What direction does the front of the house face and how much headroom and light do you want to add to the attic room?

Would you be able to add a three window dormer directly above the three windows left of the door and then a single dormer over the front entry?

A Gambrel roof with a full width dormer could give you a lot more room upstairs over the garage.

https://www.facebook.com/ThisOldHouse/posts/a-gambrel-roof-with-large-shed-dormers-gives-the-renovated-westerly-house-its-di/10156429448256513/

With a Gambrell roof, on the house left of the garage, too, you could literally build the front exterior wall of the upstairs directly over the downstairs wall with a traditional 4/12 roof over that but then add the steeper slope of the Gambrell roof over only front and back porches.

While the shed dormer looks nice, I would keep the roof simple. You want the attention on the porch and entry not the roof. Also, your drawing doesn't show interesting landscape which will enhance the house.

I like the mix of board and batten and clapboard.

I should clarify, the dormer will purely be for decoration. No functionality. So it doesn't need to bring in any light or anything. There is no attic or second story to access up there.

@houssaon thanks for the kind words! We are torn on whether or not to add one. I just think it looks to simple without something on that part of the roof. But I'm also have terrible design taste so that's why I'm asking everyone here 😅

No to a gable dormer. A shed dormer echoing the one on the side would be better. But it only makes sense if the room underneath, I assume the living room, is vaulted. If it's an attic space it makes no sense.

Not a pro . . . personally, I think it looks better without the dormer. Cute house!

@RappArchitecture thanks for the response! Yes the room underneath is a vaulted great room.

@einportlandor thank you for the kind words!

What does everyone think about the metal accent on the shed dormer?

You could use a wider forward facing gable dormer, preferably extending from left edge of the downstairs 3-window frame to the right edge of the front entry door frame and using both gable and shed roof so you can center ( bay) windows in the dormer without having a serious anti-symmetry vibe and still add windows on the left and right of that larger centered window where needed.

https://www.google.com/search?q=forward+facing+gable+dormers&client=firefox-b-1-d&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=JuD8oMt74ZvxoM%252CoDduDOBm-E7XEM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQ3CDfCqrXONnoTxExgAGYGa_YiKQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwism8OEuITyAhXVG80KHWvpDSwQ9QF6BAgHEAE#imgrc=Ur0_UqJBGy3VgM

Or just a forward facing gable.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/gabled-dormers-put-homes-at-their-peak-stsetivw-vs~2001280

Any added roof feature can add maintenance issues:

https://www.homenish.com/types-of-dormers/

A metal roof on the dormer would be great.

When you mentioned "shed dormer" I envisaged something running the full width of the roof, like this. As a decorative dormer this wide would bring in so much more light than the small one you rendered onto the house.

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I vote no on dormer. A leak waiting to happen. It’s a very nice home without it. Plus with good landscaping plan yard will balance roof line.

That shed dormer you show is not an improvement, IMO. Who's going to make sure the windows in it are clean and any shades or curtains look nice and crisp? If you want a metal detail, do it on the other shed roof and on the short gable over the left side extension. Focus on your entrance; that's where people want to look naturally as they approach your home. Here's a nice mix of metal and shingle roofing. Change your lanterns to a farmhouse style. Yours are too classic colonial or French Creole. Same with the garage door; give it more of a farmhouse presence. I also have a penchant for the X porch railing and square posts shown with the garage doors.

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I like the house without the extra dormer. If Modern Farmhouse is the goal, your initial idea fits the bill. An extra dormer that isn’t part of a room sounds totally unnecessary (plus it adds to the cost of the build). Your simple rendition is sweet. It doesn’t need anything else.

Not a fan of fake anything.

I’m in the minority but I like it!

Pass on the shed dormer. Spend the money on something that will look nice and have a function. It is a cute house without adding frippery.

Would be interested to see what a gable dormer would look like as well. The shed in your rendering looks undersized. One poster suggested a shed running full length across the front. Am not opposed to that at all but, of course, would need to see what that looks like. Can you vault your interior space where the dormer occurs that that it add height to your interior space and brings in more light?

Thank you everyone for the insight and comments! This is my first time posting on this site and everyone has been very helpful and respectful, much appreciated.

Our initial impression was that the roof on the left was very empty and the overall look appeared very "simple." But maybe that's what we should go with? I agree it does look fine without the dormer. However, we live in Myrtle Beach, SC and a lot of houses here seem to have a lot of dormers so figured adding one to the roof on the left would make it not so "simple" looking? The other thing is I really want to add a metal accent somewhere on the roof. Not sure why I'm enamored by it so much but I am. The problem with adding it to the dormer on the right side of the garage is you wouldn't really see it.

@Norwood Architects Yes, the rendering isn't exact. Our idea is to have the shed dormer running most of the way across the roof line like the example below:

https://www.houseplans.com/plan/2889-square-feet-4-bedroom-3-5-bathroom-2-garage-farmhouse-traditional-craftsman-cottage-sp276687

We thought it added some architectural interest and made it look less simple. I will have to talk to my builder and see if we can make it functional in the living space to help bring in more light, didn't even think of that honestly. Thanks for the tip!

The first picture you posted looks tasteful and very nice. I assume that’s the way it was drawn in your original plans.

You’re overthinking this. Don’t add foo-foos for the sake of foo-foos. Especially since you said what you are thinking of adding will be nonfunctioning.

If you are not going to use the upstairs over the house itself for either a bonus room or storage and do not need light or headroom, then would not put any dormer of any kind.

No fake dormers ... use the money for better looking garage doors.

For everyone suggesting that this is a "fake" dormer, it's allowing light into the vaulted living room below. Nothing fake about it. We can argue whether it's worth it or not, but it's not fake, and it would be a good opportunity to provide the metal roof accent that the OP wants..

Thanks so much for the comments everyone! After a long discussion we decided to remove the dormer. We made the house a bit wider and added a double door which I think ties things together. Really appreciate everyone's input.

Good call!