We are thinking of keeping the columns pretty simple. My husband didn't like the "double columns" in the photo so I just made them single 12" columns. I actually like the double column design in the photo. I could eliminate trim detail on the columns and keep them plain. I don't like tapered columns (as sometimes seen on craftsman style homes).

Thanks for the tip regarding plywood. We are using Hardie board siding so we may use that material instead. I've also considered mixing another siding material in the porch gable (lap siding, shake, or just leave it smooth).

Our roof slope is 4.25/12. This is a 1959 california ranch. I drew the portico with the same slop to match garage. Should I do steeper pitch 6/12) on portico even though garage is 4.25/12? Or stick with 4.25/12?

Definitely use the same pitch.

There are other products outside of Hardi that you can use on the soffit and fascia. I don't know about where you are but we use products like Extira and Miratec for applications like that.

I would also reconsider only using one type of exterior finish as it tends to all bleed into one mass. Even the picture you used as a reference has three types of exterior finishes without even counting the different coloured and contrasting corbels.

As for design, a single panel column with a 3/4" top and bottom build out would be clean and simple but with some interest.

One finish does not bleed into one mass. It lets the house be the star and not the materials. McMansions and McMansion wannabes muck up exteriors by cramming on too many finishes. Classic houses that withstand the test of time don't.

My neighbor did brick on entry. I have considered doing this with white brick. Our house doesn’t have a lot of logical places to mix siding types. The only other idea i have is to do hardie shake or something in porch gable.

Note how the eaves in this picture align with the eaves of the rest of the house. All your other pictures and PPF's renderings all have the eaves aligning. Your elevation drawing has the portico eaves above the eaves of the rest of the house. This is not only awkward looking but more difficult to build and creates a difficult roofing transition that's harder to flash properly. Lower the portico roof and extend the eaves to align with the rest of the house.

To my eye, the columns look a little far apart. Do you have any control over this, or do you have to work with existing structure you have to work with?

If the house doesn't already have brick on it, keep it simple and save the money. The house will look better without it.

I love column discussions, and this time I beat Virgil to this suggestion:

The portico is a cut out I think so perhaps the scale isn’t quite set yet? I’d agree on the spacing and lining up the eaves.

re: cpartist, I don’t know that that is true about “classic” homes in that they often used brick, stone, and wood in great combinations of style and aesthetic. Certain styles, Adobe or SW architecture that are typically all one finish, still tend to have wooden accents. I agree that mixing finishes is often done poorly, but done right shouldn’t detract from the house as the “star”, only emphasize its character.

in this case the OP stated white windows and white siding with a dark roof. With a simple colour palette the textures of the finishes rather than colour, can be what gives it interest, like they said with shakes or something in the portico (and garage perhaps?) gables.

I can lower the portico roof so the eaves line up with the rest of the eaves on the house. I think this was just a mistake caused by the fact that I am hand drawing it and didn't pay close attention to that. And I am not an architect! Hopefully it will look ok when I make that change.

As for the width of the columns, this is basically tied to the width of the foyer and dining room (which is the room to the left of the front door with the large window). The front door wall is "recessed". That recessed area corresponds to the width of the foyer. It is 11.5'. The columns are spaced on the outside of this. In other words, the inside edge of the columns are 11.5" apart. I could align the outside edge of the columns at 11.5' instead which would then make the space between the columns about 9.5' (assuming 12" columns). I guess I was thinking maybe a wider portico would actually be nice rather than narrower. However, if the proportions look better narrow, then I'd prefer narrow. The most important thing is the appearance/proportions.

I also could space the columns without worrying about aligning with the recessed area of the house, but I thought it would look better if it aligned in some way with the house. We can't really change the width of the foyer at this point because it would be too messy as it impacts lots of little details and we don't have time to deal with that.

I have considered doing an alternate siding material in the garage gables (as well as gables on the side of the house. However, my hesitation is the 4.25/12 roof pitch. I think switching materials in the gable will just highlight the short height of the home while doing board and batten all the way up will help to elongate. I could however do a shake inside the porch gable just to mix things up... but I can't think of anywhere else on the house where I could add shake.

However, my hesitation is the 4.25/12 roof pitch. I think switching materials in the gable will just highlight the short height of the home while doing board and batten all the way up will help to elongate.

Smart thinking! I think with the lowered portico and the board and batten, it will look charming. Add a colorful door and some pretty flowers in summer and it will definitely be welcoming.

Do you think the columns are too wide? I am not sure what I should do about that. I want to get the proportions right! the other factor is the width of the front door and sidelights and possible lighting flanking the door too. The doors I like include wider sidelights. I guess I could hang a lantern if the columns were narrower rather than have wall mounted lighting. However, the hanging lantern probably would not be visible from the street.

Your columns should be an equal distance from the center of the door and at least a little wider than the door and sidelites. I think it might look a little better slightly narrower than you have it, but I also like the generous amount of covered space this provides. For lighting you can also do a recessed can.

This looks good. The double columns help to make this look more proportional and stately while keeping the generous covered area.

Number 2 from PPF.

Simple house = simple choice of materials. The east elevation drawing in the initial posting is complicated with a range of conflicting materials, windows and detailing. On the other hand, the "inspiration" photo, is harmonious and unified with simple materials and appropriate windows and detailing. Can you see the differences in the two illustrations?

If you can't find a comfortable direction for your portico, you can always do something like this:

But...if you want your home on the Sunday Parade of Homes, go for Mark's suggestion and substitute caryatids for the posts on the portico, and your home will be an instant landmark...guaranteed! And your neighbors will thank you...

Well...it seemed from your "inspiration photo" at the top of the thread that you were attempting a scheme using multiple posts? Is this not correct?

Has your husband seen the caryatids? Who could resist them?

But if single post is the preferred route, the photo above will work, provided the posts are large and proportioned as illustrated in the photo...but the open framing and truss are very different than anything you've shown thus far. I actually like this approach much better than what you've shown so far. Except for the caryatids. They're lovely! :-)

I like PPF's single post version the best.

So I redrew the original and also created an arched version. Now I can’t decide between these two options. What do people think of these two options?

Also, I am worried posts are two far apart but they do line up with the house this way. Should I pull the posts in closer together and not worry about them lining up exactly with the house? Also, with the fairly wide door we are considering, it seems that maybe a wide portico would be necessary.

I like the arch!

No to the arch. It's throwing in another element that isn't repeated anywhere else on the house

Nix the arch. It doesn't relate to anything and adds new, unnecessary complexity to the façade.

Definitely don't do the arch- like the others above said... It relates to nothing else with the house.

So I think the lentil header style sounds like the best choice. I am a bit worried it will feel low. Also I am worried 7’ front door may be too tall. If they frame for a 7’ front door, is it pretty easy to adjust framing for 6’8” door if 7’ looks to tall?

Should I make posts closer together? Or does it look fine as is? Also our architect drew the posts 5’ out from front of house. Front door is recessed 3’. So posts are 8’ from front door. This seems too deep. I am thinking of moving posts 1’ closer to house. Any opinions on how deep the portico should be?

You are overthinking everything. There's very little visual difference between a door 7-feet tall and one 6'-8" tall. Go with 7-feet.

A porch and portico only 5-feet deep is very shallow. The fact that the door is recessed another 3-feet is immaterial. Don't make the portico less than 5-feet deep.

Good luck on your project.