Almost all of you windows are adjacent. I think it looks nice and it might simplify drapery coverings. Also, you mentioned fire code, maybe they have to be close for the reason. Do they open like a book?

Upstairs windows open like a book, downstairs up and down. thanks

I'd use the same siding everywhere, and work to deemphasize the stair tower.

Use the same roofing material everywhere.

The tower is an eyesore.

In designing/analyzing the exterior of a house it is important to realize an elevation is only a mechanical representation of reality. Also it helps to keep landscaping in mind during the design process. Design to the property lines.

Having the windows closer together would offer nice views from the interior looking at the landscaping maybe?

Explore moving the kitchen's sink wall out two feet, and expanding the shed dormer the full width of the kitchen. This may help balance the verticality of the stair tower.

Your plans and elevations are showing very different things, in terms of the windows. It does seem like a lot of narrow double hungs ganged together. Are those French casements upstairs on the bath side? Be careful about width if so. I love the look of a French casement, but the hardware / operation is often finicky, even with high end windows. Good luck. It’s a nice looking house!

also, for the non-egress casements, you might think long and hard about whether you’ll really open them. Even for the DHs. I’m thinking mostly about screens, which are cumbersome with casements, and kind of unsightly in general. I find that a lot of people really don’t open their windows these days. Depends on where and how you live, but I’d eliminate screens where you won’t need them, at the very least.

Thank you everyone, please keep the ideas coming. I don't think the stairs will get all the way up cut off the top.. fyi the windows are all just 2 ft wide..

I agree in that the tower is not aesthetically pleasing or proportionate. There is also not a lot of visual depth to the front but a huge eyesore in the middle. To me, I'd want that tower wider and moved to the left. The exterior looks like the marriage of several styles/materials/elements gone south.

Who is this plan being designed for (age, demographics, kids, lifestyle, community, property, etc.?) To me, I think a first floor master is better for aging in place and resale value.

Nothing about the windows, but you might consider reversing your powder room toilet and sink and putting them on the opposite wall. That way you won’t have direct sight lines of the toilet from your foyer.

There are some peculiarities to to the plan such as a bedroom with overly large closets and an extravagant bathroom to serve two bedrooms, for starters. There are either special program requirements or something is wrong.

Experiment to see what a different roof might look like.

I think that looks great PPF! Wondering about all the roof lines to the right of the front door. And is the stairway roof high enough to get up the stairs?

2' wide windows will not work in a bedroom for egress unless they are very tall. Even then I do not think you would want to get out of one in a hurry.

We are on a long skinny lot. We are surrounded by woods but the front of the house is on a neighborhood road that heads to the beach (lake Michigan) and gets a lot of foot, bike, golf cart and car traffic in the summer on the way to the beach. The back of the house looks out onto a pretty vacant lot and dunes and woods. We are empty nesters. We have the space for large closets so we have them. Not sure the bathroom is extravagant.

We plan to use the upstairs master until we don't want to climb the stairs. Then we will use the main floor bedroom. As for now, we will use that as a den.

Not concerned about resale.

The neighborhood is a mix of old and new houses, and many small cottages.

Are you anywhere near Onekama, Michigan?

No, southern michigan, but been to onekama many times! My kids worked up at the camp there.

What I see first is the long flat front of the house. Please make a section (room or 2) come out from the front of the house at least 4 feet. Right now it looks like a warehouse. Move the foyer area forward into the yard and highlight it with a separate roof line. Please have different window styles and some larger windows in different areas. A constant row of small windows looks like an office building. This exterior needs a lot of work. The vertical narrow siding is also not appealing.

Much better.

Ok, thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I have attached some penciled changes to the plan. Thanks PPF for your redo. We would really something that feels less modern. @Barbara, I agree with your window info. our designer was very much into balance... to a fault. Trying to make the entry come out a few feet, but need to watch set back requirements.

@millworkman-- good point. @scottie mom....I can see how those french casements can be a problem... we are open window people. So all the windows will be open much of the spring/fall and not steaming hot summer days. We are not sure about what siding to use, and if we will use any stone. I like the vertical siding. We are undecided on roofing too. If we do a shingle siding anywhere it will be straight and not staggered

.

You mentioned moving to the first floor master at some point. At that point you might start using a cane, then a walker, then rollator, then, possibly, wheelchair.

With a walker or rollator, the turn into the master bath will entail a scrape on the corner.

Upstairs, as you go from bedroom to bathroom, will any traffic on the street be able to see via the stair window? I know, there won't be much traffic at nigh, but still...is there someone across the street?

Entering the garage from the middle of the side seems problematic, mainly for the driver. And, is there room to walk around the car, with the trash cans, your bikes, any any other stuff that might be in the garage? You get some pretty good snow there (waving from the western shore!) so you'll have a shovel, roof rake, snowblower, to accommodate. Or do you have a second detached garage/shed?

I like the strong + of the first floor.

Good points bpath. The single garage is mine! My husband has a double garage under the porch area. That is where most of the stuff will be stored. But I get the door thing... I could back in... maybe. There is not a house across the street. I am not sure about the angle if someone were walking on the street that passes in front of the house.. I will check into that.

Maybe moving the garage door and making the bathroom a bit bigger will help with our aging bodies (in 20 years)

thanks!

Beautiful start! Would love to see the finished home when you get there :)