The inspiration photo (Love the contrast of the dark gray with pretty white), the front porch is larger, which looks lovely, but I don't want to block too many windows...

Here is a link that might be useful: [Four Square Inspiration[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/exterior-classic-american-four-square-traditional-exterior-minneapolis-phvw-vp~382682)

The American Four Square is a classic "massed plan" design, which many historians believe helped the subsequent development of the "Prarie Style", which may be the one true American-style house design.

The Four Square is one of the simplest of plans and elevations, highly efficient and adaptable. The exterior has historically been developed in a wide range of styles and ornament, from simple and unadorned to rather complex additions of porches, carports and the like.

Glad you are considering a Four Square; it deserves more consideration that it gets, given these financially challenging times.

Keep in mind that there is no such thing as the "perfect house", inasmuch as all houses are compromises on many levels. If you do decide to go with a Four Square, do your historical research and stay true to the architectural style--don't let yourself get carried away with all of the trends from the annual builder's conventions. As a legitimate architectural style and a uniquely U.S. style, you will want to respect it.

Good luck on your project.

Love your inspiration photo! I grew up in a small town with tons of foursquares, and it's one of my favorite styles :)

The master bathroom suite is set up very similar to the way ours is, and we really like it.

Here is a plan from eplans, I like the kitchen (minus sink location, don't love the corner, but I do like the windows by it!

Thanks for the feedback!

Here is a link that might be useful: four square another plan

I love four squares! They're very common here. We'd probably be building one if I could figure out how to make it work for our needs/wants (we want 4 bedrooms & 2 full baths up, and it's hard to fit that in a four square).

Having a full front porch on a four square is common. What direction will your house face? Will you have close neighbors? I ask because my mother's childhood home was a four square, and it was fairly dark, but that was because it faced to the East Southeast, and the side of the house that got the most sun had the tiny parlor and the stairs, while the main living spaces were primarily North facing. I don't think the porch had much influence on the amount of light in the house, and it added a lot of character to the house, and was a nice additional living space in pleasant weather.

Also, the house had fewer windows than the plans you're considering because it was built for a winter climate before there was good insulation or double paned glass.

This post was edited by zone4newby on Sat, Feb 23, 13 at 11:45

We are shopping for lots right now, we are looking for South facing lots, we are searching for at least a .5 lot, but prefer an acre. We will be building in a rural area, right now most of the lots we've found are in subdivisions full of ranch style homes, we've been disappointed because they don't fit our aesthetic completely. I convinced myself we'd build a craftsman and maybe we'd fit in a bit better in those neighborhoods. I found one subdivision I love, wooded, views of mountains, you can't see your neighbors from all sides! My husband hasn't fallen in love with it yet...probably because it is more than he wanted to spend.

I much prefer the 2nd plan, and all you'd have to do is put the sink where the DW is.

Anne

I love foursquares too. We need an old-looking new house, and four squares would be a good fit in our neighborhood. I love the second one you linked because it stays closer to an original four square style. I also like several of the foursquares by the company that designed the house in this pic. I don't love all the details, but I like that they (mostly) stick to the classic shape.

Here is a link that might be useful: Muddy River Design

Thanks for the photo, it is lovely!

This house is inspired by four square, what I like about it is the garage placement,--no blocking potential windows and it is tucked away.

Here is a link that might be useful: Daleville center plan

Another plan.

I sat down and sketched a basic plan for a first floor four-square, it is similar to this one, with mine I had the breakfast area a mud room and the powder room was located toward the back (between kitchen/mudrm) instead of between kitchen and dining, I did sketch in a built in cabinet to give some separation between the kitchen/dining room, but still have the feel of a open space. I also added a coat closet near the front door.

Fun to consider options!

Here is a link that might be useful: No garage four square plan

Just bought the muddy river design plan book, thanks for the suggestion supergrrl, I think it will be a fun to flip through.

I like the four square. Very handsome house!