Split vs. Bi Level Home

[Anonymous]

Weirdest house in my old neighborhood were called Lanai Style. Built around 1960 when Everything Hawaiian was in vogue.

It actually had one step down to main level kind of sunken living room concept then a lower level. Some had an upstairs master suite. But weird the majority of home below ground level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of "bi-level" but I've heard of split foyer and split level. Those are two different styles of houses. Evidently "bi level" is another way of saying split foyer. It's probably an effort to associate it with a split level which a higher tier house than a split foyer.

Here's a picture of a split foyer followed by it's entrance (the 'foyer' which has stairs up and down). The third picture is a traditional 60's/70's split level although there are many modern looking styles of split level with anywhere from 1-5 floors. Picture shown for reference to tell them apart and because you probably recognize the style.

That is called a High Ranch

No the first one is a split foyer. That’s what they’ve been called for decades. The foyer is literally split between levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of "bi-level" but I've heard of split foyer and split level. Those are two different styles of houses. Evidently "bi level" is another way of saying split foyer. It's probably an effort to associate it with a split level which a higher tier house than a split foyer.

Here's a picture of a split foyer followed by it's entrance (the 'foyer' which has stairs up and down). The third picture is a traditional 60's/70's split level although there are many modern looking styles of split level with anywhere from 1-5 floors. Picture shown for reference to tell them apart and because you probably recognize the style.

That is called a High Ranch

Where? Not here. It's called a split foyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Split levels—entrance is to main living area (living room, dining room, kitchen). Walk up a 1/2 flight of stairs (6 steps) to bedroom level, walk down 1/2 flight to family room. Some have a below ground basement under that.

Bilevels— entrance is a foyer that has a 1/2 flight upstairs to main living area (including LR, DR, kitchen, bedrooms, and 1/2 flight down to family room/utility spaces.

Show us examples - no snark intended

[Anonymous]

I grew up in what I think of as a split level (in the 70s-80s we called it a california contemporary, though it was on the east coast), which was quite distinct from a bilevel.
Our split was T-shaped, and our front door (a few steps above ground level) entered into gabled main living area level, with a large (maybe 20x20) foyer that had vaulted ceilings. Adjacent to the foyer was a separate two story wing - you went up to bedrooms etc and down to laundry, den and garage (and a floor down below that to a basement that ran under the main living area). can't find a good picture but it was a beautiful home.
When I think of bi-levels, I picture entering into the stair landing area, with stairs up to kitchen. dining, and 1 bedroom and down to den/extra bedrooms and utilities. But the house is a single structure/wing, unlike the split-level above.
I'd happily live in a split like I described but would be less interested in the clasic bi-level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of "bi-level" but I've heard of split foyer and split level. Those are two different styles of houses. Evidently "bi level" is another way of saying split foyer. It's probably an effort to associate it with a split level which a higher tier house than a split foyer.

Here's a picture of a split foyer followed by it's entrance (the 'foyer' which has stairs up and down). The third picture is a traditional 60's/70's split level although there are many modern looking styles of split level with anywhere from 1-5 floors. Picture shown for reference to tell them apart and because you probably recognize the style.

That is called a High Ranch

The last picture shows a split level - essentially two separate structures that have rooflines perpendicular to each other. Much nicer than split foyer/bilevel, and often much more contemporary looking with vaulted ceilings.

Where? Not here. It's called a split foyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of "bi-level" but I've heard of split foyer and split level. Those are two different styles of houses. Evidently "bi level" is another way of saying split foyer. It's probably an effort to associate it with a split level which a higher tier house than a split foyer.

Here's a picture of a split foyer followed by it's entrance (the 'foyer' which has stairs up and down). The third picture is a traditional 60's/70's split level although there are many modern looking styles of split level with anywhere from 1-5 floors. Picture shown for reference to tell them apart and because you probably recognize the style.

That is called a High Ranch

The last picture shows a split level - essentially two separate structures that have rooflines perpendicular to each other. Much nicer than split foyer/bilevel, and often much more contemporary looking with vaulted ceilings.

Where? Not here. It's called a split foyer.

No, the foyer is not split in the last picture, is it? That's why I'd call it a split level, not split foyer. Two separate wings, essentially.

[Anonymous]

this is a split level, as opposed to split foyer/bilevel.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/522417625523624322/

[Anonymous]

Here's a video

https://youtu.be/ebtxyrsP_C0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is a split level, as opposed to split foyer/bilevel.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/522417625523624322/

This is also a split level:
https://www.houzz.com/photos/mid-centry-modern-home-midcentury-exterior-bridgeport-phvw-vp~11359404

[Anonymous]

Raised Ranch: Think 2 levels, up and down: A style of home with 2 floors. ... While some use the term split-level to describe a raised ranch style, the true raised ranch style has only two levels, while a split-level home has three stories or more.M

[Anonymous]

A split-level home is a style of house in which the floor levels are staggered. There are typically two short sets of stairs, one running upward to a bedroom level, and one going downward toward a basement area. Wikipedia

[Anonymous]

I think in different regions of the country the one style goes by different names-the High ranch, raised ranch and split foyer (all the same house style).
I grew up in one on Long Island, where in the 70s and 80s it was called a High Ranch, my sister moved to Massachusetts and there the style was called a raised ranch in her experience.
Today was the first time I had ever heard of it referred to as a Split foyer.
Regardless of what it is called, I hated that style of house and wanted a center hall colonial. LOL

[Anonymous]

Bi level

https://www.redfin.com/VA/McLean/7018-Statendam-Ct-22101/home/9388981

[Anonymous]

Another bilevel

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7020-Statendam-Ct-Mclean-VA-22101/51751379_zpid/