Dormers are essentially required for attic (in the roof) square footage. I am not a building code expert but I am pretty sure that bedrooms require windows, assuming you want bedrooms on more than either end of the house they require dormers. As to your first drawing, houses similar to that (I forget the style) can be very striking and are very nice. I am not sure that they are cheaper to build than just going straight up, especially in Minnesota wher the snow load on the second roof is going to have to get transfered down to the foundation. If your plan has walls that will carry that load then it might be great, but that would essentially eliminate an open floorplan. I would think that the additional bracing required to have an open floorplan, modifications to the roof (essentially turning one roof into three), and the additional complexity of the plan would significantly eat into the cost savings that were the whole reason for the lesser square footage. Looking at the floorplan, I am assuming Lauren doesn't mean adding square footage over the garage roof, rather, building a second floor on most of the first floor (all that is not covered by the garage roof) and putting some additional one floor only square footage under the roof that also covers the garage. I think that would be fine, especially, if you can get the garage entrance turned sideways.

I agree with Mattypies! I LOVE our 2 story great room, despite having a "small" house (1350 sq. ft.). Ours faces due south with 7' tall (4' wide) windows going up 2 floors and a vaulted ceiling to boot, but with a good supply of mature trees that leaf out beautifully in the early spring, protecting us from the UV and heat. We actually don't even have A/C and even with summer temps in the 104 degree temps in the summer, it's been super cosy. The key for us is that all of our windows open and we have TONS of great cross ventilation. The deciduous trees are leaf-less in the winter, and that means that we don't have to start heating the house until late in the year and get to turn the heat off in the early spring. We of course, went with high efficiency windows that are designed to improve heat penetration during the winter, and reduce it in the summer (sun angles). We don't have children yet, but the noisy even when all the nieces and nephews are over isn't very noticeable. We did Roxul Safe 'n Sound in all of our walls and floors, which I think made a huge difference, along with solid doors with a minimal gap under them. Plus rugs and plush couches. We *love* the way it feels like we're outside even when we're inside. The sun shines in during the winter, the birds sit on our window sills, and the breezes flows through in the summer. It's like being a part of the outdoors, instead of being in this little box of wood and drywall. Ick. Our heating costs have been LESS than our friends who have bungalows of the same size, and I'm certain it is because of the passive solar heating. A big fan in the middle of the vault, and using high quality insulation and proper attic ventilation, we haven't had any issue in the summertime either. We keep the 2nd floor doors closed during the hot days, and that helps keep the heat from entering. Not that it matters because one bedroom is on the north side and is quite cool year round, and the east-side master bedroom has 3 windows and a balcony door, so the evening breezes and a ceiling fan cool it down right quick. I think you REALLY need to think about the placement of all the rooms, and if you can capture the heat/cooling in the house. Go with what you love, not with what "everyone else likes". That's my biggest pet peeve; we build a house for someone else, not us. Why bother?? Just buy a used house and live with what everyone else liked.

@casey I'm not much help with the design of your room, but I'm very interested in hearing more about your Mantel Mount. My TV is too high above my fireplace and I have been researching the Mantel Mount. Are you still glad that you purchased this, does it work as you expected, and is there anything you would recommend when choosing which Mantel Mount model? I really appreciate your input. Thank you.

Every last thing in the room is tan or the color of "dark of night" and you are worrying about lighting a tree? Put some "light" and color on the floor via a generous area rug. . Put something on the windows, which at night are black holes sucking the light from the room and make all look harsh, versus relaxing. A single table lamp may give " all the task light you need" for a bright laptop screen , it does nothing for general ambience in a room. Nor does an uplight near the seating. The bottom line is worry less on faux tree and add more pools of light, lower and near seating. Don't "wash out" all out via the ceiling recessed. You can use as low a watt/lumen bulb as you like in any lamp - standing or table! Add some decor and color. Add some color and texture to pillows to the couch. Take some pictures of the space from other angles at ground level, please? Yes, I realize it isn't what you asked, and I realize as well, the house is new to you , open and there are other challenges like the "Abe" collection. But you won't have a warm and welcoming space minus some contrast between light and dark, hard, soft and some added w.a.r.m.t.h. You're living in the dark, quite literally : )