I'm reposting this from the OP's original thread as another option. The OP sent me the plans and I played around with them a bit more. I understood that she couldn't really change the exterior except for the bump out where her bathroom was. I got rid of that and moved it in so the width is the same but without the bump out in the upper right corner. She has some real concerns about this version and isn't sure she wants to give up some things as she'll comment later. However here are the changes I made: I made the hall a straight run from the foyer. No more maneuvering around a jog. Bedroom 1 is the same size but now the bathroom for bedroom 1 is next to it as opposed to having to walk across the hallway. I didn't put it in, but there could also be a pocket door from bedroom one into the bathroom so the au pair wouldn't even have to go into the hallway. However now at least it's right next to the bedroom. Also now there's a window in the room. I moved the laundry to the other side of the au pair's bedroom. This room now has a window and also now has a much shorter run for the dryer. In the laundry the cabinets opposite the washer/dryer can be used not only for additional storage but also as a broom closet and linen closet. I flipped the master bedroom to be on the living room wall. The master is now a foot shorter (but still deep enough for a king sized bed and a dresser on the opposite wall). My thinking was the living room has cabinets that would help block any noise and now the master bathroom and the master closet will act as noise blockers between the boys bedroom and the master. The master toilet room became a bit narrower but is still about 37-38" wide. If the OP doesn't get a 6' tub they can make the shower a bit longer. The boy's bedroom is the same size as before and while I don't love the idea of a bathroom taking up a corner, I couldn't figure out how to put it between the boy's bedroom and the playroom without losing too much space. The playroom now becomes a separate sanctuary where the boys enter their bedroom from the playroom. The problem lies in that now the playroom is smaller. I'll let the OP add her thoughts. bardzil, had suggested to me concerns about turning the plan into a four bedroom house instead. Here is my suggestion for if she ever wanted to turn it into a 4 bedroom house. However the smaller playroom is still an issue but then again living where she does, I'm guessing the boys will spend lots of time outdoors? (In this version, I didn't add in the window changes.)

We looked at various panel options but as Virgil said, the design limitations were not appealing at all and the ceiling examples we looked at did look cheap. We have 3 porches, 2 with 5" T&G knotty cypress, the other with 5" clear cypress priced at .85 and 1.10 per board foot, not sure how that translates to sq/ft cost. I'd encourage you to check with a smaller local mill shop to see what they offer in wood species and price. If someone else has a large order for an appropriate T&G coming up you might get a better price tagging on to that order - if they don't have to change their machines to accommodate your order it's easier and less expensive for them. We found a local place and they were fantastic to work with.

I know nothing about structural engineering, but I'd say that if you really want a roof over the patio, option B appeals most to me. I think that option A would look really odd. Option C probably would too, with that large a span. Also, from what roofers tell me, every valley you add to your roof bumps up the cost when it's time to re-roof. I'll take a simple, boring straight roof any day. A straight roof also better if you want to add solar panels later (assuming it faces the right way). With all that said, I'm having trouble seeing any of them as very attractive. I'm no decorator, but in my mind, whatever you put there is going to close up the house and make it look less welcoming. That patio is 374 square feet. It'd be a little tight, but a single person good at planning could probably live with reasonable comfort in that much square area. Honestly, I think you may have made the patio too big to have a roof.

What I wrote never said a heat pump won't work in a cold climate like Wisconsin. Houzz actually covered up my first post. Here's what I said...... (truth is stranger than fiction) Here's the rebuttal link to going with Fujitsu mini split option or any mini split for that matter. Don't forget to read the comments at the end of all of it... My opinion is it will be short lived if you go that route. There are furnace manufacturer's that provide life time replacement if the heat exchanger of the furnace ever fails. Typically minimum heat exchanger warranty is 20 years. Do what you want builders provide me with future work so take that for what it's worth. After a year or two... you won't get a builder to come back for servicing or repairs.