Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty | Know Your Architecture: Ranch

“The ranch architectural style is like jazz and great cheeseburgers,” writes Karin Beuerlein on HGTV.com. “It’s an art form unique to America.”

Ranch style is rooted in North American Spanish Colonial architecture of the 17th through 19th centuries: single-story floor plans, native materials and interior courtyards surrounded by a U-shaped floor plan. Low-slung ranch homes were first built in the 1930s, and by the 1950s, nine out of every 10 new houses were a Ranch-style house.

The Ranch style’s design cues are distinctive: a long, low horizontal orientation; single-floor living; asymmetry; hipped or gabled roofs; flowing interior spaces; large picture windows; an emphasis on the back yard; and an attached carport or garage.

Famous examples include the ranch house in The Parent Trap, 1961, and Rancho del Cielo, Ronald Reagan’s “Western White House” near Santa Barbara, California.

The home at 2028 Woodhaven Drive in Arlington’s Mill Creek Estates is a prime example of the Ranch style. The spacious home, at more than 2,000 square feet, is nestled under oak trees and features four bedrooms, three living areas and two full baths. A second living area offers a white-brick fireplace, beamed ceiling and built-in cabinetry. The large game room is bright and airy, and includes built-in shelves, cabinetry and a walk-in closet. Each bedroom is spacious, too, and has a walk-in closet. The master retreat has a private bath, with a separate dressing area and a walk-in shower. The second full bath offers a soothing and deep soaking tub.

The backyard is a beautiful, quiet oasis, perfect for relaxing on those long Texas summer nights.

The home is represented by Marilyn Newton and Theresa Kell and priced $235,000.

To learn more about architecture styles, visit briggsfreeman.com/architecture, a unique source of information, including famous homes, histories and architectural houses for sale.