i have always had a thing for anything '60's or '70's. i'm not really sure why, but you could even ask my mom about this peculiarity. in 8th grade, i wore solely clothes from this era (my mom took me to thrift stores and even asked around to her friends about clothes they may have had left over from their teenage years), and have just always appreciated the colors (oranges, mustards, avocado greens, etc) and quirky styling of this bygone era. i wasn't alive during this time, so i don't know why it appeals to me so heavily; but for some reason, it does.
anyway, enter the ranch-style home.
here are some interesting facts about the ranch style house from "wikipedia:"
Ranch-style houses (also American ranch, California ranch, rambler or rancher) is a uniquely American domestic architectural style. First built in the 1920s, the ranch style was extremely popular in the United States during the 1940s to 1970s, as new suburbs were built for the Greatest Generation and later the Silent Generation. The style was exported to other nations and so is found in other countries.
The style is often associated with tract housing built during this period, particularly in the western United States, which experienced a population explosion during this period, with a corresponding demand for housing.
The ranch house is noted for its long, close-to-the-ground profile, and minimal use of exterior and interior decoration. The houses fuse modernist ideas and styles with notions of the American Western period working ranches to create a very informal and casual living style. Their popularity waned in the late 20th century as neo-eclectic house styles, a return to using historical and traditional decoration, became popular.
cool, huh? so the other day, i took jordan to the airport, and in order to escape the scary atlanta traffic, i put in my GPS to take backroads home, and it took me through the cutest little '60's/'70's ranch house neighborhood. i think i just love all the fun, weird details these homes have, and for some reason they seem really home-ey to me. i never lived in a house like this, but i would love to own one one day!

this room makes carpet look so chic! it'd be really disgusting to keep the original carpet though - that'd have to be replaced :)

how cute is this little garage? i also love the placement of the fire place in front:

this is a photo of an updated ranch home in malibu...LOVE the pink rail, the handles on the door, and the plants in the in-ground planter.

i really love the see-through iron (i think it's iron? or maybe brick?) work on the front of this home, and the matching area where the little trees are planted:


cute roof!

it's also fun to think that all these homes have super-cool pools as well:

the uncommon color choices for this home are great. i always love a good, punchy door-color choice:

the tall windows to the left on this house are awesome! it looks like they are actually smaller windows within the big frame. i think i would like them better if they were giant windows inside those huge pillars. perfect for christmas tree placement!

cute "shutters" and i like that tree to the left of them.

again with the awesome pattern to the left. REALLY AWESOME.

so while most of my friends probably dream of giant traditional homes, or craftsman style homes, i shall continue to dream of long, flat ones with orange doors and giant brass handles. fortunately, one of the first conversations jordan and i had was about how he likes ranch homes, so maybe we will have one one day! and i hope it has an indoor planter for some cacti.