By Chicago’s Bauhaus and Beyond’s Joan Gand | If you are the new owner of a Mid-Century Modern home, congratulations! Now to the hard part…how to get the look you love. Forget what you see on HGTV/Martha Stewart/Oprah. Mid-Century modern has its own look and it will keep its value if you follow these simple rules.  I have come up with these thoughts after making many mistakes myself over the years. I hope that sharing my hard-earned knowledge will help you find your own Mid Mod style here.

Enjoy the full article HERE. Cheers!

3 Bedroom | 2.5 Baths | 2,677 SQFT. | .69 Acres | Studio

We are excited to bring 21 Woodbury Rd to the market today. California living comes to the mountains in this completely updated and ready-to-go, one-level mid-century ranch home in North Asheville on a private lot with mountain views. Perfect! The 3 Bedroom and 2.5 Bath home is light filled with every room having a garden view in one direction or another in to a private natural oasis layered with Japanese inspired mountain gardens for the best in that relaxed indoor/outdoor lifestyle. Enjoy the brand new light and efficient kitchen with a convenient breakfast room open to further dining and outdoor patio.

There is a newly constructed (1000 sqft built in 2017) art studio space with added half bath perfect for an artist or convert to a family/entertainment room, another guest suite or home business. The home has been fully updated from top to bottom. Light filled, creatively inspired, relaxed and everything you need!

Give us a call for more information and take the tour here. Cheers!

— Kelly and Troy

Take a deeper look at the transformation of 49 Valle Vista in North Asheville—a 1978 split-entry ranch on a private wooded lot. Our owner, puts her heart in everything.

As she says,"I love transformation and wanted to find a home that I could bring life back to it, with quality work, green/environmentally friendly products wherever possible and a desire to create an oasis. I viewed this project as a work of art, carefully choosing each component with purpose, flair and beauty. This is basically a new house. Even if this home isn't the right one for you, I hope you will join with the love and energy put into this space!"

The kitchen and living area, formally divided, has now be united and topped with a vaulted ceiling for a light and open space. Careful in creating a warm contemporary space the finishes provide brightness, contrast and warmth.Along with everything else the three bathrooms were all gutted and updated to reflect the rest of the interior.Overall, the home has new HVAC, roof, gutters, most plumbing, electrical, drywall and insulation, front and back deck, garage doors and radon system.

As always, give us a call if you want more information on this home. Cheers!

1676 SQFT | 3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | .65 Acre | Everything New

Check out this updated two level ranch home privately located on a wooded lot in desirable Lookout Valley of North Asheville. The home's living space is open and vaulted with an island kitchen. What's new? Roof, gutters, windows, garage doors, floors, bathrooms, kitchen, heating/cooling and freshly painted of course! Functionally, the home has 3 bedrooms and 3 baths with living spaced on both levels. From the convenient location you can walk North to Beaver Lake's nature trails or South to Chestnut Ridge Trail to UNCA. What more do you need tucked away in North Asheville?

Give us a call for more information or a private tour. In the meantime enjoy the photo tour here. Cheers!

— Troy and Kelly

Given the current downsizing and one level living trends the Ranch House finds itself looking a bit more appealing these days. Originally, created for its efficient scale, floorplans and ease of living it may have a brighter future stoked by this gloomy time. In the past decades we have seen homes grow in size to where a master bedroom has become the size of what once would be sufficient for a living room. Do we ever ask ourselves why we need all this size?  Is bigger always better?You will find that we are fans of the Ranch Home.  I am not sure if it is due to the fact that we grew up in Ranch Homes in the 60's and 70's or that today I have learned to downsize and have a simple home that allows more freedom for the rest of my life. Either way we urge you to take another look at that understated  house you drive by everyday and consider what it might do for you.

Renovating A Ranch Style House

Thinking about how to renovate ranch style houses leads to all kinds of possibilities if you have the foresight to see the potential. Ranch style houses are not always seen as a historic style home worthy of restoration, yet they are integral to mid-century American style. Often these homes are remodeled; stories added, and the unique look of the structure is muddled beyond recognition. While they did have some negative design characteristics, overall the homes illustrated the love of sleek modernism that was the byword of the 1950s and 1960s. The best renovations will honor the style of the original home.

History of the Ranch Style

Ranch style architecture was not born in the tract homes of the late 1950s. It began far earlier than that, in San Diego, California. The first ranch style home was built in 1932 by a California architect named Cliff May. Born in 1909, May was fascinated by the homes that were built by the early Mexican settlers in California. These homes were horizontal in nature and seemed to pull the landscape into the home to create and integrated living area.

Characteristics of a Ranch Style Home

The homes were meant to be sleek, easy to clean, and leave time for the owners to pursue their interests. Materials were natural. Stone and brick were often brought into the home as design elements. Home interiors were open and included glass doors to patios which allowed the patio to be used as another room.

Other design elements are:

• Horizontal lines

• Living areas at the front of the house

• Smooth surfaces

• Paneling

• Picture windows

• Kitchen peninsulas

• Flat or low pitched roofs

• Smooth, hollow core doors

• Narrow layout

• Simple floor plans

• Attached garage

Good Bones

Before you begin to renovate, ranch style houses should be inspected carefully by a professional housing inspector.  It is very important that the foundation and the structure of the home be solid.  Other areas that should be brought up to date are:

• Plumbing

• Wiring

• Insulation

• Heating/Cooling System

• Drainage

• Roof

If all of these are in good condition, then you can move on to the renovation of your home.  Before you do, you might want to consider the neighborhood.  Is it one you want to live in or continue to live in?  This is something to decide before you invest a lot of money to renovate a ranch style house.

Steps to Renovate Ranch Style Houses

• Make a list of the characteristics of your home that you love. These are things you will want to keep.

• Make a list of your current needs. More space? Bigger Kitchen?

• Figure out how much you can afford to spend on a renovation.

• Decide how much you can realistically do yourself.

• If you will be making major changes in structure then talk to an architect about your plans.

• Find a general contractor to handle the things you will not be doing yourself.

• Check with your city about permits and licenses.

Tips for Ranch Style Renovation

1. Try to use building materials similar in looks to those used to construct the existing home when any additions that are made. This helps create continuity. For example, Victorian style trim would look silly on a sleek ranch style home, while chunky Craftsman details would weigh it down.

2. Think carefully before you decide to add a second story. You will lose the look of the ranch and you will also lose some of the convenience of one floor living.

3. Using natural finish wood on the floors is a wise investment and seems to be attractive to buyers. Wood floors go well with this style of home.

4. Don't underestimate the ability of landscaping to improve the curb appeal of your home. This is especially tru of Ranch style homes.

5. Changes should fit into the style of the home. Many architects believe that changing the exterior look of the home should be avoided if at all possible.

6. If the home has a basement this can be the perfect place to pick up extra space. Finishing it off and turning it into an office, den, or bedroom will get the addition you need with out the expense of changing the exterior.

7. A garage is often another area that can be finished and turned into a room.

8. Renovating kitchens and bathrooms is always a good investment, and while you're at it, replace appliances with Energy Star rated appliances to save money.

Take a look at some of our other blog post on remodeling ranch homes in our area.Much of this article provided by "About.com's Home Improvement.”

3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | 2394 SQFT | Versatile Finished Basement

Take a moment and check out this cool home. The artistic, split-entry, ranch home is located in a popular Beaver Lake mid-century neighborhood of North Asheville. The home's rich wood floors and fresh paintset the stage for this fun 1959 retro home with well-preserved original kitchen and baths. The versatile, finished walk-out basement could be a studio, family room or made into an apartment with outside entrance. On the exterior the home has lush, artistic gardens full of interesting plantings and garden art that transition throughout the seasons.

Our motivated sellers just reduced the price to $489,000. A nice value for the area.

Want to see more of the home? Enjoy the tour here. Give Kelly and Troy a call if you have any questions. Cheers!

3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2343 SQFT | .52 Acres | $399,900

Cool and convenient, one-level atomic rancher just out Beaverdam Rd in North Asheville. This unique home blends original details with an updated modern kitchen. Original baths ready for your TLC. Main spaces, bedrooms and baths all on one easy level with a sunken family room, den or studio to adapt to your needs. Easy open and sunny yard for a variety of lifestyles. Walkable to park. Mountain views from your front window. Short drive to amenities.

Call us for more details and enjoy the tour here. Cheers!

— Kelly and Troy

Chiles Main

Price: $315,000

Chiles Comp

Size: 1578 sqft Amenities: 3 Beds + 1 Bath Take a look at this quintessential, mid-century ranch home just listed today in our office. Personally, I love the charm of all the original details. Give me a call if you would like more details or a tour of this home. Enjoy! Here is how the listing agent describes it, "Kenilworth Mid-Century. 3 Bedroom brick ranch w/great corner location in the heart of Kenilworth. Spacious LR w/gas log fireplace. Built-ins divide the living room and dining room creating a beaufiul open space. Nice floor plan w/bedrooms tucked away from Living area. Origin hardwoods throughout. Light and bright with many windows. Original pine cabinets in kitchen. Sunroom with woodburning fireplace. Laundry room. Attic. House and .28 acre buildable lot. Give me a call if you want more details on this home.

Retro Ranch Comps

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Kelly and I enjoy scouting out simple ranches with those extra details that reflect that rustic side of Asheville or a universal retro look. We may find an asymmetric fireplace wall, exposed beams supporting a vaulted ceiling, vintage wood paneling or natural stonework. No matter the detail they can feel cozy and warm with a touch of cool that reflect the nostalgia of how we grew up. For more general information on Asheville ranch home living please see over a dozen past articles I've written on Ranch Homes. Currently on the market, are three homes shown above that all have that nostalgic, mid-century, ranch feeling. However, what makes these three Asheville homes distinctive is that they are situated on large, private lots with good indoor/outdoor relationships for maximizing that Asheville lifestyle. The visibility and flow to outdoor living creates that expansion needed to breathe free of the typical ranch box. Some of the interiors offer use of wood that helps bring the outdoors in. As typical of ranch homes, all three offer efficient living for those looking to economize and enjoy the broader lifestyle that Asheville has to offer. 672 Pinners Cove is 3 Bed + 2 Bath is privately located on 2.38 acres just east and then south of Asheville close to where I, myself, live. For more photos see here. 143 Buffalo Trail is 3 Bed + 2.5 Baths on 1.04 Acres just east and then North of Asheville. For more photos see here. 11 Pine Tree Rd. is 3 Bed + 2 Baths on .91 acres on one of my favorite North Asheville streets offering privacy and convenience. There is no virtual tour for this property. Kelly and I would love to help you get to know some of the vintage ranch homes here in Asheville that offer the convenience of location to downtown in established and friendly neighborhoods. Thank you, Troy

6 Waverly Ct Asheville NC-small-001-Front-666x443-72dpi

MLS: 535519Price: $269,900Size: 2065 softFeatures: 2 Bed, 2 Bath, In-law Suite + View Look at the curb appeal on this sweet little ranch on one of my favorite view streets in Beverly Hills. If you don't grab this one - I will! Here is how our ranch expert, realtor Carol Marin, describes her latest listing. "Beverly Hills mid-century offering many living possibilities! Charming main level w/hardwoods, 2 bedrooms, fireplace & deck. Full in-law suite downstairs w/family rm, bedrm, kitchen, bath & patio. Spectacular backyard, site of several weddings, w/gorgeous mountain views & perennials galore! Plenty of gardening space, greenhouse & outbuilding. New roof. Downstairs space has been rented in past. Convenient to downtown, shopping & Biltmore Village." For a tour click here.