Yes - I think the front dormer is not proportional. Back up a sec - the front is North. A high dormer won't bring that much light in facing North. You already get covered North light. I am no sunlight expert but both are indirect light and I don't think it is necessary or that helpful.

So the rear dormer was already there? Can you just make that a little bigger?

I am a bit concerned about shading the dormer's windows (South). Just plan for that with electric blinds because light is great but not necessarily all the time in July. They are drawn with no overhangs which would be a lost opportunity in most climates. Not to mention, they will get dirty and be difficult to clean.

Have you had a screen porch before? In my area, they have gone out of style. We had one in our last house and are not building one this time. Our last house, we designed it off to the side of our great room which helped a lot with sunlight - we the brightest house on our side of a straight street because screened in porches were almost mandatory in that vintage/price point.

Obviously your local bug issues dictate things.

I would add your location to the discussion. In general Northern windows add significant heating load and Southern windows don't because of the heat added during the day. But that is location dependent.

"Bad architecture" - are you sure you really want to open that can of worms?.....

Eeks, doing a large screened in porch in a Southern climate. They may go out of style but mosquitoes won't :(

Agree with Mark about moving the screened porch. Put the door in the kitchen. You could even stretch it a bit so you have another access to it from the master. I like the dormers over the dining. Anywhere you have a window is going to add light to the room and make the room look larger.

Thank you! I should clarify that the rear dormer is the one in question. It was added in attempt to bring more light and drama into the great room. The rear faces south. The front faces north. We live in Alabama... mosquitoes are the main driver for the screen porch, but I am open to removing or relocating it. David, yes, please let me know any glaring design offenses. It is going to be built in one of those garage-loving homogenous suburban neighborhoods.... but we want to be as tasteful as possible.

David - How would you make the front dormer proportional? Too small?

Skylights on the porch? I know this might be a regional thing & I realize that it might not be consistent with the style of your home, but most of the newly built & remolded homes in my area have bifold folding doors in lieu of French doors with sidelights. Allows for much more natural light. Several homes in my neighborhood have removed the French doors with sidelights or windows, even in some very traditional homes.

We have a similar setup as Mark mentioned. A wall of windows
in the family room. I would do Mark's idea and see if you can make the kitchen
window bigger as well and do no uppers on that wall of the kitchen. We are in
Florida sliders like the below are great except if you have littles. We have
french doors and I love them because my 6 year old can close the door behind
him when going into the screened in room so we do not attempt to a/c the
screened in room during the summer by accident. I would also add a fan to the room which
helps in the summer heat.

Bermuda 1129 · More Info

Ours is similar to what Mark suggested. Our covered porch is outside our kitchen with the great room adjacent but no covered porch on that side. Our great room is filled with sunlight most of the day (faces SW, but mostly S). We have a 7.5'W x 5'H window in our kitchen with no uppers on that side. Our kitchen is still plenty light even with our covered porch.

The shed dormer will add natural light to the living/family area. Moving the screen porch will add natural light to the living/family area. Doing both will add more natural light to the living/family area. Good luck!

@lmkbuild BTW - we're also going to be building in AL and are in a similar solution. Screened in porch off the main living area blocking light. But, we are facing west so likely to get strong sun. You can see pictures of the rear elevation here (https://www.houzz.com/discussions/custom-house-kitchen-feedback-needed-dsvw-vd~5154367).

To get more light, we have a dormer situation up top, but also other dormers so it doesn't seem "added in as an afterthought". Not sure how to phrase that without offending you. Not an architect, nor even a designer, but perhaps fake dormers might help?

Why not make the dormer in front a real dormer into the dining?

I think the scale of the front shed dormer is a bit small. I like the idea of shifting the porch. In general I feel like the shed dormers you have need more room to let the windows 'breathe' if you know what I mean.

Your house reminded me of this one, which shows the dormer expanded to run between the gables.