Wow it looks beautiful. I can't read the plans on my phone and I'm not a pro anyway, but I just want to say: stick with the stone foundation as correctly drawn by your architect. Don't do it half way up the first floor or on accent walls as incorrectly done EVERYWHERE. If you can't afford high quality "true divided light" windows with exterior muntins, consider building a smaller home or reducing the number of windows so you can have a really beautiful classy result more in line with what is drawn. Good luck!!

To small to see clearly.

Get your architect to spit out PDF's from their CAD program, ideally to the largest allowable size for Houzz, and then upload those. If you search there's a good article somewhere on allowable file sizes/dimensions.

Which direction is north; which direction is west?

Do you think the house is rather large for an empty nester couple?

Is this a recreational (fishing, skiing) lake or mostly just for views?

If recreational then consider an outdoor shower & foot wash as well as an entry from the lake that you don't mind getting wet and that allows wet feet to reach a WC. Storage for lake toys? Can you see kids in the lake from kitchen or other frequented places in the house?

Lots of SW facing windows could be tough, especially in GA. Will the house be open airflow most of the time or closed up tight with HVAC running? Will the porch roof cover the SW facing windows and keep the house from getting overheated? Will you have good airflow when windows & doors are open?

it’s good two of the biggest problems that the Houzz forum usually critcizes. Lots of corners and a big dark center.

It's a little hard to read the plans, but it looks like a lovely house.

Two suggestions:

- Change the double doors to the master closet to a single door. Double doors are a pain and that will give you a little extra wall space in the closet. BTW, you will love having direct access to the laundry from the master closet. One of the best things I did in my new house.

- Move the french doors in the living room up toward the kitchen and in line/opposite with the front door. That way you have a nice designated pathway through the house to the outside and you won't have to walk behind furniture to get to the doors. My last house had a sliding patio door right in the middle of the family room and it was a pain having to walk around the couch to get out.

The back of my house faces directly west and there is a least an hour everyday that I have to pull the blinds because the setting sun blasts into the house. Even with a porch on the back of the house, the sun gets down to a certain height below the porch and shines through. However, for me, it is worth the inconvenience because my view to the west is beautiful.

One last thing: We are empty nesters and our house is 2077 sf on the main floor with the same rooms you have on your main floor plus a formal dining room. The guest bedrooms are in the basement. I've never felt it was too large for us.

@opaone - yes we are truly a recreational lake. We have a stationary boathouse that houses all of our boats & water toy, also nice entry/exit from a small beach area.

3 front doors?

Why the hip roofs -- they seem out of place.

The way the 2 entrance elevation dormers overlap looks odd.

Several windows seem squeezed under the roof.

I'd like to see a bit less uniformity in the exterior finishes and details.

Can the master toilet be moved off the living room wall to the opposite more private wall?

@rockybird - OMG thanks so much....that is a very helpful suggestion!

I can't tell anything from the pics. Folks....is there anyway to enlarge plans like this on here? Beside just clicking on them?

I would do one level (not bar height) island and in my experience while I love my island it is never a place that many people sit down at. It is kind of awkward to sit elbow it elbow so usually it is just a few with others standing or at the table. My table is also next to the island which I love.

Can you provide the other side elevation?

Consider:

Providing an opening between the carport and the Entry Porch and eliminate the door from the carport into the house.

Rethink the kitchen layout to tighten up the work triangle, locate the double ovens just outside the work triangle, and relocating the entry into the pantry.

Accessing the closet directly from the M. Bedroom without having to go through the M. Bath. Same concept with Bedrm #2/Bath.

Eliminating the gas chamber in the M. Bath.

Swinging the M. Bedrm's door in the opposite direction into the room.

Allowing space around the (if that is a) freestanding tub for cleaning.

Aligning the double doors leading to the Screened Porch with the main entry doors.

Having the entry to the pantry only off the Entry.

Eliminating the porch outside the kitchen windows.

Allowing three feet of space for the watercloset in Bedrm #3's Bath.

Making all porch roof slopes the same.

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Your draftsman should be able to understand the comments.

Lake Rabun is beautiful. My brother has a place there, too. I realize there is a serious slope to the land. I wouldn't want those three steps from the carport into the house. You will have to navigate that every time you enter. I can't tell whether there is a door into the pantry from the entry hall. I would want one instead of hauling groceries all the way around the kitchen.

The carport is a security issue. The casual passerby can see whether there is anyone home. I'd think about enclosing the space into a full garage.

The first vanity in the master bath needs to be centered on the wall instead of jammed into the corner. I've got something similar and the door swing of the entry door and water closet is always a problem.

Please keep us updated as the build continues.

A frig can't open enough if it's next to a wall. On that wall the counter will be much more usable if it's 28-30" deep. Consider an induction range like a Bosch Benchmark or 800 as an alternative to propane. For a cooktop look at a 36" Miele or Bosch. Miele has full surface unites without individual circles coming in April announced for Europe so far.

Can you post a larger picture of the kitchen area? I have an idea for a layout.

Also what is the size of that island? It looks way too large to even reach the center.

In the master bath, I would also flip the shower and toilet so the toilet isn't up against your bedroom wall.

Is there a reason the house was designed with the kitchen on the opposite side of the house from the garage?

@ cpartisit - thank you so much for looking at my plans!! I'm posting the kitchen pic. Yes the kitchen is where our current one is - looking out onto the beach area/water/boathouse. The garage had to go on opposite side in order for us to keep our outdoor grilling area and some grass yard and walkway area coming to the house. The island is huge at 5x10 and we do entertain alot.... Flipping the master shower & toilet is perfect. I had wished I didn't have the toilet up against the LR wall. But flipping with the shower will at least keep in towards the corner of the LR wall....

@Mark Bischak - this is the elevation from the beach side showing the existing deck that has to remain.