Are you asking only about height? Height of sill and head height?

In any case, it would be helpful to see your house in elevation and plan.

What trim detail will the windows and door have?

Yes, the height, but also trying to determine the width (to get the desired "golden ratio/section"). I do not have an elevation yet, that is what the designer is currently working on, but I am attaching the sketch of the plan.

(to get the desired "golden ratio/section")

How do you expect that to work? Do you have a formula?

Nothing was attached. it needs to be an image in jpg or png format.

I've tried to attach again. I'm not well versed in this field but I've been reading that the golden ratio/section is used to determine ideal balance for the rectangle of a window opening and laying out lines on a building. It is a 1:1.68 ratio. I was hoping to have some assistance with this.

The ratio is 1:1.618 :)

With 11' ceilings, 8' windows would work.

96/1.618=60

36x1.618=58

48/1.618=30 so maybe a window width of 30" and a double hung window with a 48" upper and lower sash?

Divided into 3 panes across and 3 panes vertically. 10x16. 16/1.1618 = 10

11' wall. 30x96, 33x105 and 36x96

112" head height. 40' wall.

36x96 windows

30x96 windows

The full width.

Thank you so very much. That is very helpful. Do you know if this will work with the interior if the window will have 5-6 inch casement, with an 8 inch baseboard and a 1' 9 and 3/4 " crown on the interior walls? What distance from the crown and baseboard are the windows recommended to be at?

and a 1' 9 and 3/4 " crown

You will have a 21.75" crown?

Before you worry about window proportions you should worry about obtaining a good layout and how it relates to your site.

You will have a 21.75" crown?

Well we were basing it off this chart which included a cornice and frieze for the 11' ceiling. But that does seem like a lot; perhaps we should just do a 9" cornice?

you should worry about obtaining a good layout and how it relates to your site.

Well we have spent a good deal of time on the layout pictured above, which will be on a 150' x 150' half acre. Is there something very off that should be changed?

Sorry where is your architect? This looks like a stock plan from the internet and we need to see the actual floor plan and elevation . Your designer should be doing this work not us.

Your designer should be doing this work not us.

Our designer asked us what size windows and doors we would like, and we wanted to make sure it would all work before requesting a certain random size. We started this process with a house designer several months ago before realizing an architect may be better suited for this project. I am grateful for any assistance but understand if this is not within the scope of this board.

If your designer is asking you for sizes of windows and doors, it's a good sign that it is no designer.

The general rule of proportions is that second floor windows are shorter than first floor windows. Third floor or dormer windows should be shorter than second floor windows.

Given your first floor ceiling height I'd suggest 8' doors and windows with an 8' head At the first floor.

Honestly I'd ditch the designer and go find a talented architect. This designer is basically a CAD draftsman who decided if they added the designer label, they could charge more money.

I'll add my vote for a real designer -- Architect or other. Someone well versed in period architecture who will know proper window and door sizing, trim details etc.

Where are you located?

Thank you all for the insight. When we started planning we felt that our house would have a relatively simple design and layout and would not require the expertise of an architect, as we are not building anything elaborate. As we have progressed we are realizing how difficult it is to make even the smallest decisions! I will discuss with my husband. We are located in Louisiana.

Kw in some ways the more simple the house, the more difficult it is to get it right and the more you need a person of design talent.

This is especially true when you're wanting to emulate a period style house.

I know that because mine is a brand new craftsman style. I must have done something right because a few people thought we had done an excellent "renovation" on our "period" house. LOL. I'm assuming based on what you posted and your questions that you too want to get it right and maybe get complimented too on your excellent "renovation".

Cp artist, this is exactly what we are going for. I would have loved to buy an old home and renovate it, however location prohibits that. Honestly we were under the impression that architects were outrageously expensive and not within our budget, but now we will re-evaluate that.

Thank you all for the input.

Try getting in touch with Architectrunnerguy. He works remotely.

"Is there something very off that should be changed?"

I avoid:

1. Designs that do not relate to the site.

2. Closets where hanging clothes turn corners.

3. Windowless walk-in closets.

4. Kitchens with overly large work triangle.

5. Large expanses of exterior wall without windows.

6. Walk-in closets that will be difficult to walk into.

   

7. Hallways less than four feet wide.

8. Stairs less than 3'-6" wide.

9. Stairs that are curved going up and square going down.

10. Utility spaces that are not laid out efficiently.

11. Bathtub/shower with a window.

12. Exterior doors in living rooms that effect furniture layouts.

13. Bedrooms next to a bathroom without a sound barrier.

14. Clothes closets accessible from a bathroom.

15. Tiny mudrooms.

16. Pocket doors in spaces that need a door that are heavily used.

17. Gas chambers without windows.

18. Gas chambers.

19. Bedrooms where, when entering, one has to walk around the bed to get to either side.

20. Looking through a screened porch from a living room to any view.

21. Corner bedrooms with only one window.

22. No coat closet at exterior entrances.

23. Kitchens with overly large work triangles.

to name a few.

Seriously, a Golden Rectangle?

Would you buy custom sized widows to avoid a 1 to 1.5 ratio?

Many times when applying the Golden Rectangle to windows, the "Rectangle" applies to the shape of the window, the "Golden" applies to the cost of window.

Hi, not sure if reviving an old thread will help get us some advice, but after taking advice from here a year and a half ago about our new build and feeling like we were going about it the “right” way, we are in a regrettable situation. I am open to all ideas on how to proceed.

We found a local architect and spent a while (and 10k) designing custom plans for what we plan to be our “forever home” with him. We told him our budget (~750k for a house just under 3700 sq feet) and he felt we could make that happen with these plans. He estimated it would run around $200 a square foot. We then spent a while selecting a contractor who we like and trust, and who had experience building similar houses, and spent another 10k for a bid. Before the bid he said it would probably come out to ~$230-240/sq foot, and although that was pushing the original budget, it was still doable for us, so we went ahead with the bid process with him. The bid has since returned over $290/sq foot. While this is still technically possible for us, we have decided this is not a financially sound decision for us to go forward with. We have already discussed changes we could make with him but that would only get the overall total down ~60-70K, and he feels that making any other changes would have drastic effects and sacrifice the structure of the house.

I suppose now we need to start completely over. My question is, where did we go wrong, and how can we avoid this issue in the future? Is this the normal process? There aren’t really any architects in our small town (most people seem to use “designers”,) so we chose one from the largest neighboring city, and I guess we just can’t afford to build the type of house he draws. Most of the “nicer” houses in our town seem to be selling for $150-$175/sq foot, so we thought the $200-$240/sq foot would suffice for what we wanted. Is it worth trying to get another bid for these plans? Do most contractors charge for the bidding process?

Thank you for any advice.

Prices have sky rocketed during the pandemic so it is likely why the price is so much higher as a lot of that is in for example lumber which the only changes you can make to save there would mean reducing the house size or complexity.

How long do you plan to be in your house?

I would get bids from a few builders If possible.

i haven’t heard of builders charging to bid out plans

The problem is in the last years because of shortages of supplies, costs have skyrocketed