-care. The homeowners are enthusiasts of residential modern architecture and wanted to update their 1960s split-foyer home with a modern design. Your old garage can be converted into any living space you want. If you come across an early cape it might seem a bit utilitarian on the inside but thats an easy fix with a little charm! Landscaping is new. . 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. Connect with top-rated agents near you and save thousands on commission fees. The remodel welcomes a covered front porch that was absent in the original. Split-level homes are built in a simple style that lends itself well to many different appearances: Tudor, Victorian and ranch. The lights will stay relatively hidden and wont become a distraction, either. Photo: Robert Braddock.

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