Looks like in the photoshopped version there is paneling surrounding the door. In the drawing, you still have brick. That's the only difference I can see.

We just did one of these and love it. Yours will be gorgeous, too. The only thing I see in the drawing that catches my eye is the size of the colums. To me they look a little skimpy. Ours were 12" diameter and at first I thought they were too big but now I think they make all the difference. I'm not in a place where I can post a pic but you might retrieve it in another post about my front door. If you don't want a larger column, sometimes two smaller ones side by side can work well. Also, your drawing doesn't take into account some of the other trim details that will really set it off. Good Luck.

It's a good start-- but the posts are not as thick as the columns in the ps version and there are panels that were in the ps version that extended the visual width of the front door. Also, the two lanterns are missing.I think those things make a huge difference! Did he/she give you a reason for not including them or changing them? Even the soffits and facia seems skinnier than the ps version.

I would definitely ask your architect if there are reasons for the way they did the drawing-- they may see something we aren't aware of, etc. they are the pros, after all:-) but I like the PS version better visually as it stands right now.

Wow jjam, I looked at your entry and it looks fabulous. If mine turns out half as good, I'll be thrilled. Do you have an idea of the total width of your steps? That would help me get a sense of what 12" columns would look like (I think yours look great so if your portico is about the same size as mine (roughly 12' wide by 6' deep) then I will go with 12" columns.

Decorpas - I sent DH back to ask those kind of questions, will let you know what I find out. This guy does mainly commerical stuff, so maybe he's used to a more stripped-down look? I actually had a tough time finding someone who would take on a project this small.

As mentioned, the side panels are missing, but I don't think that is a huge deal - I would add more substantial moulding around the entire door area.

The columns do look a bit skimpy, so I would make them a bit wider.

But the other thing that is different is that the ceiling line of the portico on the photoshop sits just above the door. The architect's version has a lot of space above the door between there and the ceiling of the portico. I think visually it might be nicer if the edge of the roof on the portico matched the bottom line of the second floor (where the siding meets the brick), and then the trim would actually sit a bit below that level.

The architect didn't get it. The architect didn't make the door & 1st floor windows tall enough in his drawing. If you can get the picture in Windows Paint applet, you can copy the windows/doors & paste them in in a taller size to see if that changes perspective for you.

Still, the drawing isn't as strong a design as the Photoshopped version (brilliant design, whoever did it). The Photoshop version has strong simple columns, the pretty panels, the perfect sconces, and larger molding on the frieze.

Interesting to see. I think the 'accessories' are missing (trimwork, paneling, light fixtures) and everything is skimpier (posts, porch header, overhang). The overhang looks too high to me also. I don't care for how everything is overly aligned also -- porch header with siding edge and upper windows.

I wouldn't be ready to take the plunge : )

Do you need an architect to do draw up plans? I have a handyman/contractor who would have been able to look at the picture and reproduce the design pretty easily.

I wouldn't do anything based on that drawing. Since you paid for it, I'd go back and make him give you what you asked for. He obviously didn't really look at the picture.

go squirrel!

Hi metromom,

Our landing is 9 ft wide, almost 5 ft deep. I love the big columns now, but when they were delivered I wasn't too sure about them. Then I looked at the drawing we had, and they looked great, so I felt better and went with it. Moral of the story is, your drawing should look perfect. Then you can proceed with confidence. I also understand it is tough to find someone who will take a small job like this, but you should be happy with the result if you are paying them. I think your drawing could be modified pretty easily to get the result you want. Ours took a few revisions, especially with the height and arc of the roof. So get it right and then once construction starts, you won't have any surprises.

I can't remember, but was the photo shop one enlarged or stretched to get more of a zoom? It looks like the dimensions are off on that one from the first of your pic and the architects drawing. This could be part of what makes it seem different along with what others already have pointed out.

Still looks great though!! I think some more substantial columns and maybe stretch it a little wider. It looks like it is wider in the photoshop. The front door in the photoshop also looks wider than your original one so that may be throwing things off a little too.

Did he come out and measure? I'm seeing the same thing -- there seems to be a lot more room over the windows and door than in the photo.

If you're not happy with the proportions and details in the drawing, then I would get back to him for adjustments. Is he providing construction drawings after this is finalized?

No the photo wasn't stretched or altered.

Squirrelheaven, you may be on to something. He didn't measure because we had the original drawings from when the house was built, so we had him work off of those to save time. I wonder if maybe the original drawings weren't accurate? I'm going to have to go do some measuring tomorrow and see what I can figure out.

I'm back - with a new architect and a new drawing. I'm much happier this time. Still doesn't have the paneling and lights etc but I'm ok with that - I can figure those out on my own. Any thoughts about this drawing?

Better, but this drawing has skimpy steps. They on extend for the width of the door rather than the entire porch.

Columns still seem a little skinny, too - though that may be because of the missing panels.

Actually I agree with pbrisjar about the steps...Just love how in the photoshop picture the steps are the full width. But if the drawing is accurate 10"x10" columns seem plenty wide enough - maybe the drawing isn't exactly to scale?

I also love the panels beside the door, if you're thinking about adding those. I think it looks great!

What I like about the Photoshopped picture vs. the drawings is the width of the columns in relationship to the width of the shutters. To me, the column still look too skinny because they are narrower than the shutters. The two are similar in width in the Photoshopped image. The other thing that throws me off is that the bricks are drawn in on the architect's rendering and contrast with the columns but in the Photoshopped image everything is white and blends.

Hi,
The thing about square columns is that they appear much wider when seen at any angle other than head-on, because you perceive the hypotenuse's width. A 12" column will be 17" across its corners, so it almost _always_ looks wider than 12".
In comparison, round columns don't suffer from this distortion of perception.
Also, I would make the division of the upper and lower panels 1/3 of the height up from the base, not dead center.
Casey

It looks much better and the scale is right. I think the columns are fine. When you see them 3D it should be ok. 10" is pretty wide.

I do agree the steps needs to be wider.

Looks great!!

I would add a second set of columns made just like the first, that would sit just to the outside of the line of the sidelights on the door. I think it will give a more substantial feel and importance to the entry. Then run a solid railing in wood down from those columns as handrails on either side of the stairs, keeping the stairs at the width they are in the drawing, or a bit wider to work with the second columns.

You can then do some landscaping on either side of the stairs in front of the rest of the portico.

I would prefer to see columns without the panel detail - it seems weird to me on the outside columns. However, if you want to keep that, then I would change out the shutters to have the same panel details. You might also consider widening the shutters, especially on the lower level, so that they fit the window size.