RAMBLER REDUX

Single story ramblers or ranch style homes, built at a fevered pace in the 1950's and 1960's, can be one of the most sterile house styles built in the 20th century. With their open layout and larger home footprint, they require a larger lot than most homes, which really was not a problem as people began to build suburbia. All had low roof lines, over hanging eaves and patio doors, all looked so much the same.
Don't think that transformation is impossible. With an open mind and a dash of the bold, a rambler can be so much more.

Just off the master bedroom is a small sitting area, added onto the original house, with a gas fireplace and a mantel ledge of old timber held up by two original plaster swag corbels that have been faux painted. An over-sized Victorian corbel over 4 feet long ties the window to the floor.

A simple but elegant statement to finish a fireplace.
On either side of the fireplace are a pair of original cast sconce shades with amber micah that adds a warm color to the room when lit. An arched piece of red stone Terra Cotta sits in front of the gas fireplace as a summer cover

This small reading area is completed with tall deco cut wood corbels at the ceiling line & a Bronze Quatrefoil hanging light to illuminate this sitting area when the light fades each night.

While the highlight of this room was the mantel, several changes made the mantel shine and become the room's focal point. Two 3 candle iron sconces, 1940's Country French / Italian in style, brought light to the sponge painted walls. We added a 1905 curved cast iron balcony railing in front of the gas fireplace. Two antique figural fireplace tiles from Minton Tile Company - 1890's - were added. On each side of the mantel 4 ft tall carved limestone corbels from a 1917 building.

The seasonal decorations and greenery didn't hurt either.