There appears to be little continuity to the design. Windows and wall materials seem randomly placed. There is little relation between the first and second floor, as if one building was placed upon a different building. Perhaps it is done on purpose, but I personally like a more orderly composition.

It might look better with fewer bump outs and I would leave off the stone.

Window placement is also dictated by the interior floor plan and wall location. Too many siding types, I agree lose the stone.

Simplify. No more than two siding types, flatten the elevations. You don’t need all those bump Outs!

First thing I noticed was the stone. And not in a good way.

No stone for sure and I have to agree a lot of bumpouts but witthout seeing the interior floor plan hard to say which are needed. I do not love the proportion of the top floor to the main, what are those heights? IMO too much wood in the last 2 pictures and both entries need to be wider.

In a general sense, I find the exterior to be a pleasing modern design.

That said, I'd remove all the stone, and rethink all the small exterior steps, replacing them with more generous and appealing (not to mention functional) decks. SF Bay weather is ideal for exterior living.

It’s a corner lot so care for elevation from two sides.

Why don’t you care what it looks like from the back or other side?

Thanks for all your comments folks.

We definitely were/are inclined to make our floorplan more and more functional - which perhaps has added to the bumps in elevation. We also added a few window seats, so those accentuated the elevation in-outs too perhaps.

Here's the floor plan:

Is it too naive to focus on floorplan for a not-so-idle exterior? What is a good rule of favoring elevation-vs-floorplan?

There's a lack of purpose in the elevations. I don't mind stone as a third material, but it isn't there for a reason. If it's protecting the grey stuff from lower damage, it's not everywhere. The two secondary entrances could be dealt with the same. They're both inset, so the little flip roof on one doesn't mean anything. I think all the ins and outs can work if there's a common language to the exterior.

Who is designing this, an architect or you?

Too many bumps. I would definitely change kitchen layout to have kitchen windows arranged in a different manner than now.

@N Dobos Architecture Could you share what you would change?

"Is it too naive to focus on floorplan for a not-so-idle exterior? What is a good rule of favoring elevation-vs-floorplan?"

Perhaps not naive, but its not architectural. Good architecture is harmonious on the interior AND the exterior. To achieve that dual harmony both interior and exterior must be studied and resolved simultaneously, not individually.

A "good rule" is to work to achieve harmony in both interiors and exteriors, not one over the other.

Why is the house raised such that it takes 4 risers to enter and leave the house? That seems to create small and strange stairs at every exterior door. Why not simply lower the house and eliminate all the stairs? Do you have anyone in your family for whom stairs are difficult or impossible?

@Virgil Carter Fine Art - Raised floor and stairs are to meet code requirements; being in flood zone. Can't unfortunately get rid of that.

Thanks for your comment. Any suggestions on possible edits to floorplan/exterior?

Skhanuja, I am sure your architect can work on different options - e.g. sink in the island, double oven on the other side of where it is now and cooktop on the same wall. The goal would be to free up the exterior wall for other window options. Maybe it’s one big window, or a transom or something else. It needs to be drawn up and compared. The floor plan and elevation should work with each other.

Curious that the ADU has the kitchen and entry on the bedroom, and its living room is not connected.