lyfia, thanks for your input. In the master bedroom, we plan to put the bed between the two windows on the wall overlooking the backyard (at the top of the plan). It is sized so a king will fit between the windows. dadereni, thanks for pointing out that the master wing being recessed makes the small windows OK. For some reason that hadn't occurred to me, but now that you point it out that makes perfect sense. Regarding the lintels, what material do you think would look best for this house? palimpset, I'm attaching a revised exterior with a small gable return. I've also added a square window above the front door instead of an arched window. Any opinions on the latest front elevation?

I think the source of irriation is that OP is consistantly being misunderstood. I never got from any of his posts that he wants everyone here, plus every builder in his area to give him an exact cost analysis. What he said in the OP is what any of us has looked at who is wanting to build a home - can I afford to do this? Anthem - Ok, so I can't decide whether or not you are a contractor. I can tell from your posts you are, at worst, extremely knowledgeable, and are possibly a builder yourself. I still disagree with you about what you disagree with me :o). I am certainly NOT a professional, however, I have talked to a couple of builders locally and am in the process of GCing my own home. I realize that there are people out there who will try to get you to build them the taj mahal for a doublewide price, but not every homeowner is like that. Again, that is why I used words like rational, careful, thoughtful, etc. I suppose we are beating a dead horse, but Rob's plan is not exuberant, and I would even guess if he took it to a local builder who was worth his mettle, he has probably done something similar enough to get a rough estimate. I do get what you are saying about duplication being cheaper, that isn't rocket science. But also, in this market, at least in MY area, builders would rather work for someone with money in hand than build a spec every single time. I'm not saying it's an exact science, my experience - again, in this area - is that new home price can be a soft estimate for home building. Rob -- it's crazy for anyone to think you shouldn't know how much investment you are looking towards BEFORE you make a commitment. I suggest you take your ideas to a builder or two in your area and see if they have done anything similar. Or, just for starters, ask them what you can look to spend per sqft. That is not hard, there should be an average that they know off the top of their heads from recently finished projects. Now, this too can vary extensively but you get the idea... Sheesh, good luck! :o)

Its interesting that the OP would think half-story-height masonry on only the front of a house would look like a tract house. To me, half-story-height masonry on any side of a house would look like a tract house and full-story-height masonry on only the front is not uncommon on historic colonial era houses where its obvious the masonry is actually supporting the floors of the house. These days, with the growing supremacy of imitation, when little is what it apears to be, it is often impossible to identify a material until you get close enough to see an embossed texture and/or the awkward transitions between dissimilar simulated materials. Perhaps its not obvious to some that a real masonry wall below window sills would not be stable. The most basic fact about a house structure is that exterior walls span vertically from floor to floor and transfer wind & earthquake loads to the horizontal floor plates where they are distributed to the side walls and then to the foundation. Ignoring this most basic building principle tends to rob a house of its integrity, if only at a subconscious level, and creates a vague sense of disrespect for the past and reality in general.

Have you considered extending the forward facing gable above the entry as a part of an actual portico roof with cedar posts. Then there is a porch as a pergola. https://www.trouveshome.com/the-necessity-of-bringing-back-front-porches/ Whatever you add on the ground, you need to take into account that your driveway is literally going to be against it. Instead of trying to keep a dirt/green space between driveway and porch, you could actually be better served, for safety sake, to create a raised concrete floor to create a curb between the driveway and house from that angled left wing all the way to the right wing of the house all the way to the right side of the house ... the beginning of a raised sidewalk that could lead you elsewhere. You could always set lined cedar planter boxes atop that. You could then widen the turn around/parking space to the right of the house either with more paving or use thick concrete on a properly packed base to outline the space with a "sidewalk" ... that could lead to other areas -- a patio and/or play area and/or a flower bed/bird bath, etc. The person that made the decision to put the driveway that close to the house did your family no favors.