Delmar Ranch

This home is an expansive mid-century modern ranch. The design team was tasked with creating a bright modern space that fit the family’s active lifestyle but still embraced the charming original character of the home. 

The primary challenge was the state of the home. The basement collected standing water during heavy rain. Many of the home’s exterior details were water damaged from more than 50 years of harsh Midwestern weather. A connection to natural daylight proved to be one of the biggest challenges. 

An old, failing bay window at the front of the home was replaced by enlarging the window and bounding the composition in bold black steel. Inside, the redesign is filled with daylight. The previously dark, closed-off kitchen now opens onto an expansive outdoor patio, and the 8-foot sliding door between the spaces can be fully pulled back to blend the boundary between indoors and out. 

The kitchen, main living space, entry hall and primary suite were reoriented to open onto a reimagined back patio with a custom fire feature. Kitchen ceilings were raised to create space and allow more daylight into the home’s primary living spaces. Access to daylight was prioritized in the primary suite, where skylights were added to the primary bath and closet to minimize the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours. They used a palette that would be minimal, but warm and timeless. Walnut was selected as a base material for cabinets and treated in a variety of stains to maximize the character achievable with the native material. Natural stone was selected for its visual impact and longevity.