I like it, although that should be no surprise because it is similar to my build. I would prefer to have the porch extend all the way to the right side of the house, maybe.

Feels off balance for some reason. I know you can't move the front door, but what if you made the porch encompass the door plus the windows on either side of the door instead of the 2 right windows?

I love a front porch, but somehow, this house looks like it was designed NOT to have a porch, and I'm just not sure the one you show works.

Perhaps move the porch to the left, with the door centered? Or, and I do think a door needs protection, just over the door?

Interesting comments, thank you!

The door was centered in the original photo and I liked it much better as well. We were in the process of finalizing our tentative plans before we met with an architect and then I came across this house. I really like the original exterior and it is from an architect that is on our short list. This exterior works well with our plan, except for the front door placement :-/ We would likely have to add square footage to have the door centered.

Thanks again! :-)

I am a symmetry girl, so this design tends to upset my equilibrium! Particularly since the facade is so flat...it looks like the door and porch were just shoved to the side for no good reason. I also prefer front porches to extend the full width, wrap-around if possible.

I don't think the door needs to be centered. In fact, I think a centered door is somewhat boring.

this is my house, obviously I'm okay with asymmetry

And another by my builder where the door is centered in the porch, but the porch is not centered on the home

In your home with the door centered there wouldn't be much useful porch space. Also, it would end up looking very symmetrical. Which is okay, but kind of blah.

Not sure why, but my gut agrees with reesepbuttercup 7a- Utah

One thing I love about Colonials is symmetry. I think you really have to get the details right for it to not be "blah", though. I also vote wrap around porch. ;)

Add some curved beds and sidewalk instead of the square beds with a harsh, straight sidewalk and it would look better as well

Is this any better? ...despite the poor editing, lol.

p.s. Amber & nini804....if I have a Colonial with a wrap around porch does that make it "country" enough that I can have a wooden screen door in the front? :-p ;-)

I like this better. I know you're just playing with photos, but especially if you do it so the gaps under the porch are hidden.

Like this?

I think I like this better too. My fictional house has a hedge! lol.

Seriously though...could you live with the door in this one? What does everyone else think? I've looked at it so much that my eyes are glazing over and I don't have an opinion anymore, lol.

I like this version much better. I would try taking out the two middle columns on the longer porch side

It *does* look much better without the middle columns, right? ...again, despite the poor editing. ;-)

P.s.s.... It was so very nice of all of you to take the time to comment and offer genuine advice and honest opinions. I very much appreciate it!

yes

The last picture with the 2 columns removed is the winner!! However, with the 2 columns removed, move the steps and the 2 columns slightly to the right to center the door between the steps and the 2 Columns.... Perfect!

Okay :) ....I tried, but it was a little tricky given the angle of the original photo.

This house is growing on me. I don't mind the door off center as much anymore. However, I'm completely open to opinions and I do value them! I really would like *brutal honesty* at this point. I'd rather have it all laid out before I spend what seems like a gajillion dollars, lol.

Thanks again! :)

I actually prefer it with the door off center. It adds an interesting note, but then again I'm like Reeses. Centered would make the house more formal looking. Off center gives it a warmer less formal look and with the chimney helps to balance the off centered door. Plus you have lots of room on the porch for outdoor living.

I'm fine with the first version. The porch doesn't overwhelm the house, and it is functional for what it IS -- a place to put two chairs. It's not deep enough for more, and it's not so deep that it will darken the interior of the front rooms. What direction does the house face?

Would you use a porch? I seldom see people ON front porches since the invention of A/C and the drop off in pedestrians -- those passersby with whom porch sitters used to chat.

Are we getting ahead of ourselves here? Where do your floor plans *need* the entry door?

The house has many features of the Georgian style--paneled front door capped by a decorative crown, supported by decorative pilasters with small rectangular panes of glass beneath the crown; windows with double hung sashes with many small panes; windows aligned horizontally and vertically in symmetrical rows; five-ranked on front façade. Fireplaces were either centered or on both ends of the house, depending on house size and number of rooms. Interestingly, most Georgian houses did not use shutters, but later Adam houses did. Porches were rather uncommon on both styles of houses, but these became popular with the Classical and Greek Revival periods, where grand, two-story high porches were often common for two-storey houses. Entries most often were centered and opened to a center entry or corridor which, in turn, provided access to the room(s) on either end of the house.

To my eye, the porch in the first photo and the nearly full width porch both look appropriate and appealing, so long as columns repeat the bays established by each window. The elongated porch with just four irregularly placed columns looks to me as if the delivery truck got the order for columns wrong and only delivered four columns--the wrong number!

Too many windows - looks busy.

I think it would look great with a three-bay porch centered on the door. It would enhance the Federal -style feeling, and take it away from "farmhouse" which it is very easy to slip into.

Casey

I still prefer the door centered, but I am a very asymmetrical person. Off center makes me a little crazy. But it's not my house.

I like the house....especially the last version. Classic and beautiful!

Well, since you asked us to be brutally honest....I think there are too many shutters. It looks very busy.

Can we see the floor plan? Maybe if we know what's behind all those windows, we can make a few suggestions :)

My neighbor asked if I really wanted to clean *all* of those windows??? Lol. It is quite a few.

A few other responses:

The house will face west.

I dig porches and plan on sitting on it from time to time....watching the kids play in the front yard in the morning, etc.

I keep snickering to myself about Virgil's delivery truck comment, lol.

Lavender, there is a chance that the house will be all brick. I wonder if that would negate the need for all of the shutters? I don't really mind them, but I'm not set on them either.

I really appreciate all of the comments and ideas....hashing out all of the possibilities is exactly what I'm after. Thanks!!!!

I'll post the house plans in a bit when I get to my computer.

These are the photos before editing.

I like the longer porch version and I would change to a wider door or add something on either side of it to make it appear larger. The trees in the drawing above make it look friendlier.

Ah, Virgil and I disagree for once. I prefer the house with less columns. :)

Um...the floor plans, please? We can't decide on a center entrance if that's not what you have.

cpartist -- I'm with Virgil. I need to see 'supports' even if today's building techniques don't always require them. (Think Parthenon w/o all its columns. LOL)

This is what we are thinking for the plans (in general)...I'm open to ideas and would like to know what the architect thinks, etc.... brutal honesty....trust me, we need it ;-) ....

Will your house be elevated similar to the ones shown (5 steps up)? Personally I think I would prefer fewer steps, especially if it is going to be all brick. I kind of want to take my finger and press the house in the photo down into the ground a smidge more -- is it just me?

[Edited after seeing your floorplan] If your first floor is going to be going to be closer to grade (for the garage, I don't see any steps), you could eliminate the porch railing, I think that would improve the look and save some money too.

The "inspiration/original" house is on a slab. We want an unfinished basement. I'm not sure if that would make a difference in the front steps? Maybe?

Starting with first floor (upstairs can be adjusted later, if necessary) I would make some major window changes.

The living room is a nice room! Why one small window? Instead, two windows for that room....and a small (round or oval?) window on each side of the front door.

I would NOT want a big window at the bottom of the stairs. What if someone fell? Better/safer to have a small window on each side of the door for your entry area.

The garage....we always need more storage! Why not bump out the garage and give it some interest? This leaves you a nice area for the porch....and the front door is centered on the house.

If you want a more formal front, eliminate the porch and garage bump out. And the front door will still look more centered. Hope this helps :)

That does help, thank you :)

I should also probably mention that our plan is 9 feet longer (in fronage) than the inspiration photo....which will make a difference I'm how everything will lay out in the end as well.

Edit to add: I mostly just want a welcoming, happy, unpretentious, un-trendy, kid-friendly home. :) I want it to feel like an old-soul if that makes sense?