Right Adam I am guilty of filling the voids too so now I try not to make them. The couch/love seat because I have had both at times on the one side of the table has worked out really well and it does give a nice sitting area for company while I am cooking and want them out of my way. It is also a nice spot for morning coffee. And always keep your mind open to making changes as your life style changes. When my hubby was sick I moved a table and chair into our bedroom so I could be in there with him but not in bed. I left it in there because I find I use it for morning coffee , my first cup, when I do have company so I do not have to face them before I am ready. LOL I did consider taking it out of there now hubby is gone and putting a nicer chair in there and I might just do that too. I honestly love to change things up. Shop my house to make it look different and new and fresh to me with out spending any money.

Ok. I got 3350 just doing a rough rectangular measurement of interior room dimensions. My guess is this plan might be over 3,500 when accounting for walls. That is a big plan! I'm sure you are trying to get going by spring, so you may feel a little rushed. I'm nearly 2 years in my plan now. I wouldn't recommend taking that long, but do take some time to get it right. This plan looks like something thrown together by a draftsman, rather than an architect. Which is fine if that is the way you choose to go. I would suggest thinking more about how you want your spaces laid out, and the size and location of the spaces. Your inspiration plan had the stairs off the living space. This plan has them tucked off by the bedrooms. Is that how you wanted it, or did it just "fit" there? Is the laundry how you envisioned, or is it just placed awkwardly? Do you like the long hallway to the master bath and office? If these answers are yes, Great! Just tweak the plan. But if they aren't what you want in your dream forever home, then think about starting fresh instead of tweaking this plan. You should have some great spaces to spread out in a nearly 3,500 sq ft home. You should be able to have a nice large pantry and hers closet AND a nice laundry. I know you liked the idea of a 1.5 story. That is mine and DH dream style home. I really wanted my girls' rooms on the 2nd floor with a combined hangout space. Ultimately, I decided that it wasn't worth it as a 1.5 story is the most expensive to build, and I would have the basement and a 2nd floor even after kids are out of the house. I decided that I could give my kids HUGE (think kiddie suite large!) rooms in the walkout basement. Many on this forum don't like it due to sneak away teens. But looking at your plan, your kids could easily go down the stairs from their rooms just as easily. My kids are 8,11,12. The basement will still have a bar, rec room, pool table space, etc. But it will be a family and kiddo hangout space. Doing this has allowed me to get more generous spaces on the main floor. I envy your hearth room...I would have loved to have one. But we have a massive deck planned, so I have 2 extra living spaces there in addition to the basement TV space. I would have loved a formal dining space, but choose to have the only eating area large enough to hold a large table everyday. It is set up similar to your space, except the dining expands the whole width of the kitchen. (this is a much older photo to give you an idea. The dining space will be about 12/13*20. Like you, our favorite view is at the back of the house, so I wanted to be able to have the best view whenever entertaining for dinner also. We will also have a nice eating space on the deck, and an eat-in booth, barstools, and could turn the pool table into a dining table downstairs for extra eating options, so a formal dining room would have just been a pretty but overly redundant space for us. Your dining space is the same length as your other dining space, so you can't really get a larger dining table there? If you expanded your dining room to the length of your kitchen, I think your view would improve. You would also have a nicer larger dining space with room for a buffet on the left. Not saying your plan needs to match mine, but maybe this longwinded ramble will give you some idea of ways to get more/better of what you want .

That example from Jinx is beautiful and would really look lovely on your home. I've always loved sage greens. I remember Houzz had a post on them at one point. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/exterior-color-of-the-week-6-ways-with-sage-green-stsetivw-vs~52673277

It's a great looking house with lovely brick. I want to second @Jilly suggestion that you not ruin the brick. eliminate the awnings at least over the windows (like you already plan) replace the front door if you like consider new railing or painting it black landscape!! I think the absolute biggest improvement you can make to that house is to add landscaping. Right now it is just boring nothingness. Good landscaping brings a house to life. You need beds of plants around the house and some trees if you have the space. Maybe you'll be lucky and someone with design skills can mock something for you. (Sorry I don't have that skillset.)