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so here is my situation--we have a hi ranch--and although I do not hate it I would like a colonial instead. But because we do not owe alot it would not be viable financially to move and purchase a colonial.
I was wondering if anyone took their hi ranch and made it into a colonial of sorts. Put the kitchen and dining room downstairs along with the living space. And upstairs made it all bedrooms. The kitchen a large bathroom and the current dining family room a large master bedroom. There would still be two staircases when you walk in however. Any thoughts from anyone ??
IMO, moving your kitchen, living room to the '1st floor' which has a lower ceiling would lower the value of your house. If you do it, I would suggest going very high end to make up the difference should you ever decide to sell. Maybe even hire a interior designer.
A friend of mine did what you might plan, however, it is an odd design. Her kitchen, dining room and living room are now on the first floor which was once her mom's apartment as a mother/daughter high ranch. As you walk into her home now you walk right into her kitchen prior to entering her other rooms. To me the feeling of it being a high ranch is still there. With other/better architectural designs, I am sure it can work. Her master bedroom and upstairs bathroom are now huge.
thank you for your replies--I love the idea of a high end kitchen to make the difference if we sell...I also could see it being weird walking downstairs to the kitchen...I thought of getting rid of the seven steps outside that lead to the front door and instead putting a door just leading into the downstairs area--but my husband thinks that would be very expensive.
I couldn't stop laughing at the term "Fouco Ranch". I'll give you rep later on, when I can.
First of all, a high ranch "is what it is". To me, it's a good, functional starter house. It also works well for an extended family situation. Some are down right ugly, others can be pretty. But they are not colonials.
However, anyone who attempts to "turn a high ranch into a colonial" should be found guilty of making a "Forged instrument". I have seen these "monstrosities" and they are always ugly, and always still look like what they are - high ranches.
Same goes for people who attempt to turn ranches into Colonials. They ruin the ranch and they end product fools no one.
I actually think that Joey and Mary Jo's house was some kind of "expanded high ranch".
If you have out grown or no longer like your high ranch, sell it as it is, and upgrade to a colonial.
People really do not like "counterfeit houses". Unless you are planning to stay there forever, don't do it.
Raised Ranches cant hide. Even with two story columns in the front, or a door where the garage used to be.
Normal ranches can go through a creative metamorphosis, with expansions or additions of second stories or dormers. Expanded ranches are some of the coolest houses I've been in.
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