Creative License: 1950s Ranch House Transformed Into an Ideal Home

Turning a 1950s ranch-style home into a three-story, 6,000-square-foot show house was a labor of love for Joanna Goodman, director of interiors at Christopher Architecture & Interiors.

This stunning three-story, 6,000-square-foot show house and now family home began as a 1950s ranch house.

The stately home, which sits high on a hill in picturesque Mountain Brook just a short stroll away from Crestline Village, was renovated for the purpose to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Specifically, Joanna says, Christopher Architecture wanted to raise money for Open Hands Overflowing Hearts, a local Birmingham charity that works to raise funds for childhood cancer research. Because the goal behind the project was so special, Joanna says the renovation was extra meaningful.

“Typically, when I begin a project, I feed off the adjectives the client uses during initial conversations,” Joanna says. “With the show house, however, we were the client and designer — and it was up to us to create a space that was both functional and inspiring to viewers.”

Before: The untouched ranch-style home is perched on a wooded hill in the desirable Crestline neighborhood.

After: The transformation is simply breathtaking.

The crisp, bright white exterior informed Joanna's decision to make the interior feel cozy and warm.

The crisp, bright white exterior informed the design decision to make the interior feel cozy and warm.

Because the property boasts an impressive view overlooking Country Club Road, Joanna says providing ample natural light through a plethora of windows, like this airy, light-filled foyer, was essential to the home’s layout.

Because the property boasts an impressive view overlooking Country Club Road, providing ample natural light through a plethora of windows, like this airy, light-filled foyer, was essential to the home’s layout.

In this gracious keeping room, a wall of windows provides a seamless and calming union with nature.

With no limitations, Joanna let her imagination run wild in the form of bold colors and curated statement pieces. Cozy nooks dovetailed into functional spaces throughout the home’s floor plan — and there was no shortage of elegance. Joanna says her goal in designing the home’s interior was to encourage eventual buyers to think outside the box when considering living in the six-bedroom, six-bath house.

“The flow and flexibility of the home is unique,” Joanna says. “Before, the house was compartmentalized in typical 1950s architecture. We opened up several rooms to each other and kept others small and cozy.” Because the property boasts an impressive view overlooking Country Club Road, Joanna says providing ample natural light through a plethora of windows was essential to the home’s layout. Each room was designed with the anticipation of how the house’s future owners could best use it.

“Working with a blank slate, we were able to test the boundaries of design and develop a truly unique product that takes current trends to the next level,” Joanna says. “That’s the beauty of working within a firm that offers both interior and architectural services. Knowing the materials and color palette of the exterior, I worked to complement that feeling on the inside of the home.”

Before: The home’s 1950s-era kitchen could have served as the set for The Wonder Years.

After: The redesigned kitchen is nearly unrecognizable with its open floor plan and undeniable elegance.

Creating cozy nooks that could be repurposed for a variety of functions was one of the many design highlights of the home for Joanna Goodman, director of interiors at Christopher Architecture & Interiors.

The breakfast room was slightly altered to meet the needs of the new homeowners.

Since she was working with a blank slate, the designer says it was easy to let creativity take hold and design the house how she thought it would look best. The dining room boasts generous windows and a fabulous modern light fixture. One can only imagine the beauty of this space at twilight.

This cozy reading nook with its swinging bed and windows surrounding has the feeling of a magical treehouse — the perfect place to escape into a book!

This cozy reading nook with its swinging bed and surrounding windows has the feeling of a magical treehouse — the perfect place to escape with a book!

Dark interior hues contrast the home’s crisp white exterior and create a relaxed mood. Almost every inch of the home, Joanna says, was designed with the intent of comfort and relaxation. “I wanted contrast, so that you could appreciate each element and not have it all blend together,” she says.

Several local vendors donated materials for the charity. One such donation was a slab of Alabama white marble, which was repurposed as a 10-foot-long kitchen island, contrasting nicely with the room’s dark kitchen cabinets. “It became the focal point of the room,” Joanna says of the impressive island.

The family that eventually purchased the property, Joanna says, thought about hiring a decorator to make the show house feel more like their own. After a few months, however, Joanna got a call from the homeowners. They wanted her to recreate the gracious environment the show house originally boasted.

Before: The back of the home

After: Old World elegance meets sleek modernity in this dreamy back patio!

The patio extends to this lovely fireside pool.

Imagine summers lounging poolside in this private oasis!

This gorgeous his-and-hers bathroom features natural light, marble, chic hardware and suspended mirrors.

Grey and white marble tile, walk-in jetted tub, multiple shower heads, recessed lighting and a TV and candles to boot — what more could you want in a luxurious bathing experience!

Grey and white marble tile, walk-in jetted tub, multiple shower heads, recessed lighting, candles and a TV — what more could you want in a luxurious bathing experience!

Most of the space was designed with a simplistic modern appeal, Joanna says. Because she didn’t know who would eventually purchase the house, she wanted to create a floor plan that allowed for versatility.

The family that eventually purchased the show house used certain spaced differently than the original floor plan intended, turning what was a nursery, for instance, into their own comfortable office space. However, Joanna says the relaxed ambiance and cozy comfort of the original design were maintained.

The teenagers’ room features a stunning gilded orb ceiling light and pops of pink!

“The lofted playroom we designed for the show house is now being used as an office and the second-floor sitting area is now the teenager’s hangout space,” Joanna says. After creating the home’s gorgeous interiors to reflect Joanna’s passion for design and ideal vision for gracious living, she is delighted to see a family inhabit her original vision. “It’s fun to see the house being enjoyed in so many different ways,” she adds with a smile.

A stunning home, indeed! Thank you to Chris Luker of Luker Photography for today’s beautiful images.