only add the dormers if they add natural light into the space.

I would be more inclined to add shed style dormers as these seem out of place.

They should also be bigger, if keeping shutters on lower windows make dormers at least large enough to have same size window w/shutter and siding.

I agree on both counts! They seem way too narrow and I thought they should be as wide as the width of the window + shutters. A shed style dormer would maybe look better on a low pitch ranch roof.

I would consider a shed dormer instead and I would consider the details on the house below more appropriate and updated for your home. No tapered columns on your house with stone base because it makes the entrance too squat in appearance.

Clerestory Windows in Shed Dormers

I don't think your roof pitch is steep enough to support the look of a dormer and they will look odd from the side view. Plus, that negative space on each side of the center gable looks appropriate whereas adding dormers might make it look too busy.

No dormers. Instead focus on detailing the porch. No stone column bases -- matching brick would work.

I would beef up your porch columns. Dormers aren’t wide enough and your roof pitch should be at the very least 7/12 for dormers.

I kind of like your traditional ranch home. I wouldn’t turn it into a craftsman. I would change/update the front door. Maybe have the sidelights go all the way down. You could paint the brick.... or add some flower boxes under the windows. I really think updating the door and beefing up the columns would be tremendous.

It is not a craftsman house and it never will be unless you rebuild it . I love the simlicity of ranch houses so IMO if you want a craftsman house go buy one.I actually hate that portico pice it in no way belongs on that house someone already tried to make it something it isn’t This is a much better suited renovation for that house

I really like what was done with this ranch home. I am not able to move, my husband wants to keep the house. The dormers here are right over existing windows and I think it looks very nice even though the pitch may be less than 8:12 on this house. The layout is different from my house though...

There are no dormers on the after -- they added bump outs with gables above the windows. I was going to suggest this for your house, but because of the way the windows on the right side are, and the existing porch roof, I did not think it would work.

To do what you want successfully will take a good bit of work. I'd start by drawing your house without the porch roof and then add back what it needs to look like you want.

I am really appreciating everyone’s honest opinions here!! Really helps me gain some objectivity.

What about tearing off the front porch as rebuilding it as timber frame? Maybe something like these (maybe the Houzz Pros won't skin me for posting some Joanna Gaines' pics):

Do you have an estimate yet? I was flabbergasted to learn the cost of adding dormers to a Cape Cod a few years ago, so it's worth considering other options. Many of the suggestions above look much better suited to your home than the proposal from your designer. Especially the ones that remove the main portico, which seems to throw the whole house out of balance and may be part of why you feel a need to add more fiddly bits to the roof.

Dormers aren’t cheap, I can’t imagine what they would be on an existing home. But on a new build they wanted 2500 per dormer

You have a fairly low pitched roof ranch house. To be perfectly honest, the dormers dont look good there at all. Your house is not designed for dormers. I do like the idea of a lot bigger posts.

What did you end up going with? I have the same stye home.