Take that and your other inspiration pictures to a licensed architect. Communicate what you like and don't like, how you live your life/lives in your home, what your land looks like, and let them work their magic. There's way too much to change in that plan to make it more livable/buildable.

Also, that wine cellar/dungeon room is pretty awesome. Needed some weapons and torture devices hanging on the wall to be complete.

Cost effective is relative. Build it in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma and it will be cheaper than building it in an infill lot in Boston. But it will never ever ever be an inexpensive house to build in any location. Better to rent the AirBnB version one a year than to sink millions into building that badly designed boondoggle anyway.

A good architect can show you how to plan (program) a home that is the right size for your needs, cleans up a lot of the fussiness and unnecessary extravagance of this plan and fits your budget.

After beating our heads against the wall trying to make a square peg fit a round hole with 100's of online plans, we submitted to the advice and ideas of many on here and are using an architect (none other than ARG). Seriously, you will waste so much time trying to make a plan that isn't really designed with any one person in mind fit your specific lifestyle. Not to mention there are a lot of unknowns in the cost to build with stock plans. Openly being able to discuss budgets, lifestyle requirements, lot layout, goals, etc, is something you don't get by picking a plan online and then trying to make it fit.

I know some people hate hearing the advice of "hire an architect," but in most situations, it can definitely make a huge difference even if it's a remote situation like with Doug (ARG).

There is nothing remotely French country about that house, I wonder where they get their label from? And curious: there's a whole one-bedroom apartment upstairs, but you get to it from the garage and utility room. I do like its bathroom-laundry-closet arrangement, though. So, not really for rental, not really for inlaw-adult children, not really for household help(well, maybe a long-term couple). I know, you said you don't need the upstairs so this isn't an issue, I'm just wondering "out loud".

Why would you design a house with a full staircase to get into it and then steps down in the foyer to access any of the main floor? Hope they don't get snow/ice. Hope you don't plan on ageing in a house like this.

On this example it looks like they were trying to match the grade of the backyard with the main floor, so stairs were needed from street level to front door. The end result is just wrong on so many counts.

I agree this is not in any way a french country house so get over that. Find an architect and get what you need in your budget.

I think I heard you say, "I want something exactly like this, but different".

Follow the advice of those that have suggested finding an architect and have them design a home with you. (do not show the architect this design)

I wonder about anything "French" on a website labeled "America's Best", it has the air of dishonesty.

(after looking at the design, I see the air is fowl)

When ARG is doing his charrette magic, tell him with a straight face that you want a moat and a drawbridge. Make sure he puts in some really good clouds, too.

Can't wait to see what you get in the final drawings.

Mon bon ami, vous avez besoin d'un très bon architecte ... et vous serez très heureux!

"French country" always makes me laugh. La France is a big place full of many regional styles of architecture from many time periods. There is no such thing as "French country".

Any advice?

None. I honestly don't see anything here that I like.

Why would you design a house with a full staircase to get into it and then steps down in the foyer to access any of the main floor?

I think the exterior staircase has to do with the slope of the lot rather than the house plan. This would vary depending upon the site the OP chooses.

There is no such thing as "French country".

Oh, sure French Country exists: It's a design that's simultaneously frumpy and rustic -- with pale blue.

I always sort of think of "French Country" as "War Bride Decor" - a taste of the French countryside as (mis)remembered by returning GIs. And, in that way, something akin to Storybook architecture.
Like this:

Though it's since been bastardized past all recognition.

FWIW, this little book of super cute house plans (from the 20's, I think?) is worth a look. If only modern tract housing had this much charm.

The design books from the 20s and 30s are absolutely wonderful. But they don't have 3-10 car garages, so they have fallen out of favor...

They also don't have "open concept" layouts :(

I love the rooms-but-good-flow layout of our 1930s Four Square. Everything has a space, but at the same time none of the living spaces are truly isolated. (If we had the pocket doors you see often, you could even divide up the space more when needed.) Imo it’s much more livable than giant-room open plan spaces.

Most of the floor plans, you're right, wouldn't work. Many plans have a single bathroom, and that's located upstairs. :-) And kitchens were still to be tucked out of the way.

But think of it from the perspective of taking an architect inspiration photos (or sketches) from that era, and designing a house that works for the way we live now but with the charm of an earlier era.

It's a thought, unless the OP really prefers a McMansion style home. It's also worth going back to the original French buildings on which this... home... was based. What do you like about the style? Because there are probably ways to do it better. What you have in this plan is sort of a copy of a copy of a copy, and when that happens, the details get blurry.

Here is another small plan book. And it's really worth flipping to page 63 to read the section entitled "How To Build A House". There is even helpful advice on selecting an architect. ;-)

And one more, because it's local, and I"m turning into an addict....

@Holly- Thanks for the links to the old books!!! I love these sorts of things!

Holy cow David, you are either joking or you just avoided a very expensive mistake. That house is awful.

Find a similar size new construction house listing in your area with finishes you like. Post it here so you can find out if it's hideous or not. Then look up what they paid for the lot. Subtract the list price from the lot price. That is probably the minimum you can expect to pay to construct your house WITHOUT architect fees, which are $$$. Yes, builders (hopefully) make a profit. They are also more efficient at building spec houses than custom homes.

Honestly, I don't think you should use an architect. I'm afraid you'll manage to work your taste into the final plans. Go to jackarnold.com - I think his houses are a little over the top themey, so they might appeal to you. Also try southern living. Find a house that you don't need to make ANY changes to. Post it here. If nobody tells you it is horrible, then build it EXACTLY according to the plan.

You are probably annoyed (or joking), but that's better than building that house and then trying to sell it in 10 years and learning everyone except you hates it. Seriously, think about how much money you could lose. I'm sure some people will slam me for being mean, but you aren't buying an ugly suit. You are considering setting half a million dollars on fire.

I have seen some neighborhoods where houses like the one you linked to seem popular. Areas of Queens, NY, for example. Are you in an area with houses like that currently being built?

France is composed of 18 distinct Regions. Here are three examples of very different country homes. Which one is "French country"?

Hi David, I just bought an actual house in the French countryside. Honestly, there is nothing like that anywhere around my house (or anywhere I've seen in my travels in France). I think what American builders do is glance at the big chateaux and then try to downsize it and then Americanize it, but somehow it just doesn't work. French houses are much simpler than that. They certainly would not have brick, stone, and siding on one house, and the interiors are designed to be comfortable, logical and simple. French country houses, especially, are not grand affairs like British country houses are. They're usually former farms. I am not even sure of the style of my house, but it's very plain in contrast to that, even though it is a big house - 12 bedrooms, over 6,000 square feet. I agree with the others. Hire a good architect and parse out what you like this about this design, then distill it to the elements that work together. Good luck to you!

Holly, thanks for that link to old plans. I love that stuff.

OP, that house is really somethin'. Do yourself a huge favor and Google 'McMansion Hell blog'. Spend a day reading. I learned so much in just a few hours on that site and it totally changed my thoughts and opinions about houses. I live in a McMansion, but thankfully it's one that will be easy to sell once we're able to build.

I know that the feedback has seemed harsh, but people really are looking out for you. Read up and you'll see why.

How about this chateau http://calgaryhomes.ca/listing/c4162423-1108-premier-wy-sw-calgary-alberta/

Eeeesh!

PG you're hurting my eyes!

Must be a joke, OP seems to be locked in the castle’s tower!

PG - I would love to walk around that house. I love old, dated and weird. Not to live or buy but just to look at! I did like those drop down shelves/cabinets at the bottom of the kitchen cabinets. Handy storage!

Hmmm...upon seeing your chateau link PG, I'm taking a fresh look at your house!

Gthigpen, to pique your curiosity even more, you can walk down its street by using google earth. It was built in 1941, so perhaps it was ahead of its time for the era? To think it sits on .21 acre lot.

Hey ARG, too funny, lol! Mayb we will just make do with adding a moat/swim pond.

Did someone say "moat"...?

Available, with some remodeling needed...

Virgil.....The 21st century term for "moat" is "storm water retention pond".

And oh yeah, there's no "swamps" anymore, now they are "wetlands".

Rouge Oak Bordello Castle - is that a style?

I particularly like the enfilade possible on visitors just before the drawbridge. Everyone lines up on the road, squeezed into the space between the berms, and thereafter gets doused with silly putty from the castle. A great plan for unwelcome house to house callers...

Old military axiom: never bunch up!

Check with your homeowners association to see if you can do likewise...

No Just NO

ARG, to swamps and wetlands, add sloughs. I never know how to pronounce that one. We have one nearby. Part of the preserve district, great walking and bird-watching.

Please forgive me but in the US it's normally pronounced slew.

DH (a Brit) says slough to rhyme with plow. I say slough to rhyme with flu. :)

As in the great racehorse Seattle Slew, but that always makes me think of the quantity, "a slew of" something, and it's usually not nice. And if you slough off something, you "sluff" it off, right? Anyway, I just call that park "the one behind where Dominick's used to be" to avoid pronouncing it at all.

And edenchild, we spell plough "plow". Another difference! Vive la difference? :)

And north of the 49th we spell plow too. But we spell colour and say washroom not bathroom or perhaps, loo is used too.

Well, there is this guy, who seems to be on something of a mission to restore the art of designing story book style homes.

Agree with everyone...this does not look French in anyway. It looks like a 90’s McMansion revival. I would definitely hire an architect to build. Also, would not forgo a garage on an almost 5000 sq. Foot house for more bedrooms. Anyone buying a home that big would expect a garage.

^a garage or 4

Don't think it will matter as the OP appears to be a one hit - hit and run.......................

Don't think it will matter as the OP appears to be a one hit - hit and run.......................

That's ok. At least we learned all about sloughs and how to properly pronounce the word...depending on where one is!

Love it when threads become OT they, just more fun and laughs

The OP could always take the Solomonic approach and hack it into 1/4s to achieve some level of affordability. It wouldn’t be significantly worse than it is at the size it is now. And it would be half the price.