There are many points to recommend this five-room plan, either to the confirmed city-dweller, or the suburbanite who has a sizable acreage. Its semi-rustic materials and long, low lines are definitely characteristic of the ranch-style house, but it can be easily and suitably corraled on a small city lot.

The exterior is interesting because of the balanced design and the unusual combination of materials. The projecting wing of random rubble stone forms a pleasing contrast to the shingle sides of the entry, breezeway and garage. A wood-shingled roof accents the spreading lines.

The sheltered entry leads to a foyer which effectively divides the house into service, sleeping and living areas.

Good wall space is an outstanding virtue of the living and dining rooms. Each has generous areas to cope with today's outsize sofas, breakfronts, and other pieces of furniture. The windows in these rooms are grouped to face a garden at the rear of the property. The living room features a fireplace which forms the partition wall between the two rooms.

The kitchen is given the increasingly popular forward position. It is blessed with generous cabinets and work space. It is close to the utility room and has access to the garage through the breezeway.

Adjacent to the kitchen—actually part of it—is the breakfast room. This is large enough to take care of the family meals, and such varied activities as study, sewing, or small children’s indoor play. Corner windows give it ample light. A closet opening from the kitchen houses the hot water heater and the central heating system. It is close enough to the fireplace chimney to arrange for venting the heating system through that channel.

Two corner bedrooms occupy one entire end of the house. Both are of a comfortable size and have well-placed windows which allow for plenty of fresh air and light. Each room has convenient closet space.

To serve the master bedroom, there is a full bathroom with built-in dressing table and linen closet. A lavatory, designed as a powder room for guests, also helps to relieve crowding in the family bath during rush hours.

One of the most outstanding features of this plan is the absence of major “traffic lanes” through any room. Foyer and halls permit easy access to every part of the house. Adequate storage space is furnished by closets in the hallway and by a large, out-of-season storeroom opening off the garage.

This house fulfills all the requirements of the casual, comfortable style of living that is gaining popularity with both city folks and suburbanites throughout the South.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering

THIS is a type of house that appeals strongly to many people in this area because it embodies, on a modest, practicable scale, much of the dignity that characterized the more impressive homes of the Old South. Yet the interior arrangement is as modern as today. The house is designed to accommodate the family that wants up-to-date comforts along with the charm of a traditional background. 

The tile-floored foyer is an interesting introduction to the house—leading from the brick-tile terrace which the visitor crosses as he approaches the front door. The tile flooring extends into the living room to form the hearth for the fireplace. Three floor-to-ceiling windows at the front make the sizable living room seem even larger than it is and the open doorway into the dining room adds still more to the spacious effect. The efficient U-shaped kitchen provides maximum work space in the best step-saving manner. The ample breakfast room achieves the effect of a separate room, but is close enough to the kitchen to keep the coffee from getting cold en route. A utility room at the rear of the kitchen provides a service entrance from the rear terrace as well as a sheltered door to the double garage, which is attached to the house. 

One of the most attractive features of this plan is the isolated position of the front room on the left. It may serve as a guest room, insuring the occupant extraordinary privacy, or as a den or library, according to the family’s needs. The hallway and bank of closets form a natural soundproof wall separating the master bedroom and the smaller rear bedroom from the main portion of the house. The bath serving these two bedrooms is within a couple of steps of each room and is also convenient to the rest of the house. The bath adjoining the front bedroom or den can double as a powder room. Twin closets in the bedrooms, ample linen storage in the main bath, and the utility room take care of normal storage problems.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering

THIS plan was especially designed for our many readers who have expressed an interest in four-bedroom houses. The outstanding asset of its arrangement is the location of one bedroom, which may double as a study, music or art studio, or a den.

The living room has a convenient traffic-free position, protected by the foyer and hallway which give access to bedrooms and kitchen without disturbing activities in the front part of the house. A bay window facing the street, two side windows and a fireplace add charm to the living room, yet leave plenty of wall space for effective placement of furniture. The dining room is a comfortable size and is blessed by windows on three sides.

The utility or "work" section is arranged on the side of the house nearest the garage. It consists of a breakfast room separated from the kitchen by a counter made up of low storage cabinets. The kitchen is an efficiency type arranged in a modified U-shape, with plenty of table-height work space. A laundry room completes this unit.

In the center of the house is the heater room, large enough to handle a modern central heating unit which will serve every room.

If necessary, four rooms in this plan may be used as bedrooms. They are arranged in groups of two—each pair of bedrooms served by a bath. Plenty of closets are provided, and each room has a generous number of windows. The fourth, or den, is unusually versatile because it is situated at the front of the house with an almost-private entrance from the foyer.

A closet for coats is just across the hall from the foyer, and a linen storage closet large enough to hold the bedding and linens needed in a large household is located within easy reach of all bedrooms.

The trellis enclosing part of the front porch is designed to support climbers and affords a decorative touch as well as protection from the weather. A two-car garage with storage space in the rear is attached to the house by the breezeway. The small grassy area at the front of the breezeway would make a lovely spot for outdoor dining, and is guaranteed privacy by the dining room wing of the house which shields it from the street.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering

LOW, graceful lines and the contrasting use of wood and stone give this house the informal charm that is one of the outstanding qualities of a truly livable small home. Native stone is used to good advantage for building the chimney and end wall of the living room. It is also used around the front bedroom wing from the ground up to the window sill. 

The stone around the front entrance may be of the same type as that used on other parts of the house, or it may be a different type stone that will harmonize in color and design.This house is especially planned for a narrow lot. In most cities the smaller lots are 50 feet wide. This plan fits a lot that size, leaving generous space for a driveway on one side and a 5'-10'' set back from the property line on the other side.

The rooms, too, are worked out to meet the requirements and restrictions of an inside lot of only 50 feet. For instance, the two front bedrooms are a little narrow in over-all width but long enough to provide a pleasant area for two children's play and sleeping room quarters. The partition between these two rooms can be removed if desired, giving one large room that can be used either for a bedroom or recreation room.

Across the front of the living room is a large picture window offering opportunity for an interesting grouping of furniture. The windows in the two front bedrooms—or one large room—serve the dual purpose of providing light and ventilation and adding interest to the exterior design.

The other rooms have large and well-placed windows that provide excellent circulation of air and plenty of light. Doors are placed so that a minimum of walking is required in the normal routine of everyday housework.

All rooms have ample closet space and there is additional storage room in the hall and in the garage.

Besides the regular dining space, there is a built-in booth for family meals and snacks in the kitchen.

The garage is just to the rear of the house and is reached by a covered passage, one side of which is closed while the other side is open to a large terrace, ideal for parties and family gatherings.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering

THE well-balanced exterior design of this house features a front terrace, centered by a large window and partially enclosed by the two projecting wings. Horizontal courses in the brick walls accent the low, spreading lines.

The front door, located at the left side of the terrace, opens into a foyer which separates the various parts of the house and increases their privacy. Windows on three sides make the living room light and airy, but the back wall is completely unbroken, forming a suitable space for a large piece of wall furniture. The same consideration has been given to furniture placement in the dining room across the hall.

Between the dining room and kitchen is the family breakfast room. It has built-in corner cupboards and a cheerful window overlooking the terrace.

The U-shaped kitchen is planned to accommodate a double sink or automatic dishwasher and still leave plenty of counter space. There is a convenient storage pantry in addition to the usual cupboard space. The service entrance is at the side of the house and space near it has been reserved for an automatic washer.

The three bedrooms are located across the back of the house, where they enjoy complete privacy and ideal ventilation. The end rooms have two exposures each and the central room has three. The bedroom at the left has a private bath, and the other two rooms share a slightly larger bath opening into the hall. Each room has a clothes closet and there is additional closet space in the hall. 

Area of the house: 1,575 square feet.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering

THIS is a home that almost any family would enjoy, but it holds special appeal for the family that has a lot of friends and enjoys entertaining them. As you will see from the floor plan, the arrangement of the interior lends itself to easy hospitality. There are no doors between the large living room and the dining room. This open effect adds to the impression of spaciousness in both rooms and provides a perfect layout for either formal or informal entertaining.

Back of the living room is a den of the same size—one of the most attractive and adaptable features of the plan. Like the living room it has an inviting fireplace, and the rear wall is glazed, giving a full view of the living porch and terrace across the back. Here the children can play or study while the older members of the family entertain in the front of the house, or Mother and Father can read in peace while the younger generation takes over in the living room. And if the needs of the family dictate, this room can be converted into a library, music room or third bedroom (notice the ample closet by fireplace).

The bathroom, located between the two bedrooms, is easily accessible from both living room and den, and the hall off which it opens is blessed with two closets—a small one for guests' wraps and a larger one for the family's out-of-season clothing, luggage, etc.

The breakfast room is adequate for informal meals and it will save many steps for the homemaker. The kitchen is large and exceptionally well arranged. Behind it is a utility room, with space for full laundry equipment, which opens into the connecting garage and also onto the small service porch at the left.

The central location of the heating room assures good circulation of heat to all parts of the house.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering