How tall are you? Why are the ceiling so high?

The design of the doors contradict the design of the beams.

What is the title/credentials of the person that designed the house?

Mark, I’m 6’ and my wife is 5’5”. Can you explain more the doors vs. beams? I designed this, going through concepts before I hire someone. Learning as I go, I’d appreciate any feedback or education.

Don’t know about basis for Mark B’s questions but mine are about orientation of windows & decorating. Windows / French doors - love the doors but what direction will they face & what’s the exterior design plan? I’d consider light & heat & need to cover or not before decide to add the upper windows above. They add a nice design element & liklely nice light especially if doors have blinds, drapes etc. But, is there a patio cover outside or blinding sun & hot climate? The bookshelf & hallway thresholds - is it the best look to have them all at same level across? I don’t think so. How will you use a 10’ bookshelf? If display only, will the average height person even be able to see what’s on top shelves if you don’t make them low shelves with lots of height? As for hallway thresholds, I like them the same height as the french doors - and I think their height should include the windows above the french doors if you have them. So 10’ or 8’ whichever makes a match. I think I’m leaning towards 8’ max bookcases either way.

ETA - I understand too about thresholds being at floor but used same term to be clear in what point being referenced. 😊

I'm curious on best practices and opinions on height of the hallway threasholds vs. the doors vs. the bookshelfs.

A threshold is at the floor. From your images you must be asking about the height of the opening.

I prefer the lowered ones in the 1st and 3rd images.

Are you really building, or still designing, or designing as you build?

As Mark suggested, you might imagine a post supporting each beam and moving your doors in between, or moving the beams so they better align with the doors.

If you are set on having the TV above the fireplace, consider doing away with the raised hearth, and maybe reducing the height of the firebox so the TV may be lowered to a more comfortable viewing height.

KW and PPF, thank you so much for the comments and perspectives! This really helps.

I designed this, going through concepts before I hire someone. Learning as I go, I’d appreciate any feedback or education.

Consider posting the entire plan along with elevations and 3D views in a new thread. Work problems from large to small.

What's your design background?

10' and 10' is my choice from these options. Out of curiosity, why bookshelves on both sides? I feel like sometimes that is the default just to fill space. There will presumably be a beautiful stone fireplace, are the built-ins adding to the room or adding more visual clutter? There's already quite a bit going on with the ceiling treatment and doors. If you have a TV above the fireplace, I think either side where the bookshelves are would make a cool moment to have a set of large scale coordinating art peices or something.

Looking at the plan, when I visualize sitting in the Great Room looking back at the Kitchen, this is what I thought of:

A "window" into the Kitchen. Also, do you expect to ever have the french doors all open at the same time, where they will look exactly like drawn in your plan (though the 2 leafs on the end doors can swing 180d)?

IMO no vaulted ceiling and as for the bookshelves IMO none put the TV above the one cabinet and a piece of art above the other . I think shelving invites clutter with a whole bunch of stuff that rarely should be displayed and then you come back wanting help decorating the shelves You have tons of wall space for the TV pwall mount it on an articulating arm so much better than a bunch of eye clutter . FYI a 6' wide island is a pain to clean and do you plan seating at it ? If so the seating should IMO still be inside the kitchen foot print . BTW the reason I say no vault is what will happen with this is the sound will be distored and your heating and cooling bill will be huge for no real purpose IMO 10' ceilings are tha max i would ever design

Im pretty sure that Mark was getting at the whole you dont need anything higher than an 8 foot ceiling but you could get away with 9 because youre tall. Kidding aside, Ive never seen a successful review of plans thought up by a lay person. While I disagree with some of the people offering advice (frequently) lol, they certainly have a point when they tell you that you need a professional. I feel like you could find non custom plans that are affordable and work for you while their position (almost without exception) is the need for a full custom plan with an architect no matter what your budget. What im saying is, there is more to planning than windows, doors and rooms. There is a ridiculous amount of infrastructure that has to be planned within. With that, ill release the hounds , good luck!