FOR SALE – 411 W. Haywood St.

MLS# 425558  

Price $299,500

1500 sq/ft

3 Beds and 3 Baths

Finally, some clever and well designed “in fill” housing that is badly needed in Asheville.  Located in the creative Chicken Hill area of Asheville it sits between downtown and the River Arts District.  I took a tour of this home today. Derived from the industrial and work cottage venacular of its context it has developed into a smart, loft style home. These healthy built homes pack a lot in a small square footage and represent the future of what homes will become.  Smaller square footage, healthy built and some versatile square footage.  The basement can be a bedroom, office or in-law suite.  The details all fit – from the european style cabinetry to the pine plank flooring and some of the built in shelving you will find these homes both clean and charming.

Here is how Bill MacCurdy describes his listing – “Trend Setting, affordable downtown residence – views of the river and fabulous sunsets, master bdrm with “Juliet” balcony, large flex room in daylight basement w/12′ ceilings, all bedrooms  with private baths, contemporary cabinetry, built-ins, wood and bamboo floors, tile baths, gas fireplace, back deck, front patio, professionally designed, – first of 6 contemporary healthy built Urban “dwellings” designs by Daryl Rantis Architects and Sun Construction”

FOR SALE – The Residences at 151

Luxury Condominiums

1500 – 2300 sq/ft    $910,000 – $1,450,000

After touring these new luxury condominiums today I found I was impressed by the details and design.  They are definitely a step up from anything else offered in downtown Asheville at this time.  Plus, they have views that no one else can offer.  The current models have been furnished by Four Corners.  They did a nice job of bringing in a warm, modern feel.  Having seen the marketing materials previously, I was expecting a cold and hard feeling space.  What I saw was very liveable, clean and warm.  I left wanting one for myself. 

Here is how their marketing materials describe them, “From the integration of tasteful regional motifs…to ergonomically curved walls…and aesthetically designed interiors…no detail has been overlooked in The Residences.  These elegan units invite you with spacious living areas, private outdoor terraces, and tasteful furnishings that harmonize the juxtaposing urban and natural landscapes.  Each unit will be draped in the serenity of floor-to-ceiling windows offering specatcular panaroamic views of downtown Asheville and the surrounding moutains.”

Romancing the Ranch Home

Ranch on the Rebound?

Given the current economic climate 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 I am a big fan of the Ranch Home.  I am not sure if it is due to the fact that I 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 I urge you to take another look at that understated  house you drive by everyday and consider what it might do for you.  

Intro by Troy Winterrowd

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 that 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 wer horizontal in nature and seemed to pull the landscape into the home to create and ingegrated living area.

Characteristics of a Ranch Style Home

The homes wer 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 permist 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 bedrrom will get the addition you need with out the expense of changing the exterior.
7. A garage is oftern another area that can be finished and turned into a room.
8. Renovating kitchends and bathrooms is always a good investment, and while your’re at it, replace appliances with Energy Star rated aplliances to save money and gree your home. Take a look at some of my other blogs on remodeling ranch homes in our area.  

Much of this article provided by “About.com’s Home Improvement”.

Gracious Ranch Home living in Grove Park

By now we all know I am a big fan of the Ranch home.  I recently acquired a new friend who just so happens to share my passion for the them.  His own Ranch home is a spacious and gracious home that sits just above the Grove Park Inn quietly embraced by the woods and enjoying a beautiful, long range, mountain view.  Let’s take a look!

One of the first things you will notice about this four bedroom home location is that you are in the mountains, yet, there is no steep driveway and no staircases.  You have easy mountain living all on one level living.  The owner states, ” I have an aversion to steps.”  From the driveway, through the subterranean garden and all the way through to the master suite you can almost glide along this flat, comfortable and open floor plan.  There are large openings from room to room so you can effortlessly move throughout the 3000 sq/ft house.  Overall, it is comfortable and welcoming.

Stylisticly, this unassuming Ranch becomes a neutral background that welcomes you to create your own life.  Whether you prefer antiques, modern or prefer eclectic - the Ranch steps out of the way to let your own belongings take center stage.  The owner here has accumulated furnishings from many periods.  He finds his neutral home a gallery for his own personal style.  The eclectic mix is supported in the dining room by the clean horizontal lines mixed with traditional wall covering and cabinetry.

“Along with decor, the Ranch is low maintainance,” says the owner.  The simple plan and construction are easy to access and manipulate saving time and money.   There is simply less to do which allows more time for living life. 

Here in the basement the owner has kept and enhanced the original aesthetic of the house.  As time as past many of us grew up in Ranch homes and now find warmth and comfort in the nostaglia of that period.  Mid-century is the charming, new antique of today. 

Due to the Ranch style’s narrow plan and large picture windows you can easily be surrounded in nature.  This house is enveloped by its wooded mountain setting.  Even though the house can appear as a box it opens up to allow nature to spill in. 

There is also some built in versatility which is important these days.  The main floor has three nice bedrooms and two bathrooms, while the downstairs has a full bedroom suite with bathroom and another living space.  This flexibility can allow for a renter or multiple generations under one roof.  A trend that we will probably see more of in the future. 

In the past, the owner has lived in some heavily designed, architecturally dynamic homes.  At this time in his life he has chosen this clean and simple ranch home as it offers him “livibility”.  “I find a gracious simplicity in living here.  I am so comfortable I find it hard to leave,” he says.  As we sat and talked for three hours in the cozy sitting area by the kitchen while enjoying the mountain view – I had to agree.

Text and Photos by Troy Winterrowd

Modern Lighting for your Home at LUX

Having driven by LUX Lighting for over a year I thought a visit was long overdue.  LUX Lighting is an architectural lighting retail store offering design services for your lighting needs.  Christi Butts, who is the owner and a certified lighting consultant, says,”We really love to get in at the ground level and do the lighting design in the planning stages.  It offers more opportunities for the property owner.”  On staff is David Terry, an experienced and certified lighting designer.  LUX staff has created lighting designs for the Capital Center Building remodel in downtown Asheville, the Usual Suspects restaurant, many modern downtown condos and residential homes in exclusive communities.  

I asked Christi what she would tell people when starting their home planning stages that we don’t often think about.  She talked about all the different levels of lighting throughout a home.  There can be anywhere from 3 to 5 levels of lighting in the kitchen. 1. General or Recessed Lighting  2. Task or under cabinet lighting  3. Decorative Pendants  4. Art Lighting  5.  Night Lighting/Toe Kick Lighting.  Overall, there is a lot to consider in balancing the sources of light so you don’t get either shadows or glare.

What do they sell?  They sell fixtures to complete your home from front to back whether you are remodeling or starting from scratch.  Though their showroom leans towards modern they have all styles of fixtures for every type of home.  Worth noting is that they are the only dealers in WNC for “Modern Fans”.  

While finishing up our discussion Christi stated, ” Most of us don’t know we are living in poor lighting until we have experienced really good lighting.  That particularly comes across in bathrooms.  Most fixtures on the market create strong shadows that aren’t flattering for us.”  I agreed.  It is the same way I feel about most floor plans of developer homes.  Most people don’t know a good floor plan until you have lived in a well laid out one.  It really can change your life and make living easier and more enjoyable.  From my personal experience reworking your lighting is one to the simplest and most effective ways to change and enhance your living experience.  So when you are ready to do so stop by and visit the folks at LUX Lighting at 105 Broadway St. in downtown Asheville.  They make it easy with in home consultations.