I think the roof line has enough going on without the dormers. Agree with downplaying the garage.

I cannot move the gable over the garage, but the picture with the garage in the front will be the same gables I'm working with. The arch is an option, but I don't think it's tall enough and appears to be asymmetric. I want another peak which is why I'm looking at the dormers instead. ..

Since you asked, dormers or not, to me a little portico jammed into the corner looks ridiculous.

The dormers would look better and more real if they were 2 feet farther apart and the entrance porch would look more balanced if the column were centered and not sitting on a brick pier. Or you could delete the column.

I'm not sure what the front garage has to do with these issues; the OP didn't ask us to redesign the house..

Why are you asking? is this for a house you are planning to build?

I appreciate your feedback and I'm not asking you to redesign the house. We're very happy with the floor plan... We hear people prefer to have the garage on the side or rear, but we HAVE to have ours in the front because we're next to a lake. We'd like to go the route that will take the attention away from the garage because we can't find any garages that are attractive. You sound very intelligent with this stuff and I would appreciate further feedback if you can. Thanks!

Mark, yes it's a house were planning to build. We're having a tough time deciding how to move forward with the exterior - money isn't an issue.

Any suggestions I would have would redesign the house, but RES is right.

Start by removing the obviously fake stone on the front facade, and using the same materials on all sides of the building. Then study McMansion Hell...

Wait a second, those dormers aren't real?

They aren't windows into a room?

So why are they there?

And if it isn't really stone and just a veneer or something like that, it is ridiculous to pay for that, unless having it will give you additional weather protection.

Does it?

Is it me, or does something seem off when the sides are bigger than the middle?

Maybe it wouldn't bother me if they were out at a wider angle, and not coming forward at 90 degrees.

Sorry OP, I know that is not what you asked.

Why does the dormer over the garage have to stay? Since there are no windows into the space I'm guessing it's not a room? Bringing that roofline down would do a lot to help deemphasize the garage, which is your goal, right?

"...I’m trying to hide the garage..."

Are you talking about the front facing garage (first photo) or the side facing garage (second and third photos)?

Who did you say was on third?

Seriously though, you said you have to have the garage in the front because of it being a lakeside house.

How can you possibly hide a three car garage that is in the front?

The more flourishes and furbelows you add all around only make the house more well, shall we say, embellished.

They won't hide the garage.

Will a fancier wig with ribbons in it hide what Dolly Parton has up front?

Lessons from the McMansion Hell website:

and

Could you post the plan and actual exterior elevation? I think it would help with the confusion..:/

Why a 3-car garage? Do you have 3 cars? Do they all need to be garaged? If you are only using part of the garage for storage (lawn mower, etc.) consider putting the door for that on the side and having a brick wall facing forward on that part.

#3. All brick with siding under porch. Get rid of faux stone accents on corners at foundation. Do not pay extra for those. They are awful. If you have to have stone, only do it along the base of the foundation.

Paint the garage doors as close to the color of the brick that you select to remove emphasis of huge garage doors. There is no hiding them, but you don't want them to be the focal point.

Why #3? It has the most simple elevation and avoids most of the McMansion from Hell elements. That's why.

If it were me, I'd do all brick. Then, I'd paint the brick and garage door the same color.

I don't think the garage should ever be the focal point of a house. Notice the look of the 3 elevation photos, the second one is much more pleasing and balanced. It added more to the home portion visually...do you see the balance??...and it looks good with a 3 car garage. I have had them and yes you will use all 3 the spaces.

Is this a house from a builder or can you have your own design?

I think the third one is the best, because I don't like the funky gable over the entry of the second one. But I am assuming that the third one has the entry covered. No one wants to stand at the front door in the rain!

I agree the stone really is not an asset. I would not paint the brick, but I would paint the garage a color that blends in with the brick.

If you have to use one of the builder's plans, #3 is the least offensive visually.