This is virtually a townhouse plan, long and narrow, despite a side entry garage. It will be rather dark in the interiors all day. Spaces are small and not very usable, especially for a family of 6.

With a lot which is 3/4 of an acre you certainly have room to do more and better than this.

Have you considered hiring an architect to create a plan that works well for you and your family? There is one here online who works remotely and does some fabulous designs.

I had exactly the same thought as Virgil. It is a beautiful looking home but it would feel like a tunnel to me.

I would keep looking online. Sooo

many home plans to choose from that with a few modifications can be great.

Thank you for the comments, they are so helpful!

I hadn't really considered how narrow the house is...hmmmm. Maybe the photographer for the "client photo albums albums" was really good, lol. Our lot is definitely more deep than wide, so that is a consideration, however we probably do have more space to spread out if we can.

I think the appeal of the online house plan sites is that they feel more "safe" than hiring an architect. You can search within your budget and parameters and instantly see what you are purchasing, etc.

cpartist...do you have contact info for the architect that you mentioned? We live in a pretty small community and finding a local architect that works for us might be a stretch, lol.

Thanks again for the thoughts! ~ Rachel

I don’t think it takes advantage of your mountain views. You want the rooms you spend the most time to have windows facing the mountains, not the dining room.

Only buy online plans if you purchase your property and your spouse online.

@Mark Bischak - careful there, many of us do "purchase" our spouses online these days. I am one half of an eHarmony couple, and heck that was almost 10 years ago already ;)

Mark...

If you're going to be rude you might want to check your spelling first, I have no idea what a "spouce" is and neither does my computer's spell check.

Rachel message me.

@Mark Bischak - careful there, many of us do "purchase" our spouses online these days. I am one half of an eHarmony couple, and heck that was almost 10 years ago already ;)

Yeah, these days most of my friends meet their significant others online.

Other thoughts:

- I don't see where 3,862 sf is going. That's a huge, expensive house, and this floorplan doesn't seem to "live big enough" for that investment. What I mean is, none of the rooms are particularly large or special.

- I do agree that the downstairs will have something of a "tunnel" feel.

- On a small 3/4 acre lot, are you sure you have space for a side-entry garage? I'd be concerned about the space in the garage too ... this isn't really a 3-car garage at all. It's more like a 2-car garage with storage ... I'd make the doors match what it really is.

- I like that it has a family room + an away room ... that works for a family of six. I'd definitely add doors to the office so it can provide acoustical privacy.

- Guests can use the full bath by the suite addition ... I'd consider losing the powder room and adding this space into the family room, which isn't very large now ... but another 5' would make it much nicer. OR put that space into the office area, which you say will be your TV room.

- I like the dining room.

- The kitchen is okay, though I don't like that you have to carry groceries the whole length of the kitchen to reach the pantry.

- You say the girls will share the larger bedroom ... there is no larger bedroom. The bedroom with its own bathroom is roughly 181 sf, while the two matching bedrooms are approximately 183 sf. These three upstairs secondary bedrooms are almost identical in size. Plus, since they're sharing, the girls are going to have significantly less closet space. Eventually one of the girls is going to demand to move downstairs to that suite addition. When that happens, will you be okay with one girl being alone downstairs?

- Looking at the upstairs, okay, I kind of see where all that square footage is going ... these are large bedrooms. I personally would rather give the kids smaller bedrooms and bigger closets ... bigger closets = cleaner rooms. I personally don't care for this large a master either ... I'd rather have larger public areas.

- I like that the laundry is upstairs near the bedrooms. I don't think it looks small at all.

- I don't have any love for the loft area, which is really just a large hallway. Wasted space. It'll be a dark, enclosed space. Yeah, I know, it looks open and bright in the photograph, but note that they have all the doors open, bringing in light from the bedrooms. In real life, those doors are going to be closed most of the time.

Mrs. Pete...

Thanks for your comments....Interesting thoughts, especially in comparison to my runner up house plan which was this:

https://www.architecturaldesigns.com/house-plans/exclusive-craftsman-house-plan-with-optional-bonus-room-and-attic-space-500030vv

This house plan is actually 550 sq feet smaller than the other house although the main living areas seem much bigger...it makes me wonder if the bonus area is included in the first and is excluded in the second. This (second) house is about 215 sq ft bigger on the main floor, but seems much more livable in retrospect. My main concern with it over the original plan was the lack of a "loft area" upstairs...I was concerned that it would feel a tad claustrophobic with only halls and bedrooms.

Edit to add: I just did the math and the bonus areas is included in the original plan's square footage, but excluded from the square footage of this plan...they are essentially the same but this plan has 200 sq ft more on the main level.

Other thoughts...The kids would have to go out the garage to the outside so that they weren't banging through the french doors on the screen porch all day...hmmm. I do like the idea of a family room/playroom upstairs and down although in the original plan it seemed like I could "yell up the stairs" to the family room and be heard a little easier.

The frontage on our lot is 144 feet...so I do think we'd be okay with a side entry garage. Their are houses on all sides of the property and across the street as well. We can see the mountains from the property...but we don't back up to it or anything.

I like your comments about the upstairs bedrooms of the original plans...that was good for me to hear. :)

Thanks again for your ideas and help! ~ Rachel

Edit to add: This house is probably as far as our budget could reach based upon current sq ft price to build in our area...just sayin' lol

I didn't mean "meet" (eHarmony), I meant "buy" (eBay).

Plan where you'd place furniture, and you'll see some flaws. Bedroom 4 which needs two beds. Bedroom 3?! The good view at the back you mention, why are the master bathroom, guest suite, mudroom, etc angled that way? Angled walls. Let's all stop pretending they add space.

The best way to design a house is by working with someone trained and experienced to do so, around your requirements and preferrences. An architect is money well spent. That list of things you like and aren't completely sold on are important.

The living room being completely open to the kitchen, now that, for instance, is a bit of a big deal. Should let you know the plan isn't for you. The office would likely be cramped for a 6 person living room. And the formal living area couches would get the smell of bacon...

"The best way to design a house is by working with someone trained and experienced to do so, around your requirements and preferences. An architect is money well spent. That list of things you like and aren't completely sold on are important." - Najeebah

I thought I would repeat that good piece of advice in case anyone missed it.

I thought I would repeat that good piece of advice in case anyone missed it.

I knew there was something I was lacking! Thanks. I'll speak like that from now on. I'll speak like that from now on.

I think the appeal of the online house plan sites is that they feel more "safe" than hiring an architect. You can search within your budget and parameters and instantly see what you are purchasing, etc.

The problem is that it's a false equivalence. It seems like a good deal, but what you're buying isn't the best quality. And will likely cost you money during the build and after in reno costs fixing what doesn't work.

And you're not really seeing what you're purchasing. You're seeing what they want you to see, so that you purchase : ) .