Contemporary ranch house design
15 Modern Ranch Style Homes with Massive Curb Appeal
Not your grandma’s ranch! With massive curb appeal, modern updates, and trending color palettes, you will love the modern ranch style homes on this list. We will walk you through what is a ranch style house, and also break down design options, features, and suggestions when upgrading your ranch style house.
If you need help bringing your ranch home into the 21st century, our virtual exterior designers at brick&batten can help. We take a picture of your home and bring it to life with a new color palette, finishings, windows, landscaping, and more — complete with a clickable shopping list. Learn more about how it works here.
What is a ranch style house?
The ranch originated in the United States in the 1920s. It traditionally features a low-to-the-ground and sprawling profile with a single story, and a wide, open layout. Ranch style homes fuse modern ideas with the wide open spaces of the American West, creating an informal and casual living space that blends into nature. Modern ranch style homes typically are rectangular, U, or L shaped. They tend to have a devoted patio or deck space, large windows, and often feature a finished basement and attached garage.
Next, ranch style homes have many benefits. They offer easy exterior maintenance with a low-pitch roofline, no stairs to climb, and they’re great for entertaining. We’ve also seen a resurgence in the appeal for modern ranch style homes because of our modern preference for blended indoor/outdoor living spaces.
#1 // Modern Ranch with A-Frame Porch
This modern ranch style home got an upgrade in vertical siding painted in Iron Mountain by Benjamin Moore with wood accents. We love the pop of color on the teal door, and the A-frame porch and light fixture add visual interest. The porch feels like an extension of the yard and walkway, which is characteristic of a true ranch.
#2 // Bungalow Style Ranch Home
This smaller bungalow style features large windows, which are customary on ranch style homes, as well as an exterior painted in Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams.
Additionally, the wood columns and stone walkway help the home blend into its natural surroundings.
#3 // Contemporary U-Shaped Ranch with Flat Roof
The flat roof and tall rectangular windows give this contemporary ranch style home an industrial feel. Adding stone and wood accents helps ground the space and connect it to the outdoors. Moreover, the U-shaped profile allows for unique, contrasting design elements without losing symmetry.
#4 // Modern Ranch Style House with Roof Windows
Starting in the 1960s, ranch style homes in California and the Sun Belt started featuring more architectural features like cathedral ceilings, angular roof lines, and skylights. This brick home is a perfect example, and we it painted in Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. Plus, the contrasting black garage and roof windows create a dramatic yet cohesive effect.
#5 // Contemporary White Ranch
The varied angular rooflines and exposed rafters of this contemporary ranch style home add a little bit of spunk, while the wood accents and stone porch provide an earthy feel.
We also love how the vertical siding, horizontal siding, and brick are painted the same color (Seapearl by Benjamin Moore) to bring all the home features together.
#6 // Sprawling L-Shaped Modern Ranch
If you want a large home that doesn’t stand out or take over your landscaping, a sprawling L-shaped modern ranch style home will do the job nicely. As such, we love the painted brick, contrasting roofline, and wood doors on this home. The black windows and lighting and copper gutters add some contrast and visual interest.
#7 // Midcentury Modern Ranch
We love a good midcentury modern ranch style home with its large windows and simple, open design. We chose Dragon’s Breath by Benjamin Moore for the roof bump out on this home and garage to contrast with the brick painted in Revere Pewter. Certainly, the wood columns, porch roof, and door also make the space cozy and inviting.
#8 // Modern Suburban Ranch
This modern, symmetrical suburban ranch got an upgrade in vertical painted siding with whitewashed stone.
The centered porch and contrasting colors draw the eye to the beautiful door and large picture windows. This ranch style home exterior design is welcoming and modern.
#9 // Midcentury Modern Coastal Ranch
This beach-y midcentury modern ranch home is bright and airy with a fresh coat of paint, modern finishes, and wood accents. Naturally, we also love the seating nook that helps blend indoors and outdoors — as a true ranch should.
#10 // Modern Farmhouse Ranch
With its casual style and natural features, the modern farmhouse trend mixes well with a ranch style house. We also love the metal roof accents and vaulted wood beam porch on this home, both of which contrast with the siding rendered in Shoji White by Sherwin Williams.
#11 // Modern Rustic Ranch Style Home with Pool
This rustic modern ranch style home truly blends indoor/outdoor living with multiple double sliders to various seating areas, a firepit, and an in-ground pool. Furthermore, the large windows bring natural light in and the covered patio acts as an additional living space outdoors.
#12 // Bungalow Ranch with Detached Garage
A smaller bungalow ranch style home gets a modern update with large windows, an open porch, and a glass-paneled door with sidelights. The detached garage blends in with the surroundings so as to not draw the eye away from the home’s focal point — the welcoming porch and oversized modern light fixture.
#13 // Tiny Monochrome Ranch Style Home
We love how a monochromatic look on a tiny home can actually make it feel bigger. This modern ranch style home looks large and inviting because of the picture windows, minimal landscaping, and lighting. The siding is painted in Graphite by Benjamin Moore, which has blue undertones that carry through the roof, porch, and walkway.
#14 // Spanish Rustic Modern Ranch Style Home
The grid-pattern windows on this Spanish rustic modern ranch style home add character and visual interest. The white-painted stucco looks fresh and updated against black accents and finally, the beautiful stained wood garage door pulls things together.
#15 // Contemporary Ranch Home with Low-Sloped Roof
Modern contemporary ranch homes often have interesting roof lines and porch features. While these can sometimes be challenging to design, they’re also fun features that can show off your home’s personality. The gray accent panels on both sides of this home present an illusion of larger windows and balance out the angles. Similarly, the large glass-paneled door and porch skylights give off a welcoming vibe as you enter the home.
The Bottom Line on Modern Ranch Style Homes
Ranch style homes are an American staple, present in almost every neighborhood across the USA. Whether blending rustic and natural elements into the exterior design or using bright, contrasting colors to highlight architectural features, updating your ranch house to suit modern styles and needs is a great way to improve curb appeal. Therefore, we hope this list has inspired you to update your home’s exterior!
Our exterior designers at brick&batten can help you blend the outdoors with modern indoor living; just the way your ranch style home was originally created.
Our digital renderings offer design options and shopping links for easy DIY updates. Start today with our simple exterior design questionnaire.
10 Ranch House Plans with a Modern Feel
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Interested in learning more about how Alan Mascord Design Associates can help you create the modern ranch house plan of your dreams? Contact us today to start the process of designing a home that specifically meets your needs.
The Yamane Residence: This wonderful contemporary ranch house plan offers an abundance of light and space, with a fabulous indoor/outdoor connection.
Custom Modern Ranch Home Plans The Yamane Residence
The Modern Ranch House Plan 1169ES: This plan is designed for maximum efficiency, offers a wealth of living space and includes a covered outdoor patio perfect for entertaining.
The Modern Ranch House Plans 1169ES
The Glencoe Home Plan 1219: You'll fall in love with the spacious floor plan of this modern ranch house plan, which includes a see-through fireplace, entertainment center and command center kitchen with large island.
Ranch Home Plans 1219 The Glencoe
The Riverside Home Plan 1245 is a modern ranch design that includes all the must-have modern conveniences along with a fantastically livable layout.
Ranch House Plans 1245 The Riverside
The Harrisburg House Plan 1412: This stunning rambler-style home offers multiple wings, privacy, entertaining space and perfectly placed built-ins.
Ranch Home Plans 1412 The Harrisburg
The Hamburg Home Plan 1243: This inviting contemporary ranch house plan maximizes square footage with a unique roofline and asymmetrical design that makes rooms feel grand.
Ranch House Plans 1243 The Hamburg
The Hampton Home Plan 1240 boasts an amazing outdoor patio just outside the living and dining areas, perfect for entertaining!
Ranch Home Plans 1240 The Hampton
The Dallas House Plan 1247 was designed to be easily modified to fit any homeowner's needs. The Dallas offers a single-level layout, attached garage and ample interior space.
Ranch Home Plans 1247 The Dallas
The Houston Home Plan 1246 is suitable for a north or south facing lot, and features a corner office and a spacious outdoor living area.
Ranch House Plans 1246 The Houston
The Caprica Home Plan 1242A has all the light and space you need and features a grand hall with vaulted ceilings, built-ins and fireplace, perfect for a combined living and dining room.
Ranch Home Plans 1242A The Caprica
Photographed Homes May Include Modifications Not Reflected in the Design
Custom Modern Ranch Home Plans The Yamane Residence
The Yamane Residence: This wonderful contemporary ranch house plan offers an abundance of light and space, with a fabulous indoor/outdoor connection.
The Modern Ranch House Plans 1169ES
The Modern Ranch House Plan 1169ES: This plan is designed for maximum efficiency, offers a wealth of living space and includes a covered outdoor patio perfect for entertaining.
Ranch Home Plans 1219 The Glencoe
The Glencoe Home Plan 1219: You'll fall in love with the spacious floor plan of this modern ranch house plan, which includes a see-through fireplace, entertainment center and command center kitchen with large island.
Ranch House Plans 1245 The Riverside
The Riverside Home Plan 1245 is a modern ranch design that includes all the must-have modern conveniences along with a fantastically livable layout.
Ranch Home Plans 1412 The Harrisburg
The Harrisburg House Plan 1412: This stunning rambler-style home offers multiple wings, privacy, entertaining space and perfectly placed built-ins.
Ranch House Plans 1243 The Hamburg
The Hamburg Home Plan 1243: This inviting contemporary ranch house plan maximizes square footage with a unique roofline and asymmetrical design that makes rooms feel grand.
Ranch Home Plans 1240 The Hampton
The Hampton Home Plan 1240 boasts an amazing outdoor patio just outside the living and dining areas, perfect for entertaining!
Ranch Home Plans 1247 The Dallas
The Dallas House Plan 1247 was designed to be easily modified to fit any homeowner's needs. The Dallas offers a single-level layout, attached garage and ample interior space.
Ranch House Plans 1246 The Houston
The Houston Home Plan 1246 is suitable for a north or south facing lot, and features a corner office and a spacious outdoor living area.
Ranch Home Plans 1242A The Caprica
The Caprica Home Plan 1242A has all the light and space you need and features a grand hall with vaulted ceilings, built-ins and fireplace, perfect for a combined living and dining room.
Top 5 Rules - INMYROOM
Tips
Traditional American ranches are small houses made of cheap materials. Read our review of how modern ranches look like today and what interior details they inherited. Today, the famous Moscow designer Elena Krylova told us what exactly is the peculiarity of designing an interior in the style of an American ranch, and how to make it as close as possible to Russian realities. nine0003
Elena Krylova is a famous Moscow designer, head of her own design studio. Elena created exclusive interiors for many show business stars, famous politicians and businessmen: Bari Alibasov, Natasha Koroleva, Lena Lenina and many others.
During her work, Elena Krylova, together with her team, has implemented dozens of design projects for both residential premises and clubs, restaurants and beauty salons. Regular participant of business events and TV projects.
1. Materials
Originally an American ranch house built with the cheapest and poor quality materials. The fact is that the hot location and the idle lifestyle did not force dashing cowboys to build high-quality and long-term housing.
Therefore, during the construction, everything that was at hand was used: brick, stone, boards, clay. Today, these materials are also relevant when decorating ranch-style houses.
2. Planning
Naturally, during the crisis there was nowhere to turn around during the construction, so the rural housing of the industrious American did not differ in high-rise buildings - one, maximum two floors. nine0003
The ranch is also characterized by an asymmetric design and the absence of any internal geometry.
The small area of the ranch did not allow dividing the premises into many rooms, so the dining room was almost always combined with the living room and hallway. At the same time, the first floor was made walkable and equipped with large sliding doors to the veranda and the courtyard. Thus, a visual increase in space was achieved. The only separate room was the bedroom.
Today, the idea of the most spacious ground floor is relevant for many houses. Well, if, as is typical for a ranch, there is only one floor, it is worthwhile to think carefully about the layout and communications in order to fit all the functional areas in a small area of \u200b\u200bthe house. nine0003
3. Interior decoration
American ranch style - homey and cozy. Therefore, the interior is not overloaded with decoration and details, but at the same time it is saturated with various family heirlooms.
Ceilings remain pristine, where exposed beams add color to the rustic home.
Of course, preference is given to natural materials for finishing: on the floor - stone or ceramic tiles; on the walls - tinted brick or wood.
Furniture - wooden or wicker. nine0003
4. Accessories and decor
The interior of the ranch has a lot of original details: chests, forged candlesticks, rocking chairs, earthenware.
Textile - in a small flower with frills. A lot of pillows and carpets give the interior an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. Moreover, many of the details are made by hand or to order.
At the same time, the interior of the ranch is distinguished by a certain brutality typical of the male interior of a real cowboy: forged accessories and furniture, animal skins, textures of raw wood, concrete and brick. nine0003
Another integral part of the ranch (as well as any country house for a large family) is a fireplace decorated with concrete, stone or brick. The more textured, the better!
5. Lighting
When designing a ranch-style interior, one should not forget about the lighting that characterizes it. Initially, in order to save money, the ranch was made with as large windows as possible so that sunlight penetrated into all corners of the premises.
This trend has continued today, so the main focus is on functional lighting of work areas and decorative lighting, which gives even more texture to finishing materials. Fanciful lamps made of copper and steel, chandeliers imitating candles, forged lamps - all this is quite appropriate in the interior of this style. nine0046
Of course, over time, the American ranch-style interior has undergone many changes. However, it is only gaining its popularity. The main thing is to remember that in order to create this style in the interior, the first thing you need to think about is functionality and comfort for life! Home after a recent renovation, all that remains of the past is its magnificent exterior and unique interior spaces. The architects literally dressed the ancient building in an elegant modern shell, which allowed to maintain the basic lines and atmosphere. In terms of design, the updated interiors are done in a bright modern style with…
An oasis of style and comfort in the middle of the California desert
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As we all know, California is the epicenter of stylish interior design and luxurious celebrity villas.
Due to the diverse natural landscape of this region, you can find not only houses on the coast or in the prestigious Hollywood Hills area, but also mansions in a completely unusual environment. For example, this modern house was built right in the middle of the desert near ...
Gorgeous California ranch restored after fire
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interiors. Instead of building a new home on the site of the ruins, the owners turned to renowned designer Ken Fulk in hopes of restoring their beloved estate. Even though the ranch has been rebuilt...
Elk Ranch: a beautiful holiday home in the USA
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The designers from W Design Collective have named their latest project Elk Ranch (translated as “moose ranch”) after an animal that is often meet in these picturesque and wild regions.
And the cottage is great for contemplating the incredible nature, because it has a lot of windows around the perimeter. The house itself is completely made of wood, so the inside is very cozy…
Raspberry kitchen, family heirlooms and filming items: actress Kirsten Dunst's California ranch
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Actress Kirsten Dunst hired designer Jane Hallworth, whom she has known for over 20 years, to redecorate her California ranch. Together they managed to create a multifaceted interior in beautiful natural colors and using a variety of techniques and styles. In general, the atmosphere of an old ranch or country-style house reigns here, but with many modern ideas. Lots of furniture…
Interesting transformation of 1952 11-bedroom house in Los Angeles
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This 1952 California ranch-style home is located an hour and a half north of Los Angeles, and from here you can see amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.
The new owners of the 11-bedroom mansion were a family with young children, so it was important to make the interior fresh and relevant for a modern family, while maintaining the romance and beauty of the original architecture…. nine0003
Year-Round Extended Family Vacation Home in Utah
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This Utah vacation home is a large family gathering place. The designer had a difficult task to create a cozy and practical interior so that the owners could come here throughout the year: both for fishing in the summer and for skiing in the winter. The choice was made in favor of a mix of modern country style and alpine chalet aesthetics: many…0003
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The owners of this ranch, a family with three children, moved to Phillip Island, Australia in 2012, but then they could not imagine that this place would become not a temporary option, but real home.
