Lets take a look at a few of the primary changes you might make to create a modern masterpiece from the average split-level home. Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. Pin on House Ideas - Pinterest 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. Our specialists are currently reviewing your case and will get back to you shortly. The garage is usually the first to attract the attention of anyone who looks at this type of home, since its door takes a lot of space. The things you can do when remodeling a split-level home is not limited to what we have included in our list. Even better, that natural light will light up just about every corner of the room. The L shaped ranch is a great way to incorporate a garage into the house plans. Kids can play upstairs in their rooms while causing minimal disturbance to parents and guests below. The front yard tree was protected and preserved through the construction period. You actually get 3 levels for living space so you really get a sense of depth being in the house. Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you. On the other hand, this is not something you can do with split-level homes. Now we know why Art Deco is popular in Miami! The Raised Ranch: Living at the Top of the Stairs - Contractor Quotes Your Do You Need an Addition or Remodel Contractor? There is typically a short section of stairs that then leads to the other sections of the home. With proper drainage, you can keep the yard dry and clean, making it more appealing for potential suitors. Painted a crisp shade of white with black trim details, the home now boasts modern farmhouse style. It also doesnt hurt to make sure that the gardening is tended. This is partially because they are seen as being out of date. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldnt wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Snow can pile up, causing damage and its harder for rain to drain off. Consider these options for altering the exterior: This isnt as simple as yes or no. In most cases, the garage will sit on the ground level and the bedroom area will be stacked above it. The kitchen and dining room are on a separate floor from both the bedrooms and living room. This is a stark contrast to homes that do not make use of this style, since their floors are independent of each other. She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home. The colonial style is associated with the style of building used from the 17th to the 19th century, particularly in colonial America. However, most of these homes were built on the cheap. 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. Garage doors are often taken for granted. Open front porches and stone features are common on the craftsman. However, that was also the time of the post-modern "colonial" movement. 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. The trademarks MLS, Multiple Listing Service and the associated logos are owned by CREA and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. 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. 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. The design is a compromise between living on one level as in a ranch, yet having essentially a walk-out basement with additional finished living space below. This may involve a major structural overhaul, but its worth considering. Split foyer to French colonial | Articles | fairfaxtimes.com The craftsman style home was born out of a reaction to the industrial revolution. Keep in mind that easiest homes to maintain and make additions to tend to be rancheswhich is why they have become one of the most popular style of home! The dated kitchen plus both small main and master bathrooms were remodeled. These give an illusion that the areas in the open space still have divisions that separate them. Because of their design, split-level homes can struggle to get an ample amount of natural light. The Colonial style is steeped with tradition and has a lot of character on the outside. Written by The biggest challenge for Sun Design Remodeling is the mid-level front door. A little leeway may be unavoidable, such as changing the color scheme and tiles halfway, but changing your mind about big things, such as building a new wall in the same spot where an old one was removed, would mean wasted resources, especially money. Raised ranch homes flip the expected configuration upside-down. If you have a bigger budget, you can actually expand your home through the back. Whereas, with split-level homes, theres usually a one-story section that connects to a two-story section instead of being right on top of each other. . But again, you need to visualize how the exterior will connect to and complement whats inside your home, including the functions of each level. 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. Refer to diagram below. 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. Construction by CG&S Design-Build. Split Levels and Split Foyers became popular in the United States in the 1970s. The second exterior wall surface, which can make a huge impact and is easily retrofitted, is a natural stone of some sort. This additional floor either becomes the highest floor or is the cellar or basement located just below the floor where your main living space is. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. Consider all of the pros and cons of the different types of split-level homes before making a final decision. It packs a large amount of square footage into a relatively small footprint, something growing families appreciate. Contractors are updated with the cost of most construction materials, which makes setting a budget for your project much easier. Not to mention, the steps can be a problem for elderly visitors or even simply carrying the groceries inside. Split-levels also showcase natural materials, minimal decorations, and double-hung windows with one large picture window. No matter which you choose, youll get multiple levels connected by short flights of stairs, but each style has unique features. Tri-level homes usually have small hallways that connect the garage and the main living space. 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. Your old garage can be converted into any living space you want. Also, your current foundations wont have to support the additional weight, because these additions will have their own foundations. 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! The split level can be built on a sloping a sloping lot (cheaper) with more square footage under one roof (cheaper! It is not just about giving this type of home a fresh coat of paint every time you can actually make structural changes to a split-level home to add more space inside, or add partitions if you want more room. To even out the temperature all over your home, you can get furnace fans installed and get them to run at a low setting. Mid-Century Modern Split-Level Exterior Home Ideas - Houzz 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. 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. Windows can look simple at first glance, but they actually play a major role in the entire feel of the home. 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. With millions of inspiring photos from design professionals, you'll find just want you need to turn your house into your dream home. Many have garages and basements, and some have both. The exterior can have a look that might be considered dated. Try painting the front door to something fresh with a pop of color involved. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. You can make changes to your existing landscaping, or create one if you currently dont have any. The major disadvantage to split-level homes is the staircases that youll have to climb. The first is that they create a much better separation between the upstairs and the downstairs. Raising the entry half a level and introducing a wrap-around elevation porch ultimately . In some places, homeowners with exterior steps will install a mailbox at street level. There are 6 main split-level house designs, including standard-split, split-foyer, stacked-split, split-entry, back-split, and side-split. I've evolved this design to where the center pullout and adjacent shelves can be adjusted up or down. How to Remodel a Split Level Home | Hunker You can also lengthen the front stoop of your main entryway by increasing the size of your entryways canopy or roof. Bi-levels were popular in the era of splits, as developers would offer new homes in four configurations: colonials, splits, bi-levels or ranches. The idea with the Split level is that you can accommodate a large family on a modest budget. By working with siding styles and stonework, the creative homeowner can transform his bland home into something beautiful. 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. link to How To Organize A Bathroom Closet. The defining characteristic of the Colonial style of home is two stories, with a formally defined living room and dining room on the first floor and maybe one bedroom, with the other bedrooms being on the second story of the home. The main level is street level so there is no need to be climbing up or down stairs with groceries etc. The roof lines create an interesting look and this style never seems to be out-dated. When a home is cared for, it doesnt have that old, uncared for look that we think of with outdated homes. 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. Similar to a side split home, back split houses are divided into multiple levels. A split foyer actually has a separate section that is on the ground level between the garage and the house. The original use of the cottage was to house agricultural workers on a farm. Fixed glass is another very modern type of window, but it wont work for bedrooms that require an emergency escape and ventilation. Split-level homes tend to be small, in terms of square footage . Before we dive too deeply into the types of split-level homes, its important to know the distinguishing features of split-level houses. 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. 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. Some roof colors simply wont work with a contemporary design an old shingle roof usually looks anything but clean and smooth. These types of homes became less popular with time, and, at one point, were virtually unwanted on the real estate market. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We are continuously working to improve the accessibility of our web experience for everyone, and we welcome feedback and accommodation requests. 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. Ryan Shaw. Rooms on the lower level are usually garages, dens, playrooms, and other informal living spaces. 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. 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. If you were to view the home from the side or the back, youd be able to see the individual levels of the house. 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. 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. The raised ranch homes and split levels became popular in the 1960s and apparently, were still being built in the 1980s. William Feemster of ImageArts Photography. If this fits the bill, you can construct a detached garage at the back and use the space on the side as your driveway. 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. The separation of the floors means that youll be less likely to be awakened by the sounds happening on the lower levels. 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. With standard split homes, inhabitants and visitors enter the house from the ground level. If your home doesnt have windows on the sides, which is typical to this type, get them installed as well. One of the best ways to modernize a split-level home is to avoid a roof color that's too light or too close to the house color. Required fields are marked *. Replacing old windows with a more modern style can greatly modernize your homes look. Even better, adding a skylight has a ton of benefits from every aspect: economical, functional, and aesthetic. A split-level home has a few great places to start. If you prefer a home that still separates the living space from the bedrooms, but doesnt require a full flight of stairs to reach, you may consider a side split style house. Give them the option of fixing up a six-story home or a split-level home, and they will more than likely choose to work on the six-story home instead. With a regular split-level, when you enter, you can either go up or down. The original spec was probably a steel door with very little curb appeal. The major disadvantage to this style of split-level home is the middle area that has no real function at all. Glass is known to let in more light, and this allows you to save on electricity. Add a Floor with a Second Story Addition - SimplyAdditions.com Moreover, it presents serious challenges when it comes to renovating the entire space. Brokerage. Photo and copyright by Renovation Design Group. There are some things designers typically focus on to make significant changes to this type of home, such as: If you are thinking of modifying your home but dont really have a clue where to start and how to do it, we can help you out with that. The chimney and fireplace became mostly decorations. The entry has sets of stairs leading up the main floor and another set that leads to the lower level of the home.