That silvery-grey, green trim on your inspiration house is so pretty! I think if you could get those board and batten style shutters, put them on all the windows, and get your brick, mortar, and roof color to coordinate, the 1st house would end up looking the most like your inspiration. I think a lot of people will say they like #2 better because as pictured, #1 does not look as good...but #2 doesn't have the same vibe as your inspiration at all!

For #2 could you enclose those posts with brick matching the house....even afterwards if the builder won't do it? That would make it look more like your inspiration photo and as nini suggested use similar shutters...again changing them later if necessary.

I don't like the proportions of the windows and door on #1.. I feel like the front door should be elevated a little and the windows look like they are sitting on the ground.

HA! Good call, Joanie. #1 isn't my favorite, and you may have put your finger on why. The windows look like they are sliding down the wall!

The requirements for rough-sawn porch posts may be in the covenants, so facing them in brick may not be allowable.

I would like to have the window on the left larger with a rounded top, like the inspiration photo. And, the larger shutters. Perhaps widen the doors a bit and make the top arch a bit more pronounced.

Do you think double garage doors instead of a single door would add interest to the house? Unlike the inspiration photos, our garage doors will be perpendicular to the street.

What about this one? Can this porch gable be adapted to the house I've chosen?

If the feature you are attracted to is a gable roof rather than a hip--- that's a structural change, not a mere tweaking of the facade. Neither of the first two houses you pictured will ever look like the last two if you're looking for the roofline. You can, however, take #2 and use a rose brick, gray roof, board and batten shutters, and stain or probably paint the posts the same color or a bit lighter or darker than the shutters.

How hard would it be to frame a small gabled porch like the 2 inspiration photos have and graft it on to #1 instead of the flat facade #1 has?

#2 is flat all the way across. The window to the right of the door is the dining room. I'm wondering if I choose #1 will my dining room be slightly larger?

If the dining room would be larger then I would like #1 minus the windows being so low, but I think our lot will take care of that problem. However, to me the door looks like a large black hole and is not at all welcoming.

Any ideas on how to make #1's door look more welcoming?

Maybe putting a small porch on # 1 like on 2 would help..Or at least an overhang...but istill think the door and windows need to sit higher.

I prefer one garage door...we have lived with 2 doors for 29 years and it is ok...but you have larger cars you really have to be careful pulling in and out...years ago I misjudged and knocked the side mirror off on our brand new minivan! I also like garage doors and trim painted the same color as the siding or brick so they disappear and don't become the focal point.

Once you start grafting gables onto hips in the manner you suggest you run the distinct possibility of coming up with a mongrel design that our ID calls "builders' delight"---- a hodgepodge of disparate elements with an end result that is neither pleasing nor cohesive. I know--- I have such a house, and there is something ultimately unsatisfying about it. If you decide to go down that route, at least hire an architect to design it---for the proportions if nothing else---- and not rely on the builder.

Have you considered taking your inspiration photos to the builder and asking them what can be done and at what cost? They should also be familiar with what is allowed within the covenants.

Good advice all on getting an architect to re-draw the front elevation if I'm going to change it up. Love the term "builder's delight." And I've seen some mongrel looking houses and they give me the willies.

m3d, I will be talking to the builder about all of this soon. I am just anxious to have something in my mind that is workable before I talk to him. I think it is better to have something that is well thought out rather than a lot of vague notions. Y'all are helping me see what works, what might not work, and why.

Finally got a picture of facade #3. Do you think the portion that extends out could be clad in something other than brick? Maybe stacked stone? Maybe brick with a slurry on it (although I'm skittish of slurried brick - I've heard it eventually peels off). Maybe just brick painted?

If I go with #3, do you think the interior of the little entryway ought to be clad in something contrasting? There is a house in my neighborhood that is painted brick except the interior of the entry and it has been left natural brick. I like the contrast on that house, but if I have brick on the body and stone on the jut-out, and something else on the interior of the jut-out, is that just "one sequin too much"?

The easiest way to make #1's door more welcoming is to add an overhead light. I think a flush-mounted light that sets the whole entry niche aglow would be charming.

Are the dormers on #1 windows for rooms, lighting for a vaulted ceiling, or decorative?

The dormers are decorative only.

I've never seen #1 because it is in another town. When I photographed #3 today, I looked up in the entryway. There is a light in the ceiling. I suppose it could be on a timer so that it comes on at dusk every day.

Any opinion on treating the entryway differently from the body of the house like the picture below.

bbstx...I know diddly about adding , subtracting, or reworking the exterior of a house ........but was always
first in line to want to change something on the outside of every home we built.
It seemed to always work.
That being said ......this porch gable you liked, caught my eye and I love it!
It would make for such a beautiful entry.
Good luck on whatever you choose. You are going to end up with a beautiful home.

Update: meet with the builder on Friday. There was another front elevation that I had not yet seen. It is the same as the one I posted 8/26 at 13:36 but with a small gable over the front door. Exactly what I wanted! Took me about 22 seconds to say, "this is the one!"

Now the next question is do we leave the entryway in the same brick as the body of the house (similar to 3rd picture in original post) OR cover it in a light-colored slurry OR clad it in limestone (giving look of post on 8/26 at 20:33) OR apply a hard-coat stucco (not Drivit or other synthetic).

Thank goodness they had this elevation available, because I think your original plan would have become a hodgepodge. I would use stone over the entrance doors, garage doors and windows, with brick exterior.

Like this picture:

{{!gwi}}