NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Pity the poor ranch house; it gets little respect at all. The simple, uncomplicated ranch style is, to its critics, no style at all.

Unfair! The design, in the right hands, can be beautiful, natural, casual and extremely livable.

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The characteristic ranch house elements include a single story; large, often picture, windows; a long, low, gabled roof; and deep eaves.

Ranches often have shutters, sliding patio doors and attached garages, which are sometimes separated from the main part of the house by an open "breezeway."

The single story design means a larger "footprint" than other houses of similarly square footage, so building lots for ranch homes tend to be a bit larger as well, and the homes typically show their wide face to the outside world. Their shallow depth often leave oversized backyards for families to use for swing sets and barbecue pits.

Contrary to what one might suppose, the modern ranch-style home did not arise gradually on the open plains and prairies as a practical abode for cowboys; it is a synthetic design created, in 1932, by Cliff May, a Californian. May did, however, draw some of his inspiration from local ranches, as well as hacienda design and modernist ideas. See 6 ranch houses on the market now.

The ranch house came into its own during the post-war housing boom when Americans moved en masse from inner cities to suburban developments. Many ranches were quickly and cheaply thrown up to serve returning servicemen. They became synonymous with cheap, tract and bland.

The design was extremely cost-efficient, with straight, rectangular rooms that were often sized to use inexpensive, standard building materials; no custom cutting of lumber or sheet rock needed. There was little added in the way of exterior ornamentation or detail.

The results were often more attractive than that description sounds. Many sport natural exterior materials such as redwood clapboard or cedar shake shingling and, with their modest profile, can seem to grow gracefully from their landscapes.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the ranch house was the most popular style of house built in the United States. More modern styles incorporating American's love affair with ever larger homes have supplanted the comparatively modest ranch homes in popularity lately, but the design may be poised for a comeback.

As baby boomers approach their golden years, many will no doubt appreciate the attributes of the ranch house, especially its single-story convenience, connecting garage and ease of passage to the garden.

In addition to those appeals, ranches will also please fixed-income residents with affordable purchase prices and low maintenance costs.

Not all ranches are of modest dimensions and amenities, of course. There are thousands of truly elegant, even extravagant, ranch houses all around the country.

These ultimate ranches are usually bigger overall, with more rooms and features, and the rooms themselves are of larger dimensions. They come with luxuries such as fieldstone fireplaces, gourmet kitchens, tile or stone baths and hardwood floors.

Many take advantage of the style's natural affinity with the outdoors with lush gardens patios and swimming pools.

All in all, it's hard to beat these ultimate ranches for their combination of livability and luxury. And why try? Just relax in the patio lounge chair as the steaks sizzle on the grill and count the blessings of living in ranch style. See 6 ranch houses on the market now.

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