You have a pseudo-craftsman house; a standard house with some details applied that resemble those of house designed in the true craftsman style. It most likely is a spec home.

A few books have been written on historic color of craftsman homes, here's one:

https://www.amazon.com/Bungalow-Colors-Exteriors-Robert-Schweitzer/dp/1586851306

Can you reduce the roof pitch and increase the overhangs? Exposed rafter tails and eave brackets would help.

Look around Houzz exteriors and create ideabooks. This way you'll learn what appeals to you. Then hire an architect or a building designer and communicate to them what you want from those ideabooks (because a picture is worth 1000 words). The investment in getting it right will far outweigh the cost of getting it wrong. - rf

The only thing craftsman on the house is the posts and even those are not 100% correct.

Disagree ... the light fixture on the front porch also looks Craftsman! But, seriously, overall, not Craftsman. It's the sturdy-low-squat-with-rafter-tails roof that "makes" a Craftsman, and this one is much too steep to fit the bill.

I like the whitewashed brick you propose, but I don't see it fitting this house.

I don't think the schmear technique is appropriate for this home. I think what is disconcerting about it right how is that there are strong horizontal and vertical lines and they seem to conflict and chop the house into pieces. A brick or stone facade with horizontal or even shake siding in the gables would look good. The double windows should not have shutters so when you build I wouldn't do shutters on any of the windows. If you're interested in seeing some finish ideas virtually, check out my web site, Creative Visual Concepts.

Disagree ... the light fixture on the front porch also looks Craftsman!

Gotta disagree. LOL. Feels more colonial or coachman.

Thoughts on changing the columns to something else???

What else could be an option with changing the "craftsman" columns to fit the house(keeping in mind possible German schmear)?

What style is this home?

Can I ask what you loved about the floor plan because I'm not feeling much love for it.

Why is it the only room in the whole house with windows on two walls is the master bathroom?

You have the master bath on an outside wall instead of your master bedroom.

Your master bedroom is against the great room which means it will be noisy if one of you keeps different hours.

Your master closet has a window in it which is bad for clothing so will need to be closed most of the time, and supposedly an island but you don't have enough room in there for an island. Clothing hanging takes up 2 feet of space so now you're down to 6'4". You need 32" minimum of space for walking and ideally you need 36". Using the 32", you now have space for a 1' wide island. That's not going to store much.

Why double doors into the master bathroom? Is the master bath that special that it deserves double doors?

You have a freezer in the laundry area, but look at how far a walk it is to the kitchen.

If you're serious about this plan, please do yourself a favor and vet your kitchen in the kitchen forum. It's not bad but it could be a lot better.

One measly small window in bedroom 2?

What style is this home?

A mashup of about 3 or 4 different styles.

I have a feeling you'd be hard to please, cpartist, lol

No ill feelings.

This works for myself and my family and we're excited to begin this project.

Thanks for the thoughts.

God bless

If you want craftsman then build craftsman and those shutters are all wrong.I can see many issues in the interior but if it makes you happy go for it. But if you ask for advice then you get what you asked for.

I don't think Tess necessarily wants Craftsman. It's a very specific style, lovely when done right, but most people don't want it anyway. Which is why we see so many watered down versions.

If I am interpreting correctly, Tess is looking for a way to style the facade on this house that uses the brick, and is willing to alter other elements to make the brick seem a good fit? (Tess, correct me if I have gotten your desire wrong).

I am not going to pretend to be the person of design talent who can rework things for you (or better yet, design something from scratch) but perhaps look at some old world cottage styles?

Her house won't work with old world style either.

As long as she's happy that's what does count. I personally would want more natural light coming into any house of mine.

Honestly I don't see german Shmear on this house. The gables just don't work with the pitch of the rest of the roof. At least make the gable pitch the same as the roof line.

PPF comes through again.

His first version would work with a German shmear