Ranch Dressing vs. Ranch Style

Ranch Dressing:

Ranch dressing is a type of salad dressing made of some combination of buttermilk, salt, garlic, onion, mustard, herbs, and spices, mixed into a sauce based on mayonnaise, or another oil emulsion.

Ranch Style on the other hand - a little bit different! Birthed in America in the 1930's, the ranch style of architecture was a lifestyle shift and was a solid stepping stone to modern day residential design. I can point out at least 5 features to identify this specific style of architecture.

1. Classic ranch homes are often shaped like a 'L' or 'U' and is asymmetric and close to the ground. The single floor living comes from the practical and unadorned nature of working ranch homes.

2. One major purpose of the ranch style is to link the outdoors and the indoors. Sliding glass doors became a standard way to let in as much light and view as possible while connecting the living space directly to a patio.

3. While the earlier American homes focussed on the front porch, Ranch homes were designed for a private life focussed on the Backyard.

4. The sprawling floor plan gobbles up land and is not particularly conscious about conserving space or resources.

5. Ranch homes are synonymous with laid-back living. The emphasis is on the family-friendly backyard, usually connected to the kitchen or dining area via a sliding glass door and flat patio. It’s hard to picture a ranch house without a barbecue grill out at the back.

6. Low-pitched roof, commonly hipped.

7. Moderate or wide-eave overhang.

8. Large picture windows blending the inside and out.

9. Built of local materials and using a lot of earthy materials such as rendered walls and timber trusses.

10. Attached carports or garages as it was in an era that emphasised on two cars per household.