We all tend to get mentally stuck when it comes to the Ranch home. Our go-to is the themed style of the Mad Men era, when, in fact, the Ranch-style home hit the height of its popularity in the 1960s. By the latter part of the decade, there was a distinct movement away from the low-pitched Midcentury Modern-style rooflines into a higher roof pitch and more traditional detailing. They were often described as middle-of-the-road modern. Everybody wanted one because they had become more relatable.
Unsurprisingly, these homes are finally being appreciated by anyone with vision. The problem, however, is that most of us cannot visualize, so thank goodness Compass Realtor Courtney Michalek has given us a template for thinking outside of the box when transforming a 1960s Ranch.
The first time Michalek set eyes on this custom-built 1967 Ranch-style home, she was fortuitously hanging out with her friend, interior designer, and stager Daniel Arenas. Her husband had spotted it and knew it had potential.
“I’d never renovated a house before,” Michalek said. “I’m good at finding homes for other people, but when it comes to your own home, and you think about taking on a project, it can be emotional. But I knew it could be something special and wanted to bring it back to its full glory. Daniel took one look at it and said he loved it and would help me transform my ideas into reality.”
Arenas is known for his subtle and understated style, so he stepped out of his comfort zone for this project.
“Courtney wanted to have fun with this house,” Arenas said. “Her personality is the inspiration for the whole house. She is a happy and fun person.”
Michalek did not come from a family of design risk-takers.
“It was a big deal to paint my bedroom,” she said. “I could never figure out why, and now I see people are generally afraid of color. But when you think about a laundry room, it should be fun, and why not have a fun and inspiring bathroom? My aesthetic is not for everyone, but this was for me, and I wanted it to be a happy house. Your home should have personality!”
The hands-down favorite transformation for both Arenas and Michalek is the closet. Michalek had spotted the color at Wild Like in Oak Lawn, and the owner graciously shared the paint color with her.
“I’ve always wanted a fun closet,” Michalek said.
Another favorite space that underwent quite a transformation is the new bar area at the back of the house. It was one of those sunroom spaces we all see and never know quite what to do with, but Michalek and Arenas had a plan. The bar is the floor tile she used in the laundry room but in a different color. It became the backsplash of the bar, and the robin’s egg blue paint color was drawn from it.
“The limestone sconces give off a beautiful hue at night, and it is the most serene and happy spot,” Michalek said.
So what’s next for Michalek and Arenas?
“I’m already sending Daniel ideas for the next place,” Michalek said.
Michalek has her 3,185 square-foot rad Ranch redux at 5728 Surrey Square listed for $1.95 million.
