A Front-Entry Raised Ranch Addition
The raised ranch. It's among of the most-popular home styles in the country, but it also happens to be one of the most boring. It's essentially a large rectangle that, as-is, leaves little room for interpretation or infusions of personality. However, that doesn't mean that if you currently live in a raised ranch or are considering buying one, that you have to simply live with a cookie-cutter design. Putting a strategic, well-designed front-entry addition on a raised ranch can dramatically alter the facade of the home, add a ton of extra natural light, and give the home a high-end feel that will make it stand out among a sea of similar homes in the neighborhood. We completed a front addition on a raised ranch in Wellesley, Massachusetts a few years back that has gone on to become one of our most popular projects online. Photos of it have been saved thousands of times on Houzz and Pinterest. If you're looking for a way to renovate your raised ranch and infuse it with interest, beauty, and functionality, here's a look at the home addition we did.
First, let's take a look at the before photo. The home was on a beautiful lot, but the siding felt dates, and the facade lacked charm. The homeowner wanted to create a grander entry, with lots of windows to overlook the property.
The finished design is night and day:
The entryway was built out from the original front door to create a double-height foyer that became an atrium of light in the home.
The staircase was also widened and opened up to give the home an airier, more contemporary feel.
Finally, the roof line of the home was also changed. A series of gables echo the addition to make it a more natural fit, and also to give the home added architectural interest.
The design was a huge hit with the homeowner--their standard spec home was completely transformed into a space with a custom-home feel.