A modern take on a ’50s brick ranch in Belleville

A brick ranch anchors a quiet corner lot at 32 Oak Knoll in Belleville.

“It’s very deceiving from the outside,” Kelly Arnold said, jiggling the key in the front door. “It is a mid-century ranch from the 1950s with a traditional feel on the outside. I made it a llittle more mid-century modern on the inside. It would be considered a tri-level, but doesn’t have tons of stairs. It’s a neat concept in that it’s an open floor plan, but allows privacy with different levels.”

Bruce and Sue Kohn hired Kelly, whose business is TRC Management Inc., to complete the renovation. She also remodels, decorates and stages.

“The guy who does work for him was ill,” said Kelly. “Bruce’s idea was was to take this wall out (between kitchen and dining room) because the kitchen felt closed off from the rest of the house.”

Now, a counter and cabinetry separate kitchen from dining room and living room. Above, recessed lighting brightens the kitchen. Engineered wood floors, uniform throughout the house, replace a mix of different flooring. French doors off the living room open to a patio, also accessible from a walkout basement.

“Bruce and Sue put in a new gas fireplace. There’s also a touch of Asian influence, I dig it.”

Kelly pointed out chairs that face the fireplace, but easily turn.

“These I love,” she said. “I think of function, too. You can swivel and talk to people in the dining room.”

Climb six steps to the next level with three bedrooms and full bath.

“The bathroom’s original tile was great condition. The tub was mauve. We reglazed it white, and there’s a new double vanity. I’m happy how it turned out.”

Down a few steps is a walkout basement.

“It had a hideous ’60s bar,” said Kelly. “Let’s make it a kitchenette. It could be a family room down here. There’s a full bath, a walk-out area and a wood-burning fireplace. The laundry from the second-floor laundry chute comes down here. I love laundry chutes.”

A large mudroom off the two-car garage is now a guest bedroom or could be an office or craft room.

The four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath house is about 2,800 square feet and lists for $169,000. It will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 4:30 PM with the headline "A modern take on a ’50s brick ranch in Belleville."