Dull Michigan ranch needs new life

Homes can be “dated” because of materials, style, or even the volume or size of spaces.

Updating can mean more than just a facelift. Updating to me means bringing up all of the functional spaces to meet today’s needs and lifestyles. Even if people want to live in a period or vintage home, these conveniences can be disguised to fit in.

PROBLEM

This ranch home in Farmington Hills started out in a modest way. No garage required outdoor parking (A). A path across the front (B) leads the visitor to a unpretentious front porch and entry (C). A large living room (D) is the first room encountered. The dining (E) was a part of the kitchen (F). The rest of the house featured four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The homeowners wanted a better connection to the outdoors. The house was set far back on the lot, with an unusually large front yard. They currently had no outdoor space for entertaining or just breathing fresh air. The front door seemed far from the parking and the kitchen. They wanted to really cook and enjoy entertaining with dinner parties. Their request was a dining room that would hold 12 diners at the same time.

They loved their large-sized living room and the fireplace. They expressed that the fourth bedroom was not used and I could use that space as needed. SOLUTION

The bedroom was indeed needed. A new porch is perfectly placed next to parking. I located a new front door (G) in the corner of what was the bedroom and created a foyer (H). The adjacent bath (I) was turned into a half bath. An addition was needed for the new kitchen (J). We made plenty of room to have an island and a corner restaurant style booth (K). A new screened porch (L) was added for outdoor dining and entertaining space. An ample closet style pantry (M) is great for storage and comprises one of the walls in the foyer. The front hall (N) continued through to the living room, making more space in the back of the house. We used part of the old kitchen (F) for a main floor laundry room (O) and hall closet for brooms and vacuum.

The balance of the space, including the back hall (P) was used for a spacious dining room (Q) with arched opening on the hall side, and low walls and columns on the living room side. New French doors open out to a balcony (R) to take in the night air after a gourmet dinner.

Marcia Lyon is a professional remodeling designer and freelance writer, producing projects locally and in several other areas across the United States and Canada. Her new book on remodeling design, “The Essential Planner for Home Remodeling” is available at www.creatingspaces.net. Reach her at marcia@creatingspaces.net or 515-991-8880.