THE term “ranch house” brings to mind such wide open spaces that prospective builders in towns and cities often pass up this interesting style of architecture in their choice of plans. Yet this type of house—which is particularly well suited to the climate and terrain of many sections of the South and Southwest—is easily adapted to a small lot and to the life of the urban family.

The plan shown here is especially designed to meet the requirements of the ranch-minded city dweller. It has all the best features of the streamlined modern home, it is distinctly ranch style in character, and it can be built on a 60-foot lot.

The use of native stone gives the house an indigenous quality and the definite character which is the basic requirement of pleasant living.

Other masonry materials, used in a simple and straightforward manner, will also produce a pleasing design. We have used wood shingles for the roof. Large windows give light and ventilation.

The house can be entered from either the street or the driveway. The entry itself opens into the living area and also into a hall which connects with the rest of the house. This arrangement makes for convenience in every-day living, since it is possible to walk from the kitchen to the bedrooms or to answer the front doorbell without going through the living room.

Each room is large, well lighted and ventilated, and there is plenty of wall space for furniture. There are plenty of closets for clothes and general storage. The dining space is a simple alcove off one end of the living room.

The house is connected to the garage by a breezeway and a utility room, ideally suited for laundry and general housework. The garage is a two-car arrangement, reached from the side entrance. When open the overhead doors provide a space of protected outdoor living. The entire scheme is well organized, and it presents interesting possibilities for the development of planting areas.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

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A HOUSE does not have to be large to achieve distinction. But it does have to have integrity of line, good proportion and individuality. This two-bedroom plan possesses all of these attributes.

In addition, it is especially arranged to provide the maximum amount of cross ventilation and protection against extreme climatic conditions. Each room has several windows and they are so placed as to catch both the breeze and the light. Besides the provisions for good summer ventilation, the house has been insulated for protection in both summer and winter. This insulation is between the ceiling joists throughout the house.

There is enough wall space to permit several different arrangements of furniture—a boon to the woman who likes to change things around every so often.

The main entrance door is on the end of the porch between the garage and the living room. The living room is large enough for both a living and a dining room. The large window in the front wall of this room is primarily an exterior design feature, but it offers an excellent opportunity for the use of unusual drapery or some particularly interesting piece of furniture. The main interior feature of this room is the fireplace with a window on one side and a woodbox on the other.

If the owner does not wish to set the dining table in the living space, there is a built-in alcove in the kitchen for dining purposes.

Just behind the kitchen is a screened porch that can be made into a delightful summer sitting room or dining room. Next to the kitchen and connected to the house is the garage, reached from either the front or rear porch.

There are two large bedrooms with one good-size closet in each room. The bath between these rooms has the standard fixtures and a built-in linen closet.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

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IN THE past, the advantages of the two-family house were frequently offset by a lack of individuality, privacy and residential character in design. But the modern duplexes are as attractive as they are practical, and these is nothing about their exterior design to stamp them as two-family houses.

This neat little two-family dwelling has definite individuality in both floor plan and exterior design. The plan is compact, yet each room has ample space for comfortable living. There is enough wall space to permit the owner to rearrange the furniture as often as he likes.

The unit on the left has an entrance on the left front. The door is protected by a metal hood with an interesting little wrought iron bracket as a support.

The unit on the right has a front wall of brick which distinguishes it from the other unit and adds much to the residential appearance. The front entrance to the unit is on the right of this wall, opening into the end of the living room.

The combination of frame and brick and the use of wood blinds at the center window definitely place this duplex in a class with one-family residences of the same size.

Separate front and service entrances give privacy and afford quick access to any part of the two units.

All rooms are well ventilated and the storage and closet space is generous. The living rooms are large enough for a table to be placed next to the kitchen for dining purposes.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering

TODAY you hear a lot of talk about “outdoor, indoor” living, which simply means that more thought is being given to the development of house plans that will gracefully combine the best features of the outside terrace, passages and the lawn with the inside of the house. It is a type of plan particularly well suited to our climate and mode of living in the South.

The house shown here would fit best on a corner lot, or a 100-foot inside lot. Behind the garage is the main terrace, partially covered by the roof of the garage. The living room is quite sizable and is well lighted and ventilated by large windows. In the dining area, all the wall space not actually required for furniture is given over to windows. The kitchen is large and arranged for easy preparation of meals. Next to the kitchen is a combination entrance and laundry room and next to that space is the bath. The bedrooms are large and both of them have considerable closet space.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering

WHILE this house is designed primarily for the comfort and convenience of the family, there are few homes of its modest size that are so well arranged for entertaining.

There is a good-sized guest bedroom on the first floor with its own bath and ample closet space. The living room is large and opens onto a porch that makes a pleasant outdoor sitting or dining room in summer. The kitchen is conveniently located in relation to the living room, dining room and porch. The basement recreation room provides a wonderful place for informal entertaining and for children’s indoor games.

The exterior of the house, with its long windows and its attractive doorway framed by wrought iron trellises, has individuality and charm. The roof drops down to form dormer windows in the second story. This adds to the interest of the exterior design and it also effects a saving in money because it cuts down the amount of exterior wall and framing material.

As you enter the house from the front you come into a foyer that has openings leading to the living room, dining room and to the stair hall. The living room is large and attractively designed. On the inside wall opposite the entrance is a Colonial fireplace.

On the other side of the house is the dining room—which is ample in size—and the kitchen, breakfast area and utility room. Beyond the utility room is the garage, which is attached to the house for convenience and economy.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering

IN THE best tradition of the Southwest, this low, spreading house has the air of informal hospitality that is making the ranch-style home increasingly popular in every section of the South. The long front porch extends a welcome and the overhanging eaves give a sheltered effect. Vertical board is used on the side walls of the porches, and the large chimney, which extends to form a flower box, is of field stone.

A foyer makes it possible to enter or leave the living or sleeping section of the house without disturbing activities of the other section.

The living room, with its fireplace, built-in book shelves, and corner picture window has a great deal of character. It is intimate and comfortable—a pleasant center for family life or for entertaining. It is planned with a minimum number of doors, which leaves more free wall space for furniture arrangement. The adjoining dining room has a bank of windows overlooking the garden.

The corridor-shaped kitchen is compact, placing everything within easy reach. The sunny breakfast nook makes a convenient setting for quick meals, or an ideal place for young children to prepare homework under Mother’s supervision. The laundry room is located adjacent to the kitchen.

The garage and driveway are well placed in relation to the outside entrances to the house, which saves steps for the family and also for anyone making deliveries to the home. The service entry has a handy storage closet. An additional closet in the laundry will accommodate cleaning tools and supplies.

The bedroom wing is separated from the main portion of the house by groups of closets which help to minimize noise, in addition to supplying generous storage space. Each bedroom features a distinct type of window arrangement. The bathroom is located between the two bedrooms and is provided with a linen closet.

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source: The Progressive Farmer – Distinctive Southern Homes | 1950

Gemini AI Rendering