Your home was built before Hurricane Andrew in 1992, so you're going to be doing some expensive window upgrading if you remove your arches. They are very strict here.

Yes, I've definitely done the research and have built this into the plan. I have some working blueprints, but we're not satisfied with the elevation ideas. I've added a screenshot.

I'd dress it up more Mediterranean/Spanish style. Keep those arches...red tile roof...cream or white paint...black wrought iron hardware...(faux stained) wood garage door...bougainvillea (only with gardener. Otherwise ouch.)...I could spend a lot of your money!

Google images for "mediterranean ranch homes" or "spanish ranch homes", possibly with "california" thrown in. It's what your house WANTS to be.

Check out some of the architects on this website. They can do remote work and can come up with something that works for you. I would scrap your current elevation. Check out architectrunnerguy here on houzz.

@Denita - I have some reading to do! Thanks for the guidance, I was apprehensive about trying an architect and didn't realize they did remote work. Have you or known someone that used one remotely? I realize this may be a tough question, but I'm just trying to get a sense of the range of fees remote architects charge?

@Fori is not pleased - We're trying to get away from the Med/Spanish style. We've lived in FL for awhile and are looking for a fresh, but not necessarily a contemporary design.

Buy a different house. Putting a dress on a chimpanzee doesn't make it a little girl. Fighting the bones of your home is going to be incredibly expensive, with zero payback at resale. Totally lighting money on fire.

@Sophie Wheeler - Thanks for the feedback. I guess no home is ever perfect, but this home is in a highly desirable neighborhood with home prices more than twice the price we paid. So we're going to suck it up and go into remodeling mode. We're just hoping to add some dimension to the home and bring it up to date.

I think the arches would be fine with better windows. I think it's the window, not the arch that detracts from the look.

@palimpsest - Thanks! Any suggestions to which windows might give it a different look?

How about an undivided casement window with a larger profile?,and get rid of or deemphasize the beltline around the house

DFW BBB:

Thanks for cutting our resident cynic some slack. Tactfully and tonally challenged, but always deadly accurate. I write professionally and would be delighted to come up with " Putting a dress on a chimpanzee doesn't make it a little girl."