Ranch Revival: Ranch House Resources

Ranch House Resources:

Ideas & Discussion

Blogs • Books About the Ranch Style • Books for DIY Help • Broadcast & Podcast • Magazines • Websites • More

Blogs - Blogs are personal and can sometimes ramble, but watch out: you may find yourself sucked in, waiting with bated breath to see what happens next in the saga of the bathroom remodel or the landscaping debacle or the spat over the kitchen fixutres because, face it, if you're a homeowner, you can relate. You've been there. You can search many of these blogs by subject, by date, or even by room. We love them for the ideas, the beautiful photos, the inspiriation, and the company. We're not alone out here in Ranch Land! Surf with confidence: we love these sites!

1951 Ranch Redo - http://ranchredo.com/ A glassblower and self-described "full time information geek" are fully in the throes of, as the title says, a remodel of a 1951 Ranch Style home in Corvallis, Oregon. They're doing a lot of the (arduous) work themselves, and doing it beautifully, if we may say so. Must see photos of exterior and interior work, some of it still in progress.
Eco-Ranch in the Midwest - http://ecoranch.blogspot.com/ "One ordinary family's quest to 'green' their 1950s ranch house in a part of the country where green technology and green products aren't easy to come by." Whether or not you're actively considering green options for your next project, you'll enjoy this informative and entertaining site, especially if, like this blogger, you're the owner of an older ranch style house.
Home Improvement Ideas blog - http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/ The daily entries in this useful blog feature illustrated new product ideas coming out of the home improvement arena. The blog features an extensive array of categories, a handy search tool, and home improvement articles. You can also sign up for their RSS feed.
Homeowner's Blog - "Home improvement with an eye toward sustainability" http://www.catskillhouse.us/blog/ - This blogger in the Catskills is tackling renovations and improvements on a 1965 "run down ranch house,"with, as the tag line says, eye toward sustainability. The blog is wide and deep, with daily entries and an extensive index on subjects ranging from the practical to the philosophical, and all worth a read. We're hooked.
Houseblogs.net - http://www.houseblogs.net/ The mother of all houseblogging sites. A massive community of housebloggers congregate here. It's like a giant show and tell, only searchable by house style, by subject or by blog. Find answers to your personal remodeling questions on the discussion board, peruse tons of interesting stories and photos, and even show off your own work.
Meanwhile Back at the Ranch! - http://www.midcenturystyle.net/wordpress/ We recommend Mary Frances-Main's lively houseblog about her 1950s brick ranch in Denver, CO, as a refreshing resource for anybody planning or already in the throes of a renovation or restoration of their own 1950s or 1960s ranch style house.
Not Just Another Campi: My Life in a 1950's Slab Ranch - http://notjustanothercampi.blogspot.com/ Follow the owner of a Campanelli Brothers ranch in eastern Massachusetts (see Roots of the Ranch for more on those) as she DIYs her way through interesting discoveries and major renovations.

Books - We have so many books, now, they have their own pages. Go to Books
Broadcast & Podcast -

The Money Pit Radio Show - A nationally syndicated call-in radio show hosted by Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete, who help listeners with their home repair and improvement problems. Find them on a local station or download podcasts of the show at http://www.moneypit.com/listen/ If you don't want to call in your question, use their write in form: http://www.moneypit.com/listen/ask.php Their site also has a Tips & Ideas Section, and a place to sign up for their newsletter and RSS feeds.
Remodeling Podcast Collection at Mefeedia - A collection of downloadable remodeling podcasts, including those from The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show, and Renovation 101: Home Remodeling Tips at http://mefeedia.com/tags/remodeling/?page=1

DVDs & Videos -
- Updating a Ranch Kitchen from Hometime Video. 68 Minutes (2001). In this 3-part series, Hometime hosts Dean and Robin remodel the kitchen of a 1950s ranch style house. See hands-on demolition, plaster repair, new cabinet and countertop installation, recessed lighting, and more. http://www2.hometime.com/
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Magazines - We have so many magazines, now, they have their own page. Go to Magazines

Websites -

Blindsgalore.com ~ We like this site's useful planning tools for window treatments: a photo gallery so you can visualize the styles they offer in a real setting; product overviews so you can quickly assess characteristics like temperature control, light control, and privacy; and a window treatment glossary.
BuildDirect.com ~ In addition to their competitively priced products (including "green" products) for building and remodeling, this site features the BuildDirect University™ with easy-to-follow "courses" for DIYers, and the "Room Designer," where you can match flooring types with wall and furniture colors to find thebest match before you buy.
Electrical Hazards Information at the State Farm Learning Center website: We like this site because it gives clear, useful information, puts your safety first, and contains no hidden (or overt) product or service pitches. This is the site that our electrical advisor recommends to his clients.
Kitchen Design Tools at HGTV.com ~ 10 Steps to a New Kitchen If you're thinking about a kitchen remodel and aren't sure where to start, HGTV's online video clips and articles can help jump-start your thinking process; their 3-D interactive kitchen design tool called the Online Designer (works only with Internet Explorer) can help you visualize your design ideas; and, their Remodeling Budget Estimator can help you begin to estimate what your project will cost.
Modular Ranch House Design ~ We found this modular design, called the "[b]ranch house," said to be inspired by mid-century ranch style architects such as Cliff May and Eichler. The company is Moderinst Modular Homes at modernistmodularhomes.com View a 20-second, 360-degree animation of the concept on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k3WkKGAixI
Old House Journal Online: Talk Section - Old Houses: Post World War II.
http://www.oldhousejournal.com/cgi-local/
forum1/index3.pl The Journal's Talk pages are divided by historic period into separate forums. "Ranch houses, split-levels, and other styles that blossomed at the mid-point of the 20th century are now historic in their own right. Share thoughts about newer houses from one of the most industrious periods in American history."
Oriented Strand Board (OSB) Homeowner's Guide. If you're planning a new construction or remodeling project, you may consider using this engineered wood product instead of plywood and/or instead of dimensional lumber for floor joists. The Structural Board Association has a complete guide to OSB for homeowners at http://www.osbguide.com/homeowners.html The site also has an excellent FAQ section.
Renovation 101 - This site focuses on "assisting homeowners who are hiring general or subcontractors to do the work for them." A lot of practical information at http://www.renovation101.com/index.htm (See also: Broadcasts & Podcasts, above).

Your local historical society - It isn't always about the ancient houses. Time changes perspectives and people are starting to wake up to the historic value of the much poo-poohed Ranch Style. You might find like-minded homeowners working on Ranch House projects of their own.
We'll be right back with more!