I like a lot about your ideas for spaces! I'm with you on the semi-open kitchen! The things I noticed were all the bumpouts =$$$ and the long narrow hallway coming into the garage - Think about carrying groceries and other items in on a daily basis with no drop zone.

But...if you are meeting with an architect most people are going to tell you that you don't even need to take what you have done and just trust that the architect will be able to create what you want from more of a wish list than an actual floor plan.

It is ok to take this sketch to the architect - that does not mean that the final plan will end up similar to this. Let your architect handle it from here.

I suggest you to get rid of one of the garage to home entries. Right now you have 2 unusable hallways. I'd go with one nice sized welcoming area that includes a drop off counter or mud bench/cubbies and closet.

Your powder room is too narrow That closet near to it could be 2'-2" so you have space for the powder room.

The location of the twin closets bothers me. It looks like the stairs will not work ok as you show it.

Yes, if you have an experienced and creative architect, you do not need to spend much time trying to create the perfect, forever floor plan. What you do need for your early meetings with your architect are: 1) A list of mutually-agreed needs; 2) Another list of mutually agreed wants (the two lists are very different); 3) Site plan and photos; 4) Some photos of the style of architecture you find appealing; 5) budget.

Architects work with site plans, adjacency diagrams, design concepts and approaches at the beginning. It's only when a concept proves workable that they begin to hardline walls and start scaled floor plan studies. Interiors and exteriors are always studied together--what happens inside impacts the outside, and vice versa.

Many consumers make the mistake of only focusing on the insides and striving for perfection there before even beginning to look at the outside or interior spatial concepts.

You haven't said where your land is located, but if you are in the northern hemisphere, a southern orientation for your major public spaces and outdoor living is idea. East and west are the worst since the low sun cannot be kept from causing both glare and heat gain. Northern and northwestern exposures may be problematic if that is the direction for adverse weather.

Good luck on your journey--exciting times!

Thanks very much for the feedback! I live in the south. Very mild winters (snows maybe 1-3 times but doesn't stick) and hot summers.

I created the floor plan mainly because I'm extremely visual and it helped me figure out what it was I wanted.

Again, I appreciate you input!

I think you have a great start! What software or app/site did you use to create this?

All architects are different. Mine has asked me to bring one or two floor plans to him and mark up what it is I really like, what parts I'd like to change and parts I dislike. He said it's helpful for him to get a starting point for my style and vision.

My only comment at just a quick look of it would be the powder room. One I don't care for a door to a bathroom to be in the entry area of the house, I'd flip it and have the door on opposite side. Also, it needs to be wider.

Thank you! Agree on a door in the entryway. I couldn't figure out how else, but your idea is great!

I used: http://www.homestyler.com/

There are two versions. I used the newest one.

On orientation:

The South is a big area and by any measure, I am in the South. Snows 1-3 times a year and doesn't stick. Sounds right. I live in central NC.

When we built last, the energy audit had heating costs at 3X a/c. I think NG was more expensive back then (2008) or they used the 10 years prior which had more expensive NG. The point is that most people here think a/c costs more and is a more important factor than heating. They are wrong.

Now you might be in AL and things might be different.

Either way, is it colder in Jan? Of course it is. Which is why the original question was - are you in the Northern hemisphere not are you in the North. Glare is an issue also. Getting more sun into the house in the winter is always an issue. When are we sun starved?

Even if you have zero heating needs, avoiding east and west windows helps with a/c needs. The summer sun is high and is able to be shaded all day with southern exposure. Of course mostly you want to avoid western backyards and excessive windows. You will have to spend money on bigger a/c units with a lot of western windows.

Get a backyard to the south if you have the choice. Put enough overhang on these windows to block the summer sun. Install smaller a/c unit - save money and vents can be smaller.

I live in NC too - Sorry for not making that more clear.

My options for orientating the house are facing it more NE with a SW backyard, or facing it more SE with a NW backyard. I had wanted the deeper yard, which would mean facing SE with garage taking up the E side. Avoiding the W completely in the back is not possible with any of these orientations. Either way, I plan on leaving as many trees as possible, so hopefully that will help to diffuse the sun a little bit. I could also do a covered porch in back, which would diffuse the sun. It's something I'll have to talk about with the architect.

Is the second bedroom for the domestic help? They are conveniently located in the service areas of the house, and they will have a good view of anyone approaching the front door from the drive.

Don't get discouraged if the architect makes a lot of changes.

Or maybe the architect can design the house so the main orientation of your main living areas is more towards the south. That is what a good architect does. They think outside the box when designing the house so that it works in a way that helps with heating/cooling. Technically the orientation may still be as you say, but where the main windows and living areas may be more south.

Mark, the guest room will mainly be used by my parents, who visit 3-4 times a year. My mom would laugh at your comment, though, because she usually ends up helping me with the cooking and laundry!

I saw it organized in that way for a few reasons. First, my daughter, who is now a junior in HS, will be living with us for college. I want her to have the entire upstairs part of the house as her own and for her to have a sense of privacy, meaning she can come and go through the garage entrance as she pleases with easy access to the laundry. This also allows her to keep her cat separate from the dogs. With my parents in mind, who visit 3-4 times a year, we have another complicated pet issue. My dogs do not like other dogs or cats. My parents have a little dog. If they also had an entrance (like through the garage) for their dog then they could stay longer because right now they have to find dog sitters. I was thinking I could put a pet gate up or maybe even a dutch door to keep that area permanently sealed off from my dogs. If they never see it as their territory, I think it will be a lot easier to control the pet issues.

I won't be discouraged if the architect suggests something completely different. Mainly I put the plan together just to show him what our fundamental needs are and how our lives work. I'm completely open to his creative vision for a home with our lifestyle in mind.

Thanks!

Instead of taking a plan that may or may not work, instead take a bubble diagram of what things you need where in terms of rooms next to or near other rooms. Let the architect give you suggestions. Also bring pictures of what you do like in terms of styles, etc.

Cpartist, thanks for your input! I'm learning a lot through this conversation about things I would never even consider, so I appreciate the help! And yes, you may be correct that the orientation will get shifted dramatically.

Wow!! Thank you so much! I really love what you did with the space, it feels more "streamlined." My parking space would be the closest to the kitchen, since I do most of the shopping. But my daughter and parents could use the other door to avoid the dogs. It may even be possible to push the pantry back a little and make space for the dog's crates, or have a smaller, 2nd mudroom. Their doggy door will be that back door entrance.

Again, much appreciated!