Industrial-Chic Rancher Remodel

Explore before-and-after pictures of a great room, kitchen and dining room remodel in this 1960 ranch-style house.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Before: Dark and Uninspiring

In its existing state, Jon Kelly Davis' main living area had a closed-off kitchen and low ceilings, plus it lacked natural light.

Opening Up the Space

Although the majority of the great room now has vaulted ceilings, Jon decided to keep the sitting room more intimate. In that room, he left the 8-foot ceiling height as-is, and created a furniture arrangement featuring classic, traditional American pieces accented by a pair of architectural etchings. "I wanted it to feel like an alcove, as though you were wrapped up by the room," Jon explains. "The best is when the room is about 68 degrees. You just instantly want to curl up with a book and take a nap."

French Doors

To access the new 500-square-foot outdoor living area, Jon added two sets of French doors to the great room: one in the dining area and another next to the sitting room. When considering adding French doors to a home, the architect advises, "French doors can be pretty costly for several reasons. The cost is in re-framing the openings, which means you not only have to cut out the area to fit the new doors but you have to support it structurally with new headers. It's laborious and not all that easy to do. I suggest budgeting about $2,500 for each set of French doors added."

Home Is Where the Art Is

On display over the sofa in the sitting room sits a pair of 16th-century architectural renderings by Piranesi and Rossini. The renderings were made by cutting wood into blocks, then using them to etch ink markings into paper. A pair of satin-nickel picture lights attached to the backs of the frames keeps the pictures on display, even at night. The lights are set on a remote control that can be operated from other rooms in the house.

Industrial Style

Jon's favorite style of architecture is classic American. When he and Stacey purchased furniture for their home, he made an effort to incorporate many pieces of this style into the home's design, including an iron-base coffee table on casters that sports a slate top. "John Saladino is an American icon for design and architecture. He uses a lot of natural, organic materials in his work. I really love the idea of bringing natural materials indoors," Jon adds.

Nail-Head Details

Although the decoration of Jon and Stacey's home is gender-neutral overall, the architect also added tailored, masculine details such as the oil-rubbed bronze nail-head detail on the sitting room's wingback chairs.

Layers of Lighting

During the day, skylights fill Jon and Stacey's great room with natural light. To keep the space properly illuminated at night, Jon integrated small halogen recessed lights into the ceiling.

Indoor and Outdoor Living

To add extra playspace for the kids and room for outdoor entertaining, Jon added 500 square feet of elevated deck just off the great room. To access the deck from the dining room and sitting room, he replaced windows with two pairs of French doors.

Dining and Design

Breakfast time in the Davis house is exceptionally beautiful thanks to the abundance of natural light that streams in from a pair of new skylights. On display front and center above the dining room's sideboard are some of Jon's photographs from his European architecture series. While Caroline and Olivia, both prone to spills and falls, sit in sturdy steel chairs, Jon and Stacey enjoy meals in armchairs draped with washed-linen slipcovers.

Iron Lighting

Many of Jon's design choices are made of strong, industrial materials, including the chandelier above the dining room, which is made of iron and has a copper patina finish.

Skylights

Packing the great room with natural light was high on Jon's priority list. When asked why it was so important to him, the architect responds, “Natural light adds life to a room, plus it’s physically good for you. In fact, the rooms with the most light are often the ones people use most; it makes them happy."

Architectural Photography

Thanks to the skylights above the dining room, a collection of Jon's architectural photography remains properly lit during the daytime. Jon's subjects include: the Duomo in Florence, the gargoyles of Notre Dame, a view of the Grand Canal from a gondola in Venice, the Coliseum in Rome, and a view of Paris from the top of Notre Dame.

Farm-Table Charm

Keeping with the clean, traditional architecture of the newly remodeled dining room, Jon opted for a farm table with a graphic X-shaped base.

Rustic Chairs

Jon chose to add a touch of European architecture to the dining room with Parisian steel bistro chairs that have a worn-in, rustic finish. The steel construction is especially helpful for durability and stability, since Caroline and Olivia are both prone to spills and the occasional fall.

An Eyesore Before

In its original state, the kitchen sported 1960s pine cabinets with black metal hinging and an oven so small, "you couldn't even cook a turkey in it." Jon continues, "Thanksgivings would have been impossible in the old kitchen!"

Open Kitchen Layout

Now the open concept has an eat-in island, bright white cabinets and ample natural light provided by a trio of new skylights. Overall the new kitchen cost the couple approximately $30,000.

Low-Cost Cabinets

Jon wanted to brighten the newly renovated kitchen by incorporating bright white cabinets. Determined to add classic American style, he opted for beadboard-style cabinet fronts from IKEA, which had the added benefit of being major cost-savers. The new cabinetry has had a huge impact in the kitchen. “Before, the cabinets were only about 6 feet tall. Now they soar past 9 feet and hold just about everything we could think of, including an integrated wine rack. We pretty much doubled our cabinet space with the new layout,” John says.

Granite Countertops

Since Jon saved money on his kitchen design by choosing low-price-point cabinetry from IKEA, he was able to splurge on countertops. He and Stacey agreed on Borneo Black granite, which they note is fantastic for hiding imperfections.

Looking Out the Window

Before the remodel, the kitchen had a single window over the sink that wasn't centered. In order to make the new kitchen symmetrical, Jon had the window reframed and repositioned directly over the existing plumbing. Now, while preparing dinner or washing the dishes, Jon and/or Stacey can peer directly out to the front porch where Caroline and Olivia play.

Millwork and Hardware

The new space includes custom millwork in the form of transitional trim and doors that are paired with oil-rubbed hardware.

Hardwood Flooring

Jon and Stacey kept their existing hardwood floors, but had them re-stained in a custom stain that is a mix of Jacobean and Ebony.