convert split level to colonial convert split level to colonial

Placement of the family room, kitchen, dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms can all vary in this style. Since split-level houses are stacked, they dont take up as much yard space and still provide plenty of square footage vertically on the interior. What made this transformation was raising the entrance to the main level, building out the attic space for an added level, and relocating the staircase to access all 3 levels. The original 1950s split level was expanded and completely reworked. Consider discarding furniture that would no longer suit your home, as well as stuff you no longer plan to use. You can certainly look on the bright side and see it as an opportunity to get more exercise in your home. Brick steps lined with lush landscaping beckon guests toward the entrance. The entrance is a small section that is separate from all the main floors of the home. The lower demand in most markets means that they are readily available for a cheaper price than other types of homes. Copyright 2023 Real Estate Witch The interior spaces flow. If you were to view the home from the side or the back, youd be able to see the individual levels of the house. There are 6 main split-level house designs, including standard-split, split-foyer, stacked-split, split-entry, back-split, and side-split. There is also hardly any room for experimentation when it comes to remodeling a tri-level home. Brokerage. Drawbacks of Art DecoIn some parts of the country flat roofs can be a problem and need continual maintenance. There are many sub types of the Colonial style, with each world power at the time putting its own unique stamp on this traditional style. Please seek the services of a legal, accounting or real estate professional prior to any real estate transaction. They feature a prominent front door, medium roofing lines for drainage and. Single-hung windows, which feature bottom panes that slide up to open the windows, are common in split-level homes from the 60s, 70s and 80s. When you open the front door, you are led to a distinct foyer or entry space. The style is not quite old enough to be considered a classic, but is no longer modern. As prices in close-in suburbs inch toward the stratosphere, split-levels are often the only house types left that younger buyers can afford. In the early 1960s, for instance, no floor plan concept seemed better suited to the demands of modern life than the split level . Connect with top-rated agents near you and save thousands on commission fees. The roof lines create an interesting look and this style never seems to be out-dated. You can also turn it into your home office and place all your filing cabinets, bookcase, and other similar items there. Consider a new roof color. Wherever possible is important because some of (or all of) those interior walls could have major structural implications on the rest of the home. The scope also included the living and dining rooms, plus the front entry and stairwell. Read more, Your email address will not be published. William Feemster of ImageArts Photography. A split-level home already has the structural breaks that make this kind of mix look perfect. 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. These types of homes became less popular with time, and, at one point, were virtually unwanted on the real estate market. Always consider even the most extreme ideas if youre planning to be in the home for a long time. 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 should know the various types of split-level homes before you can consider buying or building one of your own. Rooms on the lower level are usually garages, dens, playrooms, and other informal living spaces. Due to the complexity of this type of home, acquiring the services of a professional or two is often the wisest choice you can make in this aspect. Because of their design, split-level homes can struggle to get an ample amount of natural light. While some styles create space with doors, the colonial does it with staircase. 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. 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! My standard corner with 28"-deep diagonal pullouts. Commonly, however, the term is also used to denote split-level homes. [Kitchen] One of the major concepts of the modern home is that it has an open floor plan. This works well if your house has other trappings of colonial style. Balodemas said real estate developers saw them as a way. Homes with two stories, or two-story homes, are built with one floor right above the other. . 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. This open-plan layout made the space look a lot bigger. Required fields are marked *. Therefore, we thought it would be a good time to revisit strategies to turn the split level monster into a piece of architecture. Clients were also interested in: low maintenance finishes, usage of low/no VOC materials, good indoor air quality as they lived on site during the remodel, and preserving and refinishing salvageable resources. Split-level homes are built in a simple style that lends itself well to many different appearances: Tudor, Victorian and ranch. 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. The predominant surface is generally smooth and clean. Popularity for the split level style was at its greatest in the 70s after the style was featured as the Brady Bunch home. Consider casement windows, which feature cranks and swing out to open up. If possible, have your skylights customized to fit the theme of your home to complement the entire space. After all, you dont have to spend a single cent for it. Using bricks or decorative stones attached to the walls as accents, Adding more windows to balance out the elements of your home. Ideal Agent: Learn the Truth About Its 2% Fees. In todays world many people find the formal areas of a colonial to be a waste of space. A common configuration is having the first stairs from the entryway leading to the dining room or kitchen. They are close to town, and they have a reasonable cost basis, due to their older look. The major disadvantage to this style of split-level home is the middle area that has no real function at all. [Master Suite] If you are working with a limited budget, even a fresh coat of paint can dramatically change the look of your home. This can come in handy for those who want to rent their extra space out for additional income to a potential roommate. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. If youve recently fallen in love with this type of floor plan, its worth familiarizing yourself with your options. For now, they are also quite affordably priced. You can choose from stacked-split, split-foyer, split-entry, back-split, standard-split, or side-split. 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. Houzz utilise des cookies et d'autres technologies de suivi similaires pour personnaliser mon exprience utilisateur, me proposer du contenu pertinent et amliorer ses produits et services. Not to mention, the steps can be a problem for elderly visitors or even simply carrying the groceries inside. To remedy this, you can install more lights all over your home; LED light is always better because it is brighter but doesnt consume much electricity. You can use this hallway as a small mudroom and storage space for stuff you usually take with you when you go out. Aside from the differences on the exterior, both back split and side split houses have roughly the same design. There are 6 main split-level house designs, including standard-split, split-foyer, stacked-split, split-entry, back-split, and side-split. 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 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. With traditional multilevel homes, you have the freedom to do whatever you want with it. 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. With a regular split-level, when you enter, you can either go up or down. You are generally stuck with their traditional layout. Bi-levels were popular in the era of splits, as developers would offer new homes in four configurations: colonials, splits, bi-levels or ranches. Of all split level homes, the raised ranch has the toughest exterior to deal with. To modernize a split-level home, replace the outdated windows. It is not Zillow's intention to solicit or interfere with any established agency relationship you may have with a real estate professional. 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. 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. [Office] 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. You actually get 3 levels for living space so you really get a sense of depth being in the house. You'll usually find the bedrooms stacked above the foyer with stairs coming off the kitchen or dining room. Do you now have at least a vague idea of what kind of remodeling you should do to your home? 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. Because of all these inconveniences, consider scheduling the work at a period when its effects on your household will be most minimal. Even better, that natural light will light up just about every corner of the room. In this idea, you must pay more attention to the front door of the house. Then, the middle level is where the majority of the entertaining and living happens. The colonial style is associated with the style of building used from the 17th to the 19th century, particularly in colonial America. 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. 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. 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. LawnStarter Full Review: Is the Uber of Lawn Care Legit? 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. When a home is cared for, it doesnt have that old, uncared for look that we think of with outdated homes. Thats some Brady Bunch vibes you have going on there. Please switch to a supported browser or download one of our Mobile Apps. The main advantage to standard split-level homes is the clear separation between the bedrooms and the kitchen and living room. The chimney and fireplace became mostly decorations. 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. Split foyer to French colonial. This browser is no longer supported. They first became popular in the 1940s and 50s as soldiers returned home and demand for suburban houses was high. That can help you save on electric costs over time. Just because updating or remodeling this type of home is challenging doesnt mean it is impossible. Many see this design as being very impractical, considering all the stairs you have to climb in order to access various areas of the home. A split foyer actually has a separate section that is on the ground level between the garage and the house. Taken fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKS8AnI6Ahk. 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. bryan@jonespierce.com. Add a deck or patio, or even extend your house if space permits. 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. There is nothing worse than overestimating the amount of stuff a smaller house can accommodate, and now you have no space for the stuff you just spent a small fortune to move! 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. 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. 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. 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. Split-levels, also sometimes called "tri-levels," are an architectural dead end that were built in abundance from the 1930s to the 1970s. Ryan Shaw. Whats most important is that your home works the best for you. In Miamis South Beach, the Art Deco style saw a resurgence in the 1980s with pastel colors. It can be difficult to downsize and there are challenges with smaller spaces ,storage etc. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. The Colonial-style renovation upgraded the plain portico into a spacious covered porch, which allows room for plenty of outdoor furniture. 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. I've evolved this design to where the center pullout and adjacent shelves can be adjusted up or down. Whether architects like it or not, the split-level may be the "it" remodel of the future. 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.. Its much easier to move things in and out of the house when everything is on one level. 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. 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. This means youll have to climb multiple stairs in order to do your laundry in your own home. 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. Consider installing solar lights on your property, particularly along the path leading to the main entrance of your home. People want more bedrooms, more bedrooms, more bedrooms at the expense of the communal space. Whether youre looking to buy or build a home from scratch, you likely have a specific architectural style in mind. Photos by Richard Pasley. Another great garage door style on a modern home is a wood-look door. The difference is remarkable and it not only looks better, but this growing family can stay in the neighborhood of their choice and still have room for their expanding lifestyle. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. Snow can pile up, causing damage and its harder for rain to drain off. A new paver pathway, planters, and landscaping add curb appeal. You can make changes to your existing landscaping, or create one if you currently dont have any. But again, you need to visualize how the exterior will connect to and complement whats inside your home, including the functions of each level. Many have garages and basements, and some have both. If you were a fan of The Brady Bunch, then you know exactly what a split-level house is. To make sure that your split-level home is remodeled successfully, you need to keep these in mind: Again, drawing up plans to renovate or update the appearance of this type of home is a challenge even for professionals. 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. And voila! This results in a stark contrast, especially when the differences are very obvious. The French, Spanish, German, and Colonial Georgian are all sub types of this once dominant architectural style. Another advantage is having the front door be level with the sidewalk outside. And if those are no longer in production, good luck with how youre going to make it blend in with the rest of your home. Given the limited space that split-level homes are known for, you might wonder if expansion is possible at all. 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 . 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. The kitchen and dining room are on a separate floor from both the bedrooms and living room. Aside from these two requirements, the design work involved aesthetics: enhancing the front faade with a modern architecture and high quality materials. Split level homes have a bit of an outdated look to them that has fallen out of favor in the ultra-modern or ultra-rustic home landscape. Add A Level to Convert Ranch to Colonial Convert a Cape or Ranch to Colonial As a general contractor I had the chance to renovate many homes in the lovely state of Connecticut, but nothing beats the wow factor you receive whenever you convert a single story cape or ranch into a beautiful colonial. There is a large chimney in the center of the house used to keep the home warm during the harsh northeastern winters. Most types of split-level houses will feature several staircases that lead to the different levels of the house. So, that means sprucing up the curb appeal becomes important. You can see the appeal here. The bedrooms are usually situated right above the foyer. With millions of inspiring photos from design professionals, you'll find just want you need to turn your house into your dream home. Our specialists are currently reviewing your case and will get back to you shortly. 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. The first is that they create a much better separation between the upstairs and the downstairs. One reason for its popularity was the competitive cost in comparison to the rancher design being built at that time. Tastes change; so, too, an owner's requirements of their home. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service. Check out another split-level project by Jones Pierce Studios: https://jonespierce.com/marietta-split-level-facelift/, 400 Plasters Ave. NE, #225 Atlanta, GA 30324 To even out the temperature all over your home, you can get furnace fans installed and get them to run at a low setting. For first-time homebuyers, that can mean a more realistic first-time option. Here youll typically find the living room, dining room, kitchen, and possibly a bathroom. 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. However, from the outside, they appear like there is only one level. The major disadvantage to split-level homes is the staircases that youll have to climb. This way, you can maximize the space by adjusting the alignment of furniture and fixtures. You can also use sliding glass doors instead of a wooden door. 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. Now we know why Art Deco is popular in Miami! Before we dive too deeply into the types of split-level homes, its important to know the distinguishing features of split-level houses. Since they are built vertically, that can mean that split-levels have more square footage in the yard. Look for ideas in your neighborhood. Despite all that youve read about them being outdated, split-level houses do have some positives to them. Zillow (Canada), Inc. holds real estate brokerage licenses in multiple provinces. 442-H New York Standard Operating Procedures New York Fair Housing NoticeTREC: Information about brokerage services, Consumer protection noticeCalifornia DRE #1522444Contact Zillow, Inc. If you want to go full-on modern, consider hiding the roof completely. Clever: Are Those Commission Savings Legit? 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. Split-level homes tend to be small, in terms of square footage . The dated kitchen plus both small main and master bathrooms were remodeled. In most cases, the garage will sit on the ground level and the bedroom area will be stacked above it. There are various shapes for the ranch style, but the main theme is that the entire house is on one levelwhich has its perks. An exterior remodel of your tri-level home may sound easy because you might believe you can just go for whatever design you want. Moving your furniture around to change the look of your home is usually the first step many homeowners make. A very simple way of updating the look of a traditional split-level is to add some bling to the design. With recessed lighting, you can even highlight the best features in each of the different rooms. You can divert and make your main door or entryway as the focal point of your faade by installing an eye-catching front entry. 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? This is a stark contrast to homes that do not make use of this style, since their floors are independent of each other. If you can, taking a wall or two out is a great way to open up what is largely an enclosed space. It is the literal antithesis of the modern floorplan. Unlike traditional home layouts, split-level homes, also referred to as tri-level, feature at least three levels that are connected by stairs. 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. 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 outdatedness of a split-level home isnt specific to the interior. The big tree doesnt help at all, since it just makes the left side heavier than the other side.