One of the benefits of a ranch house plan is that it's usually all on one level and offers easy access to the outdoors. This new "Farmhouse Modern"design by architect Nicholas Lee puts that very concept at the center with what Nick calls the "Inside + Out Room." It's between the great room and kitchen on one side and the master suite on the other.Â
The wall of sliding glass doors (visible in the photo at the top of the post and below) makes the  Â
room an extension of the adjacent central pool patio. Every major space -- including the bedrooms -- opens to the Inside + Out Room so it becomes a kind of indoor-outdoor piazza at the very heart of the house. It's a direct descendant of what California Mid-Century ModernÂ
architect William Wurster dubbed "the room with no name," like this example in his Case Study House of 1949 (Plan 529-1).
The Nick Lee design includes innovative features that reinforce the feeling of spaciousness,
 like the floating hearth and built-in window seat in the great room. Lighting under the hearth underlines (literally!) the floating impression. The kitchen is organized around a longÂ
rectangular island for food prep and casual dining. Under the counter along the sink wall is a row of tall drawers for easy pot, pan, dish, and utensil storage -- the dishwasher matches the other cabinet fronts. Simple white walls and ample well-placed windows and skylights brighten the home so that electric illumination is hardly necessary during the day.
The master bath has room for both a freestanding tub and a wide shower. Lower portions of the windows are frosted for privacy without blocking the light.
The home is designed to take advantage of a fairly flat site, with the great room, masterÂ
bedroom, and guest room opening to their own porches and patios. The front door opens to the great room from a covered entry porch. A garage could be added near the kitchen to connect with the mud room entry.
To see another another variation on Nick's Inside + Out concept see Plan 888-3.
To see all of Nick's home designs click here.
The wall of sliding glass doors (visible in the photo at the top of the post and below) makes the  Â
room an extension of the adjacent central pool patio. Every major space -- including the bedrooms -- opens to the Inside + Out Room so it becomes a kind of indoor-outdoor piazza at the very heart of the house. It's a direct descendant of what California Mid-Century ModernÂ
architect William Wurster dubbed "the room with no name," like this example in his Case Study House of 1949 (Plan 529-1).
The Nick Lee design includes innovative features that reinforce the feeling of spaciousness,
 like the floating hearth and built-in window seat in the great room. Lighting under the hearth underlines (literally!) the floating impression. The kitchen is organized around a longÂ
rectangular island for food prep and casual dining. Under the counter along the sink wall is a row of tall drawers for easy pot, pan, dish, and utensil storage -- the dishwasher matches the other cabinet fronts. Simple white walls and ample well-placed windows and skylights brighten the home so that electric illumination is hardly necessary during the day.
The master bath has room for both a freestanding tub and a wide shower. Lower portions of the windows are frosted for privacy without blocking the light.
The home is designed to take advantage of a fairly flat site, with the great room, masterÂ
bedroom, and guest room opening to their own porches and patios. The front door opens to the great room from a covered entry porch. A garage could be added near the kitchen to connect with the mud room entry.
To see another another variation on Nick's Inside + Out concept see Plan 888-3.
To see all of Nick's home designs click here.
