Features

• A bi-level home is an asymmetrical ranch-style home. It has a low gable roof, deeply set eaves and a huge garage attached to the house. The exterior has a traditional appearance due to the use of bricks, wood and huge picture windows. The porch roof supports or the shutters are the only decorative elements in this type of a house. The home may have a sliding door that leads to the patio.
  
  

Emergence

• Inflation in 1970 made things difficult, but by 1979, mortgage rates rebounded drastically. Architects and interior designers soon realized the demand for Colonials, but at affordable prices. Bi-level homes were the solution. The architect who designed the first bi-level just decided to divide the split level by dividing the entrance and not the total house. By building two levels instead of three or four, it imparted a Colonial look to the house. Thus, the bi-level house was conceived and constructed.
  
  

External Appearance and Tips

• Bi-levels are generally widely used on undulated land surfaces. Be it a contemporary, a Tudor or a classic exterior of the 1970s, each one of them has a certain appeal and charm. Some bi-levels look very attractive because the homeowner may minimize the usual rectangular box look, apply fresh paint and carefully plan out the landscaping. You can use glass generously; use the roof line intelligently to minimize the rectangular look. Use wood, brick, even stones and other natural things to highlight the exterior and make your average bi-level look attractive.
  
  

Interiors and Tips

• Most bi-levels have a similar floorplan and similar interior. You tend to follow the set lines while painting the house. Try to be distinctive, so be innovative while you are doing interior designs. As the bi-level floorplan can easily be modified, you can construct walls and archways wherever required to enhance the beauty of the house. You may install a counter between the kitchen and the living room. You may build a steel spiral staircase leading to the attic where you can put a low loft for reading.