I vote 2, too. The other one looks almost modern on the 2nd floor of the entry. Love the colonnade to the right.

The 2nd gets my vote. Love the arched doorway and it ties in with the other arches, if that's the correct terminology, which breaks up the huge expanse! Looks like you've got room for all of us LOL

My vote is #2, however, the upper balcony would span to the windows on each side and become the porch roof below of the same size. Grandma and grandpa will need porch rocking chairs.

We have a large usable balcony on the back of the house in the guest area for grandma and grandpa. it's under the covered lanai and has a view of the pond. So no one is going out on the balcony on the front :)

Second one. It has a far more welcoming feel to it.

I like option 1 better. I think you have a lot going on there, you don't need a juliet balcony as well. Maybe option 1 with the arched doorway and lose the window just above the doorway.

Ok! I guess I was having a flashback of sorts to my last house with the big front porch. The houses were all spaced out on acreage so being on the front porch was a great way to get to know the neighbors as they walked or biked by. I miss that porch!

I'm giving my reply before I see what others have chosen.

#2 It's just prettier and it will help keep the heat and humidity from getting inside.

#2 (and that was also before I read any other comments). It's not only more welcoming, it's just prettier.

#2

what is the vertical stripe of stone far to the left of the door?

Did I miss it- did you reveal your preference @beaglesdoitbetter?

Definitely #2.

#2.....but think about window treatments for the arched windows before committing to them.

What's the meaning of the squiggles toward the bottom of the windows on the first floor?

#2

If you are feeling really brave, post this on “home building“ I like number 1 the best, the second feels too busy to me.

Number 2 is my preference :) But I normally don't like Juliet balconies so I asked her to give me another option w/o it but I don't particularly like it.

Sammy, neither is "sort of" an option, but not really. We don't want to make huge changes at this time as we really like the floor plan and like most of the exterior elevation. If you have any specific suggestions, let me know :)

The squiggles are an area where she suggested putting bushes.

The stacked stone area is a fireplace. It does not have to be stone if we feel another material would work better but we do need the fireplace there.

We don't really do window treatments. I have not a single one in our PA house. And I took most of the plantation shutters off the windows of my current FL house when we moved in. I just strongly prefer open/unencumbered windows. And this new FL house will be in the middle of the woods on 16 acres so they aren't needed for privacy.

I was going to post on building a home (and was thinking of posting the floor plan too) but decided not to. We really like it and it works for our family and we've made some decisions on the floor plan many probably won't like so we just decided to go with it.

We could do a chimney more like this one and swap out the stacked stone ?

If it were me, I might choose a diff chimney option, esp since it is right there on your front elevation.

The thing about the balcony is, it could really come in handy if you ever decide you'd like to be a tin-horn dictator. So I'd keep it. : )

Honestly tho I think Option 2 is just a more cohesive vibe. It looks like it might already exist somewhere IYKWIM.

I’m sure whatever option you pick will be beautiful.

That’s not really a chimney, is it? Is it a bump out to accommodate a vented fireplace?

LOL, mtn! Tin-horn dictator.

Another vote for two. I don’t care for the large window in the middle of number one.

#2, but I agree the stacked stone monolith needs some revisions. I would do an arched tile wall fountain.

As some one who has a few round top windows in their house, what do you think of replacing all of them with plain windows to match the second floor. Keep the arches on the door and colonnade. I just feel all of them may be overkill.

I do like the Juliet balcony and the second fireplace you posted.

^^

Or maybe do one big one and not two small. Many ways to work that out.

I'm not a fan of Juliet balconies, but I don't care for the elevation of the first one or how the subway pattern gets lost. I much prefer the arched doorway of the second that also allows for the pattern to come through.

The fireplace is something I'd to have see in person... I don't care for the originals, but what you've posted just above as an option seems much more suited to both elevations.

#2.

I lack the design knowledge to back this up, but I think using one window style on one floor and another on a second is a pretty well established approach. I like the arches, it goes with the Spanish feel, but I also like the "relief" from arch overkill on the second floor.

Mtn how did you discover my latent desire to rule over a small country and wave from a grand balcony. LOL.

bpath that is correct, we need a bump out to accommodate a vented fireplace. We are going w/ gas fireplaces here b/c wood-burning is so not practical in FL.

1929 one big what? I like the idea of a fountain there A LOT, but I don't know if that would be doable with the need for a fireplace vent?

RN Mom, I will think about possibly changing those windows and ask my husband what he thinks. We do not have any arches on windows in the back which is where most of the day-to-day living will be taking place, For comparison's sake here is the rear elevation.

I like Juliet balconies. They provide a variation in the facade and give some

separation to the first and second floors. Would however not use stacked stone for the chimney but

wpuld stick with stucco. Agree also

with Rectangular windows on the first

floor on either side of the Front door. The arched windows at the balcony and on the extending first

floor wings are a nice reference to

the door and colonnade.

I definitely like the last exterior fp wall you posted. If you go with your original stacked stone drawing the pragmatist in me says don't do an arched fountain, instead invest in a beautiful detached birdbath instead. In the middle of the woods with most of your activity at the back of the house, it's kind of a waste. Or put one at the back of the house where everybody can enjoy it.

A long time ago I mentioned how I feel about people not using window coverings because they're too far from the road to be seen. Something big happened in my town at a house off the beaten path which made national news. It was close to us, helicopters were flying overhead everywhere, moms came to my house with their babies because all of us lived where no one could ever see us.

We're in the country off the beaten path and there is no way I'd expose myself and family to possible prying eyes.

On the more practical side, wouldn't window coverings help keep the heat out? That's a lot of windows.

Lecture done as my boys would say. :)

What did the event have to do with window treatments, tho? And unless you are suggesting room darkening shades on all elevations, a lil' jabot ain't gonna stop your hypothetical prying eyes perv.

People can now fly drones with really good cameras right up to your 2nd, 3rd, 4th story, etc bedroom widows, so privacy is not 100% guaranteed, unless you build with no windows!

I'm not a fan of the arched windows. They were so overused in the 1990s and mostly done in muddled and overdone styles, that for me, it brings back all those bad macmansion styles and the overwrought Tuscan/Mediterranean versions in Florida.

I think I’ll take my chances with no window treatments. It is a gated community and our woods are wetlands and virtually impossible to navigate through. If someone is so desperate to see my family sitting around being boring, they can have at it

The Juliet balcony, the arches, the arched windows on the first level and straight windows on the second level are pretty much in the style of Addison Mizner homes, which defined South Florida architecture in the 1920's. Mizner

Sorry - I meant one big window instead of two. As for the fountain, you don’t have to build it in. You can install a separate unit as part of your landscaping when the house is finished.

Ahh yes, Addison Mizner. I used to go to an annual conference in Boca and I think we had some dinners at Mizner properties.

Tuscan/Mediterranean was def overdone in Fla. I noticed when we were looking, and the realtor confirmed, that most new homes were not in that style, and that "West Indies" plantation look was more popular. I would be curious to ask an architect where Tuscan "went wrong" and how their approach differs.

Many of the new builds in and around the Disney area where we were looking seem to be very contemporary. I don't like it, it's not for me. I wanted the "classic" Florida home even if it is an overdone style. Where it's located, no one will see it but us :)

It will be a challenge for me to do the inside, I don't want to end up with it being too theme-y but want to be consistent with the exterior. I googled Addison Mizner after your links and found this house which is lovely, but I feel like the kitchen doesn't fit / was transplanted from a different house. https://www.sothebyshomes.com/palmbeach/sales/0076748 

And I normally gravitate towards that white marble/white cabinet look too.

You might want to take A look at pictures of Flagler College in St. Augustine, for more classic “old florida” looks and details. Lovely buildings and they have architectural tours if you’re interested. Before Colonial west Indies, before Tuscan there was Spanish architecture in Florida. IMO it is timeless, suits the climate very well and would be a good inspiration for both exteriors and interiors.

FWIW I happened to come across this house this am going thru my emails. I would call it "Restrained Tuscan," and I think its very nice.

https://www.amlu.com/2020/02/06/michelle-pfeiffer-scoops-up-elegant-pacpal-manse-overlooking-golf-course-for-22-5m/?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=

Mtn that is so pretty! I'm saving it for inspiration for my living room

Just popping in to say I prefer the stucco fireplace to stacked stone :)

I am so interested in your project!! I think you will end up with a unique home that is very YOU and works especially well for the babies and dogs.

This might not be your thing but I had fun playing.

AFTER

Before

Thanks justerrilynn. That confirms for me that I like the simpler chimney better and it was also helpful to see the alternative square windows because it confirmed I like the arches better and also that I like the arched door.

Yes, I think I like arched door better as well. Looks grander. Sorry, not a great door mock-up.

Arched door.

Plus window.

Before

EDITED: Stay in Palm Beach for a few days, you will see all the beautiful examples of Spanish / Mediterranean homes by famous architects . Some have ached doors and some not so it’s all about your preference. PB is only 20 min south of me so let me know if you come this way.

I see I'm late to this discussion, but I think the entrance on #2 is more in keeping with the Mediterranean style of the house.

I also like your second drawing. Don't care for the balcony. I will be a beautiful place!