What does the roof and larger plan look like?

Thx's 3onthetree, here is a very similar floor plan and rear elevation pic. The plan calls for a coffered ceiling but that may not look right with the main focal point off centered.

Lay out the furniture in the space to help determine the design of the space.

Hi Mark, I'll have to give the furniture placement some thought. We haven't done that yet.

Hi, 3onthetree. you brought up a good question and I attached the plan ceiling heights.

I like your idea of redefying the room based on the built-ins. If it look ok I think I would opt for a trayed ceiling versus coffered. There's 9ft ceiling everywhere else except foyer and bedroom.

I don't think the person doing the plans is providing me as much input as I'd like.

It is best to have a house designed with ceilings in mind from the start rather trying to retrofit them at a later time. Not only is the volume of space created by the ceiling important, the transition between that ceiling and other ceiling are equally important. Placing different house features together to make a house can result in a 'Mr. Potato Head' house.

Thanks Mark, I'm working with a designer to customize a Donald Gardner plan. I was going to have Donald Garner make the modifications but it was suggested I use a designer who knew the local regulations. I suppose we could eliminate the built-ins and move the fireplace back to the center but was hoping we could keep them.

IMO if you ar eplanning a new build do not plan a TV above a FP worst place possible .IMO this is aperfect example of trying to make something work with a stock plan . Get an architect and design a proper house for you. Wahy ahave you got that honestly needs display IMO most builtins hold a bunch of stuff mostly none of which needs to be displayed so think about how you will live in the space .

Thanks Patricia,

we've given more thought to how rooms connect to the back patio as this house is on a golf course and this plan checks a lot of boxes for what we want.. How we'll use the great room definitely needs more thought..

The view of the outdoors from the living room is constrained by the wall of the bedroom and the wall of the dining room, much like blinders on a horse. I design a lot of lake houses and I make sure my client's views are maximized.

Thanks Mark, we're aware of the wall locations, it was just the great room ceiling that was a concern. I think 3onthetree provided great feedback that I can discuss with the designer.

Looking at the original plan that you posted with the fireplace centered...could you tweak that to move the entrance to the bedrooms? Eliminate the coat closet and slide the door to the bedrooms down? You could retain the foyer wall where it is and have a more private entrance to that wing. It might mean moving the bathroom door (swapping it with the linen closet). But that way, you could retain the ceilings of the original plan AND have a centered fireplace with symmetrical built-ins on either side. Just a thought....

Thanks ptreckel, I'm going to look into that and discuss with the designer.

I'd still want to retain a small coat closet.

Perhaps a coat closet could be borrowed from the space allocated to the “walk in closet” in the bedroom?