Fixing a modern ranch with historic precedent. Creating an inviting story.

[@50Street21]

You are the Midas touch, Brent, that makes everything successful. I admire your achievement to acquiring the end result.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks

[@Timmakesmusic]

So fascinating to see the different porch options and how each one changes the feel and story of the house. Your options make the porch look so much more grounded and intentional, like it's truly a part of the house. You're right that the original design looks flimsy - it looks like an afterthought, something disposble, tacked on at the last minute.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks.

[@christinehyder1054]

You are brilliant!

[@BrentHull]

Very kind. Thx.

[@jmerced]

I love the two options on the right side for the columns. The back is amazing.

[@BrentHull]

Glad you like it! Thx

[@rogerhodges7656]

I love it. All of the options are better than the starting point and all tell slightly different stories.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks.

[@tc9148]

Perfect changes. Love the column options and the shed dormers. The house goes from dull and blah to a great design with a unique narrative.

[@BrentHull]

Thank you.

[@brucebenson9651]

This and all your videos are a Master Class in architecture.

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!

[@theotherserge]

A thought about what a ranch house means to me at least: the materials need be/appear to be local, like stone from the nearby creek, Redwood if it’s Western, Cypress if it’s Midwest, slate or clay or stucco accents depending upon region. In any case, those tube steel columns wrapped in split shingles or whatever eye-bleed inducing trim gotta go. Also, that poured form staircase that probably looks like a concrete grade beam is basically a pox upon any house! Nice designs! Looking forward to what’s next.

[@BrentHull]

Well said. Thx.

[@theotherserge]

@@BrentHull thank you for the quality videos!

[@rickteeden8656]

I like the stone columns

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!

[@jacobtracy7847]

I feel like, if it's a ranch, the horizontal, 1960s-ness is what should be leaned into. I would have avoided or limited the gable ends and a big porch as opposed to a patio, outright. But if you DO go with gables and a porch, I do think what you've done is an improvement. It kind of goes back to what you always say; "what does it WANT to be?"

[@BrentHull]

This is a ranch property, not a ranch style home. I should have clarified.

[@kate2create738]

The funny thing is I personally favor dormers to the shed roof, ironically I've seen a lot of shed roof styles with a more modern vibe, whereas it seems that dormers have a flexibility to fit most styles. Each to their own. Really like the options for the railing, that will help tie in the whole house, the thicker columns will also fit with a house that size.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!

[@phillipquigley5095]

Are those sky lights or roof vents on the front elevation? Would love to see how you would detail out a skylight if you have any examples from past projects.

[@BrentHull]

Ok. thx.

[@Captain-KTS]

Good call on those dormers, shed is the way to go. The original looked cheap to me. Cheers Kirk

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for sharing.

[@hmtrimworks7148]

Shed dormers are a no-go for me. Posts: maybe use rough cut lumber to made recessed panel columns, small recess rectangle panel on the bottom and long on top, leaving a cross rail between them to tie the railing into.

[@BrentHull]

Noted. Thx.

[@jasonkay6919]

5:00 "we're out on a ranch, so we don't have follow safety codes," Golly, thanks, Brent! Love your videos, except when they ignore basic safety items.

[@BrentHull]

I think historic precedent drives a positive design. I'll do a video on code at some point, but most code issues are fine but not good for design.

[@mab49696]

Who is teaching these new architects, or who is not teaching young architects today. We have the wrong people in architecture today. I have not seen a new house built in the past 30 years that can come close to classy houses built in town in the 1900s to about 1950.

[@BrentHull]

I agree. Its shameful.

[@SethOrsborn]

Brent, can you tackle a more traditional 1980s single story Texas ranch? There are a lot of houses in DFW that could use some character.

[@BrentHull]

Ok. Noted.

[@jonboy8181]

Looks great! Maybe I don’t know what a ranch is?

[@BrentHull]

Ok. Ranches in Texas are large rural places with a few hundred to a few thousand acres.

[@ryansoo4000]

Hi Brent, great video! When I was studying Architecture I discovered that the way to choose the best solution for a design was to let my eyes quickly scan across the plans from left to right and wherever my eye paused I knew that was a mistake. The same is true when trying to decide between different options - wherever your eye pauses, that is the best option and for me that was column number three (from the left). My second choice would be column #5, but with the top braces from column #4. However, for the railings, instead of just an upper and lower rail with no spindles could you perhaps have a column, a 2-4’ section of open rails, then a vertical piece of wood between them, a simple wooden “X” design, a second vertical piece of wood and another open section of rails?

[@BrentHull]

Great ideas. Thanks.

[@Daihatsu_Hijet]

👍🏻

[@BrentHull]

THx.

[@maxmustermann5126]

I think columns and wooden-building aren`t comaptible. You need kind of a balance between load and load-bearing elements, massive pillars are there to carry massive loads.

[@BrentHull]

Noted, although there is a precedent for large columns on humble bungalows. Thx.

[@robertbamford8266]

Outstanding improvement (no surprise there). But until you said “out on the ranch” I was trying to figure out how that was a ranch (style) house - long and low. Horses and cows and out in the country.

[@BrentHull]

Got it. Thx.

[@DrMJJr]

Those back stairs are absolutely beautiful!!!! And the bracketed timbered columns really give the building some architectural heft and value. Excellent changes but that door desperately needs attention though to really give the building its identity IMO

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for sharing.

[@a97chrjo]

Why did you only change the dormer on the front and not the sides and back? That house is going to be magical!

[@BrentHull]

I was just showing options to client. I assume all dormers will match.

[@mjey1]

Brent, what's it called where it looks dormer-y on the outside but inside the ceiling is normal? I dislike slanted ceilings in bedrooms but like the look of some sort of dormer.

[@BrentHull]

Vaulted?

[@mjey1]

@@BrentHull no, it's more like a roof line trick that looks like a dormer but the window is within normal height range. No big deal if I'm not describing it right.

[@jonboy8181]

So it’s less describing the house as is it the whole of the property. On the east coast, which I’m sure you’re aware of, ranches are usually a long one story house. Mostly brick.

[@BrentHull]

Noted. thx.

[@jrgunn5]

Interesting choices. As I look at your sketch, I find myself postulating how each style would propagate throughout the design and my reaction to those. Based on the column choices; classical doesn’t seem to fit the context, timber framing feels tacked on, but Arts and Crafts, along with the stonework.. that sings. My two cents.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for sharing. That was my favorite too.

[@cborecky]

It's weird to me that more people don't notice when porches skip leg day. Even the old fashioned wrought iron looks visually flimsy to me.

[@BrentHull]

Noted. Thx.

[@risalangdon9883]

Looks great!! Wonderful improvements!❤

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!

[@who2u333]

It almost looked better simply as I read the drawing from left to right.

[@BrentHull]

Ok. thx.

[@JeffKogut]

Code is not exempt on a ranch or in the country.

[@jon2924stonely]

This made me laugh out loud. Texans … smh

[@BrentHull]

ok

[@marvinhaines9297]

Good overall, but that porch railing is WAY too high. The Tuscan Order column is much more visually effective (and far less cliche) than the "Craftsman" options. You speak of "traditional" as if it were a style. What style? Craftsman? Queen Anne? Colonial Revival? Georgian? Second Empire? "Traditional" seems to me a cheap way of saying, "New, masquerading as Old." You did a wonderful job improving that wreck of a house, but I myself would have taken it a lot further.

[@BrentHull]

noted. Thx.

[@kenethsoberano]

Way too ornate.

[@BrentHull]

Ok. thx.