Here's what he's come up with after several drafts. This is after a good round of cutting sq feet. I'm still not 100% convinced that this is the right way to go, but I wanted to get some opinions from everyone here as well.

Here's our stats: We are in our mid thirties, with 3 kids (8,6,4) we're building on 10 acres of pasture in rural Illinois. I love shingle style architecture. We are very casual people and I imagine spending a lot of time on the screen porch. We wanted to have 4 bedrooms plus a den or some other space to go besides the great room. We will also have a basement that may get finished at a later date. We were hoping to keep things around 3000 sq ft. But as this plan sits now, it is 3,286.

oh and the bottom right corner not shown is the garage.

I would love to know your thoughts! Thanks in advance :)

"you can't have too much closet space" though you might be reaching that point. If you are looking to trim, I'd see about reconfiguring some of that... (for example, do you really need 2 linen closets in the upstairs J&J (plus, presumably under vanity storage) and that HUGE walkin linen closet right across the hall? It also appears like you have several built ins--at the top of the stairs, in the breezeway between the garage/mudroom, etc.

What will your 3/4 bath be used for on the main floor? I assume the visitors' bath, but does it need a shower? Also, you already have a 1/2 bath in the "breezeway" (I know it isn't one, but not sure what to call it). Maybe try to reconfigure so you only have one extra bath downstairs.

I also am having trouble with the placement of the front door. On the one hand, it seems a pretty traditional spot, if the house ended at the kitchen, but how it is now, and this is a new build, its placement makes it feel like the entire back half of the living area of the first floor (kitchen, dining, great room, outside spaces) were an addition, and the house feels unbalanced for a new build.

Whatever you end up with, be sure to take your kitchen design to the Kitchen's forum. I am pretty sure they will have lots of suggestions. For example, to get to the refrigerator, everyone has to walk through the kitchen (in one case, the most direct route, in my opinion, right past the stovetop. This is not good). Also, with its current location, you cannot really recess it to get it more in line with the depth of the counters. It will infringe on your walk ways in the kitchen. If it were on the mudroom wall instead, you could recess it into some portion of the mudroom wall/closet space there. In addition, it might be difficult to get in/out of the spot it is now for service... it will for sure be tight as it will have to slide in from right up against the counter run with the cooktop currently. Not an easy task.

Just noticed the stairs going up to over the garage...what goes up there? finished or not?

Also, where is the "backyard"? If it is between the MBR wing and the Family room/dining wing, then you have no visibility from the kitchen to that space. And, actually, it would seem you have very little visibility to that space except from the dining/family rooms.

And, finally, which way is North? Where will the sun be when you want to be spending time on your porch? Will it get too hot when you'd really like to be out there?

Also, where is the "backyard"? If it is between the MBR wing and the Family room/dining wing, then you have no visibility from the kitchen to that space. And, actually, it would seem you have very little visibility to that space except from the dining/family rooms.

And, finally, which way is North? Where will the sun be when you want to be spending time on your porch? Will it get too hot when you'd really like to be out there?

I think it's a nice, unique plan. There are definitely some things I would fix if I were you:
-Change the master WC and half bath doors to pockets
-Change the REF for sure- no way it will work there.
-Do you REALLY want a JnJ bath upstairs? Search the forums for discussions re: them.
-Are the Den and 3/4 bath really meant as a Guest Bedroom/bath?
-I think you'll tire very quickly of walking thru the kitchen and jogging around the dining table to get to the family room area. I'm just imagining a party: half the group is watching the game in the family room and the other half is in the kitchen gathered around snacks. A couple of people want to switch rooms and they accidentally meet in the dining room. They have to side step around each other, or one person has to stop and yield altogether to make the traffic flow. I would rather see a hallway lined with bookcases and window seats going back to the family room.
-I should assume that you are already aware of this, but in case you aren't: the high amount of corners and varying roof lines will add a tremendous amount of $$ to your final bill. If you need to cut down on costs, getting rid of some of the jogs will go a long way.

kirkhall - thanks for taking the time to post all this. I do agree that we have quite a few closets. I still think the master cl might be too large (I am just not used to having a closet that big!). I also agree with the downstairs bathrooms. I think we are actually going to take out the half bath in the breeze way. And yes, the bath by the den was to be used by overnight guests (we'll turn the den into a guest room when needed, but mostly it will be another tv spot so my hubby won't have to watch scooby doo for the hundredth time in the family room)

I definitely agree with you on the kitchen layout. I'm not really loving it and the ref. definitely needs moved. I asked my architect to trim as much sq ft as possible, but I think if I keep this plan I will have to enlarge the kitchen. Right now, the island is only 4 ft and I'd like one at least 6ft (my current island is 8 ft).

The stairs in the breeze way will go up to a space above the garage. I'm hoping to make that space my "mom cave" at a later date :)

We don't have farm animals right now, although I would love to get a horse at some point. I mainly have the laundry in that area as that's where I'm used to it being currently.

The front of the house will face north to northeast slightly, so the back yard will be south & west with the screen porch facing north to northwest. Does that make sense? I envision spending most of the time on the screen porch and the family entry porch there by the garage. We're hoping to put a basketball hoop up somewhere over there too.

jimandanne - yes, we stressed over that too. But since I want the family rm in the back - that doesn't leave a lot of other options for what to put in the middle of the house.

kellhuck - yes, I'm definitely going to use pocket doors as much as I can. I love them and think they definitely help save on space where it's tight. yes, the den is also a guest bedroom when needed. And I'm torn about the j&j bath, but I think it will be ok as long as the 2 girls each have their own sink and space to get ready. The other option is for them to share a traditional bathroom because dh will freak out if we add another bath!

And yes I agree, the number of corners aren't ideal. But I'm not sure how to cut some jogs and square it up and still keep the things that we need/want. I do like your idea of the hall w/bookcases & window seat but where would that be?

thanks again everyone!

Change the jack and Jill to 2 separate baths.
The fridge has to move. take the plans to the kitchen forum
I would move the laundry closer to the mater suite
It would bug me that the stairs are not centered on the foyer.
How many would you like to seat in the dining room? what size able would you like? right now, it's drawn with an 8' table. it's going to pretty hard to open those patio doors when someone is seated at the end.

This is going to be a beautiful home. Can't wait to see the finished home. Do keep posting as your progress.

Show us the elevations and/or perspectives.

I like your house. What does the front elevation look like? Should be fairly easy to get to the kids with the stairway so close to the master. When you finish the basement, you will have a pretty, open staircase going down.

I would consider opening up that closet area/laundry room area and making it a huge family/multipurpose/clutter room. Lots of examples on Houzz. A room with a small table for folding, wrapping gifts, etc. You can still have your pantry there. It could be a fabulous room. Maybe even a desk area for studying/planning.

I hate your entry. Someone coming in the front door is going to see (1) stairs, (2) a hallway to a bedroom, and (3) a hallway which ends at the kitchen range. None of which are very attractive.

If I were going to spend $$$ to build a new house, I'd definitely change the entry. I'm not sure how this can be accomplished since all your public areas are at the back of the house, though.

pps7, we have a family of 5 so we'll only need a larger table during bdays, etc... I'm also not sure what size table I'll have. I'm considering getting a round one, which might work better in that space?

joyce, thanks for your feedback. Yes, we are having a front porch - it just isn't drawn currently. And I am definitely centering the stairs - as it would drive me nuts off center too! :) Great idea about just cutting out the peninsula, I will give that some thought. we have an 8ft island in our house now, and I LOVE it. That's where the kiddos take most of their meals.

gobruno, I will definitely ask about cutting as many corners as possible as that is what dh is worried about as well. I suggested having the screen porch be one large rectangle, but our architect was worried about the ext massing or something. Still not sure - but will find out more info once we get some ext drawings. Thanks too for your input on the 1/2 bath. I agree with you - but still need to convince dh to keep it. And great ideas about the upstairs. We initially had a hang out area right in the middle there, but cut it to try to save space. But the way you've described the baths - maybe we can put it back in?

Renovator - We don't have any ext drawings yet, as we're firming up the floorplan first. But am excited to get them - hoping for a shingle style ext :)

red lover - GREAT idea about the multi-purpose room! I absolutely love those rooms too. Just need to make sure I can conceal my laundry area as I tend to let that pile up.

littlebug - thanks for your opinion. Yes, it has been SO hard trying to figure out the entry of this house since we want our family space in the back. In our current house, our entry opens right into the family room and I really don't like it, as everyone can immediately see into our space. With this layout, I plan to put a nice foyer table directly in front of the stairs so hopefully that will look ok.

which plan do you prefer?

You mention you let Laundry stack up... Do you know why? Is it just because that is your MO (okay), or is it because it has always been out of the way, and not handy to where laundry is produced. So, it is a production to get it put away? Or... I still think, if you earnestly want to trim space, your laundry room can change its location (and size). I'd put it upstairs in some portion of your middle spaces up there, and then, if you want, put a small stackable one in/near your master (closet?) That way, the laundry will be done where it is created. And, your kids, almost all old enough to work on their own laundry (if not finish it, at least get it started), can do so upstairs. No need to haul anything up or down the stairs. And, you can delete some space.

With 10 acres, is there any reason the front door needs to be on the "front" of the house here? Can you reorient your house a little, and or the driveway, and put your foyer on the other side (about where the kitchen is, but up against the obtuse angle)? I am thinking of sliding things around some.

Think about where you will invite your guests that might stop by. Are you going to visit on the porch? Will you visit in the kitchen? Or, will you visit in the family room (which you don't want people to see, but seems like the likely spot for a visit). If perhaps the porch, then having the front door on that side is another plus.

I don't remember if you said if you had a view at all... Any reason to orient the way you have?

I think the other reason this much space feels "small" is because you only have your kitchen/dining/family great room for living spaces. Sure, you have the porch, but it is kind of exterior. And, I am betting it will be hot with its orientation (you said W, right?) There isn't a space for entertaining that isn't family space (which is fine, but realize this is what you have). Your other space is taken with, quite literally, private spaces--bedrooms (large), very long/large bathrooms, closets, laundry and halls. Not bad, but is what you have. If it isn't right, then take these critiques back to your architect and ask him/her to see how to relieve some of the issues pointed out here and above.

In either of it's locations, I can't see that the dining room table would be anything other than a magnet for backpacks, homework and mail. I'd be constantly clearing it off in order to eat! And in the current location, it's too close to your other seating at the island. Not enough separation of function for me.

What would happen if you moved the table from its current location by the island and then pulled the staircase over in that direction creating an opening between the stairs and your closet. Then you could shift the entire living room/sun room over and sort of fill in the hole there in your courtyard area.
this would square the house up a bit more and you don't have any windows on those walls now, so you aren't losing any view or sightlines.
You'd have two ways into the living room: beside the stairs or via the kitchen.

I agree with others that the Jack/Jill bathroom upstairs should go away!

You've got a great start!

If, however, you are wanting to keep the family room in the extreme back of the house, I still think a hallway would look great. I would think of it as another room of the house- lined with books and windows and seats. It could be a great "escape" within the house. See my hasty mockup and vision pics below.

I think you've got a really great house here and the potential for character is HUGE! Don't lose the vision! If you need to take a month or two off to really help clear the mud from your head, do so. Better to have a small delay on the front end of the house build, than live with a layout you regret!

Good luck!

I like that you tried to create a "loft" on the 2d floor, but practically speaking, even though you can dress it up to look like one of the beautiful hallway spaces posted above, your kids aren't going to use it to hang out it. Kids won't just naturally hang out in a hallway lined with shelves bc it's pretty. I think you need to create a space that can at least have a cozy couch or loveseat, if you want the space to actually get used by the kids, and not just feel like a pass through. So, the lay out would have to be less linear and less like a hallway. Of course, you could just opt not to have a hang out area, which is fine as well.

Although people here are down on J&J bathrooms, we have them and think that they are fine. Sure, sometimes it's inconvenient, but overall, they work out fine, and our kids would prefer that to no bathroom access directly from their bedroom.

As for the plans, I prefer the 2d set of plans. What I may consider would be moving the laundry to the left of the foyer and shifting the stairs and foyer to the right. Then, I'd switch the dining room and great room locations. That way, you can get to your great room without walking through the kitchen and dining area. Good luck!

Is there anyway to move the family/living room to the back of the house...where you would see it, when you first walk in? Maybe see the view, too?

Could you rework the stairs, so you have a big entry, into the family/living area? Maybe put the stairs where you have the master closet and put that beween the master bedroom and master bath? The family/living room would hopefully access the kitchen and dining room...which I like in the back, with windows.

Then, have the screened porch, off the kitchen and dining room. Maybe the porch dining off the kitchen and the porch seating, off the dining room? Usually, you don't want to sit at one table and stare at another one...just my opinion :)

Thank you gbsim & kellhuck for drawing that out. Now I'm better able to visualize what you were talking about. When we first started throwing around ideas, my architect had the family room in the middle area right after you walk in the foyer and the stairs were just left of the laundry. However, that was so similar to my current set up that I asked him to mock this layout up.

But now I am having the same reservations as most of you - walking through the dining to get to the family rm. I am going to talk to him and see if he can draw up something like what you were saying. It does vary a little from our other version - but still allows for me to keep most of the windows in the great room which is what I want. The sq. footage might still be an issue though, we'll see...

Still not sure on the J&J but maybe I just won't put any locks on the doors to prevent lock-outs? :) I just think it would be a little extravagant for them each to have their own bath (5 bedroom house with 5.5 baths = MUCHO taxes!)

thanks again - I love hearing all these great ideas!

Also a great place for a hamper area, underneath...maybe a couple of baskets that slide out from under the window seat? And, you'd still have the swinging doors, into the toilet/shower area...maybe with a little round window, in that space? Just an idea.

Oh, and I LOVE the shelves, along the upstairs landing. Perfect for books, toys, movies, etc. Even if you rework the stairs (if you move the family room downstairs) I really like this detail!

Here's an idea for a built in for the window seats in the upstairs bedrooms:

thanks for your help!

I moved the bath to across the hall from the study and changed the master area a little. Of course I don't need the huge master closet & the 2 in the bath, so we can squeeze out some sq footage there too.

I like this kitchen a little better as well - enlarged the island and was thinking maybe a nice spot for my computer would be to the left of the island there on the back of the stairs? I also love the idea of having a built in banqette - I've always liked those :)

Still not sure on the screen porch. The back of the house will face south/ southwest so it will be quite hot. It might be nice to have the screen porch shoot over to the right some to provide some shade on that side. Just not sure what that will do with my elevations/massing, etc...

Please let me know your thoughts - they are so helpful! Thanks again :)

This is not a good bathroom plan, I just did it to show you could get a slightly larger shower in there and how the exterior walls could be.

I LOVE the pic of the pass thru under the stairs. Will your ceiling height be high enough to accomodate it?

My only concern is kind of what @aa62579 hinted at above: Originally, were you hoping to go for the sprawling "winged" look? Because from an exterior perspective, this has become a very different house. I would hate for you to compromise your vision to satisfy those of use who have different tastes. If you want to keep the winged look, make sure you're finding ways to achieve it, while maintaining a good traffic flow. If the original look was just born because of the desire to keep the family at the back of the house, then I believe your latest plan is the best!!

kelhuck - thanks so much! I'm not sure about ceiling heights - but will check with my architect. Dh wants 9' and I want 10' so I don't know. We might have to have taller ceilings in the foyer than other areas, I"m assuming?

And while I do love the sprawling "winged" look, dh and I both agree that squaring up the house will save some $$ and as long as I can still have some nice sunny spots (like the window seat in the fam room,) I'm ok with it :) Plus this layout gives me space for a banquette - which I LOVE!