A 1960s Ranch Gets a Whole House Remodel Mid-Century Makeover

We recently completed a whole house remodel for Kirsten, Jason, and their girls in the Golf Green neighborhood in Madison, WI.

Our clients Kirsten and Jason moved to Madison from Texas in 2022. They bought their house in the Golf Green subdivision in Madison online - sight unseen! Built in the 1960s and renovated in the early 80s, the house was a typical ranch-style.

They came to us wanting a whole house remodel. Their goal was to improve the overall flow between the spaces. The existing home was closed off, dark, and lacked original mid-century charm. Kirsten and Jason wanted a design that would fit their needs today and become their forever home when their girls were grown.

See how we transformed this traditional 60s ranch-style home into a stunning mid-century modern forever home for this family!

A Whole House Remodel Working From the Outside In

As much as the interior needed a complete makeover, the exterior was also pretty plain. With creamy yellow siding and forest green shutters, this traditional ranch bore no resemblance to a true mid-century modern home. Kristen and Jason wanted a new concept for the exterior to include replacing all the windows, some doors, all of the siding, and a new roof.

View The Portfolio Page For This Project

Our design included a ThermaTru Classic Craft front door, new garage doors, a classic custom-designed cedar screen, and Saginer horizontal siding. The changes took this house from a traditional ranch to a classic mid-century modern vibe. The new windows, roof, and deep blue LP siding around the perimeter give the home a much-needed facelift, setting the tone for the new aesthetic!

Creating the Mid-Century Modern Aesthetic Inside

Upon entering the home, there was a small hallway with a closet for coat storage. The original entryway was small, dark, and offered little in terms of functionality. Our design created storage cubbies and a bench to open the space, creating a functional and decorative landing space for backpacks, coats, and shoes. The entryway needed to remain centered in the home since one side of the entry accesses the front door and the other the garage. Keeping the cubbies in the center allowed them to serve both spaces equally.

The living room, with its dated fireplace and substantial windows, was to the right of the front entry. The large formal dining area features large corner windows. The kitchen was closed off and separated from the main living space, typical in a 1960s traditional ranch.

Transforming the Kitchen

The kitchen was decidedly underwhelming. It featured outdated border paper, old tired cabinets, and carpet. It was desperately in need of a reboot. We started by opening the space and removing the interior walls, leaving only the portion that separated the entry cubbies. This let in tons of natural light and created a space perfect for a large island with plenty of seating for the whole family and ample workspace. Opening the kitchen space created the large open-concept living area that Kirsten and Jason wanted.

We replaced the cabinetry with Sunrise Custom Kitchen solid cherry, clear stained Amish cabinets. The island features a Linnstone quartz countertop in Elger Mist. To add visual interest, we created a magnificent custom range hood enclosure. With our careful attention to clean lines and repeated design elements throughout the open space, we emphasized the mid-century modern aesthetic. The updated LG appliances add functionality and keep the aesthetic modern and sleek. Click here to learn more about this kitchen remodeling project.

Updating the Dining and Living Space

Opening the kitchen to the living space allowed us to update the design to accentuate the mid-century vibe throughout the main living space. We created a custom corner bench the perfect size to accommodate the entire family and some friends. Each bench opens, providing the family additional storage space. This seating is functional, but its simple design, keeping with the mid-century vibe, adds warmth and charm to the open concept.

The living room had an existing bland fireplace with its outdated wooden mantle and surround. We chose to update the fireplace. We used Color Wheel Linear Field Tile in Matte Black installed vertically. We also brought the range hood design into the living area as a fireplace accent.to carry the design theme into the living room. This met our goal of creating a visual unity and a solid mid-century vibe.

Private Spaces, Luxurious and Functional Upgrades!

Continuing our whole house remodel and moving to the back of the house, you find the master bedroom and detached bathroom, two additional bedrooms, and a main bathroom in the hallway. We kept the bedrooms and bathroom in the same locations. Our design slightly modified the two bedrooms, removing the existing closets and creating two identical walk-in closets for the girls' bedrooms. We installed five-panel bi-fold doors to complete the look.

The original hallway bathroom was positioned behind a closet. We removed the linen closet and borrowed some space from the demolished closet in the adjoining bedroom to slightly expand the bathroom footprint. This gave us the space to convert the bathroom to a double vanity for the girls to share and turn the shower to provide a separate space for the toilet. The new master bedroom closet provided space to add linen shelves back into the hallway for storage.

The Master Bedroom and a New Powder Room

Our design upgrades created a stunning master suite for the homeowners. We added a new private entrance to the master bathroom. The five-panel pocket door adds visual interest and does not interfere with the walkway. The master bedroom closets were the perfect space for two custom-designed vanities, which brought the mid-century modern aesthetic into the master bedroom.

Kirsten and Jason also asked us to incorporate a powder room into their remodel. A small closet and hallway in front of the master bathroom was the perfect spot. We carried the mid-century design details into the powder room vanity. Another 5-panel pocket door and the addition of modern wallpaper, chosen by the homeowners, take this powder room to the next level of design.

Just outside the new powder room, we created a custom-designed drop zone complete with a quartz countertop. It's the perfect space for keys and charging cellphones and devices. We included vertical slots to organize mail or hold cookbooks from the adjoining kitchen. Enclosed cabinets provide additional storage space. Click here to learn more about the bathrooms for this project.

The final element on the main floor was a second large living area in the back of the house. The homeowners had no use for this space but needed a home office. They preferred that we keep the office on the main floor to take advantage of the natural light and to create a bright, cheerful space perfect for virtual meetings. We added a glass interior door and placed the office directly across from the large existing patio door to the back deck. It's flooded with natural light and offers views of the park across the street.

A Mid-Century Modern Staircase Design

Another notable design upgrade is the staircase to the lower level. The original staircase was closed off, typical in a traditional 60s ranch. To continue the mid-century modern aesthetic, transition to the lower level, and create a striking visual element, we opened up the entrance to the basement with modern wooden rails and black vertical piping, to continue the linear design accents found throughout the main living space.

The lower level features a guest bathroom, a spa-like retreat with a large jacuzzi tub, and a tiled walk-in shower. It's the perfect place to escape after a long day. Continuing down the hall, you'll find a playroom for the girls. It's large, offers plenty of storage for their toys today, and plenty of potential for a teen hangout later.

Finally, the finished basement features a bonus space the family affectionally calls the “zen room.” This quiet space is a secluded area to relax, practice yoga, or contemplate the day. Click here to learn more about the finished basement.

This Whole House Remodel Was Exactly What Our Clients Wanted

Our whole house remodel succeeded in opening up the living space and took Kirsten and Jason's home from a dark, outdated, traditional 60s ranch to a true mid-century modern masterpiece. The fixtures, finishes, linear design details, custom wood accents, and design elements we repeated throughout the house were intentionally selected. These handcrafted elements make this home a showstopper. The family's home is now a beautifully reimagined classic mid-century modern they will cherish for many years.

Are you considering a whole house remodel? Let us help you create a new look and design the perfect finished space to meet your needs! If you live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Ready to learn more? We're always happy to answer your questions.