This home was designed for the plank-and-beam system, in order to insure economical construction compatible with the quality of the most expensive houses. A recessed doorway provides covering for the porch and the entry just inside gives the feeling of a centr hall with a vista of the dining room beyond and living room on the left. To the right of the coat closet is the hall leading to the three bedrooms, each master-sized. The parents’ bedroom has a tremendous walk-in closet, and the bath beyond has a shower and luxury-vanitory. Back-to-back is the family bathroom, with a double vanitory and linen closet just outside. One of the star aspects of this house is the generous size of the dining room, large enough for family parties and completely separated from the workaday kitchen as well as from the living room. The kitchen has step-saving as its prime objective.
The U-shaped work area with range and oven opposite each other is a model of convenience with refrigerator and work-counter adding a square aspect that brings everything close to the busy homemaker. Note the convenient pantry and extra room for storage. The second exposure in the kitchen offers a perfect dinette area and there is a service entry, protecting kitchen and dinette from drafts, but leading right down to the basement. For the family that prefers to eliminate the basement, heater and utilities can be tucked into the area now shown for basement stairs without altering witchen arrangement in any way. The attached two-car garage offers shelter on the other side of the breezeway and with doors from garage and house, on need to brave the elements in bad weather. The use of plank and beam offers more than just economy in construction — if you like all the rooms can have cathedral ceiling ( conventional ceilings can be added later by your builder ) for a luxurious modern look. The bathrooms and closet core have the straight ceilings with storage above and there is overhead storage over the basement stair.
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source: Best Homes, issue 47, 1968
Gemini AI Rendering
The exterior of this most attractive ranch house displays a pleasing combination of horizontal and vertical wood siding and brick; dove cotes, shuttered windows and window boxes are used for trim and a covered front portico provides a practical and appealing approach to the front door. Every area of the interior has been designed for the comfort and convenience of the entire family, but there are three features which we feel deserve special note. The first is the wide entertaining sweep made possible by the combined dining room and living room at the rear of the house. The entrance to the living room is directly off the foyer, just past a closet especially designed for guests' wraps, and the dining room is only a step from the kitchen. There are two big windows in the dining room and wide sliding glass doors in the living room. A fireplace along the end wall may be enjoyed from both areas.
The arrangement of these rooms and the terrace beyond insures complete versatility and privacy when entertaining. The second feature also combines convenience with privacy; the master bedroom is perfectly located, with three closets doubling as sound buffers, a view on two sides and a private bath with stall shower. Bedroom 2 has cross-ventilation and a very large closet. Opening from the bedroom hall there is a coat closet, a linen closet and a family bath. Bedroom 3 has an optional feature, a choice of door locations which would make it suitable for use as a study or home office. Every woman knows how much of her day is spent at kitchen chores, and will welcome the plan of this kitchen, which puts all appliances within easy reach, includes ample work and storage space and then gives the whole a friendly atmosphere with an exposed beam ceiling and a table area by the bow window. Stairs to the basement are located close to the rear door which also gives access to the back yard, garage and laundry room. A cozy kitchen and a convenient but separate laundry room is the third feature of this very special home.
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source: Best Homes, issue 47, 1968
Gemini AI Rendering
There’s nothing more welcoming than a charming front garden enclosed by a trim rail fence and lighted, at night, by a cheery post lamp. Add to this the long, extended ranch lines of this lovely home, finished in rosy brick and shingle, for a home that will enhance any neighborhood. A hospitable overhang shields the entry porch and then there is a traffic control with the center hall, so that every room can be reached without disturbing the main living areas. To the right is the living room, handsome in size and inviting in appearance. A deep, wide bow window has a view of the outer garden and a heartwarming fireplace is set on the far wall. Through an arch, the dining room enjoys separate room privacy, but combines in a hospitable L with the living room when entertaining needs demand it. A window wall brightens this room, and a French door opens out to the covered porch at the back.
The kitchen shows an unusually compact arrangement of work area in an ell at one side leaving plenty of space under double windows at the back for a pleasant dinette. Service door opens into a sheltering back vestibule that leads right into the kitchen and gives easy access to the cellar stairs. Three large bedrooms have "second floor" privacy in their own wing to the left of the hall. The family bath is nice and large, with tub and toilet at the back, and in an alcove at the front, a powder-room vanitory. Back-to-back plumbing is indicated for the master lavatory which has a stall shower. A huge walk-in closet is provided for the master bedroom and there are two large closets in bedroom 2, with a double sized storage unit in the third bedroom. The garage is large enough for the modern two cars, and offers an alcove for work bench, toys and bicycle storage.
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source: Best Homes, issue 47, 1968
Gemini AI Rendering
This charming home is considerably larger than the traditional cottage, of course, but nevertheless it has the cozy air of a cottage about it. Rosy brick covers the exterior, the pretty windows are trimmed with shutters and window boxes, and the covered entry leads to an interesting door whose diamond-paned window lights the foyer. Just to the left of the foyer, and placed well away from casual and clutter-strewing traffic, are two well proportioned rooms. Ideal for formal entertaining and dining, they have a bow window and a double window facing on the front. The real heart of this home is the harvest room. Exposed beams on the ceiling, panelled walls and a cozy fireplace combine to make this a warm and friendly room that will be the scene of many happy gatherings, especially during wintry weather — as the name suggests.
A dutch door in the harvest room opens on a screened porch and the porch has a door which opens on the terrace. There’s a grille on the terrace, and a serving counter, plus a second serving counter on the porch. Both areas combine to form an ideal warm weather entertainment center — comfortable, private and convenient. The kitchen is a beauty, arranged to include a dishwasher, built-in oven and counter-top range, large pantry closet and plenty of counter space. Handily located next to the kitchen there is an all-purpose service area that takes in a rear entry, basement stairs, laundry, mud closet, lavatory and garage entrance. The location of the attached garage gives you the option of a two-car garage without losing any of the valuable storage and work space shown in the plan. All three bedrooms are large, light and airy. One has a sound proof wall and one has twin closets with sliding doors and a private bath. The family bath is sensibly located for maximum convenience.
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source: Best Homes, issue 47, 1968
Gemini AI Rendering
This beautiful two-story home has many features which combine practicality with luxury, for complete family enjoyment. The covered portico, which makes a sheltered passage between the garage and the front door, has an easy-to-maintain slate floor that continues on into the spacious foyer. A window on the portico and small windows on either side of the door make this foyer a particularly bright and cheery place in which to welcome guests and there’s a handy closet for their coats, too.
Stairs go up from the foyer to the second floor, where there are four large bedrooms. The master bedroom has four windows and cross-ventilation, a walk-in closet and a second closet with bi-fold doors plus a private bath with a vanity sink. Bedrooms 2 and 4 also have cross-ventilation and bi-fold door closets and bedroom 3 has two windows and two closets. The family bath includes a double vanity sink and a laundry chute. There is a large linen closet in the hall. On the first floor, to the right of the foyer, there is a room with two windows, closet and wood-panelled wall which could be used for a fifth bedroom, den or home office.
Note that the living room is in a private corner to the left of the foyer—an ideal location for a room designed for formal entertaining. It has triple windows at the front and plenty of wall space available for interesting furniture groupings. For more informal occasions there is a family room, complete with wood-panelled walls, fireplace and large windows. Located between the family room and kitchen are the basement stairs and service area —a laundry room with built-in ironing board, lavatory, mud closet and a door to the covered service porch with its built-in package receiver. In the kitchen itself there is ample work and storage space, a pantry closet, café doors to the foyer and a roomy dinette area with a charming bay window. The corner dining room is especially convenient for more formal meals. An alternate side entry is provided for the two-car garage.
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source: Best Homes, issue 47, 1968
Gemini AI Rendering
This spacious home has an excellent floor plan, organized to give your family year round living pleasure. The front door opens on a mid-level foyer which contains two coat closets and a decorative planter. A graceful railing on the foyer side of the living room helps to create an interesting balcony effect. The living room and the dining room combine to make an impressive and secluded area for formal entertaining; large windows at each end give it a light and airy feeling plus a choice of two pleasant views. The kitchen has been placed in the center, which makes it easier for a busy homemaker to supervise household activities. Equally important is the fact that this kitchen has a perfect arrangement of appliances, cupboards and counters and a large and sunny corner for informal meals. The kitchen door opens on a large dining balcony, ideal for warm weather meals and as a safe play area for younger children.
Bedroom 1 has cross-ventilation, a luxurious walk-in closet and a private bath complete with enclosed shower and vanity sink. Bedroom 2 also has cross-ventilation and a double closet which makes it nice for two children to share. Bedroom 3, with its built-in desk space, is just right for a student. Note that the family bath, conveniently located, has a twin vanity sink, particularly useful in a large family. The lower level is not a catch-all basement but rather a well-organized area that will accommodate many activities. There is a spacious recreation room with two big closets, sliding glass doors that open to the rear and a fireplace, if you like. There is a step saving laundry with adjacent lavatory and there is a big room for general storage. In addition, you can have a sewing room and a den or fourth bedroom. The two car garage has extra storage space, a furnace room in the rear and an inside door. Wood shakes with brick highlights are used for the exterior and the covered portico is as practical as it is eye-catching.
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source: Best Homes, issue 47, 1968
Gemini AI Rendering
