The two sites I found most useful were: www.houseplans.com and www.ultimateplans.com

If you use the advanced search, there are tons of options. I totally agree with you with not wanting to walk right into the great room.

The reason you are finding so many front entry garages is that it takes a lot more land to be able to do a side load garage. Lots are shrinking. Especially desirable lots like on the water. How wide is your lot? What room would you want the foyer to open to? Traditionally, the DR and LR were the first two formal rooms that the foyer has passage too, and then the family room to the rear.

We have a large lot, with approximetely 3/4 of an acre of building area. Our home will only be 2,500 to 3,000 sf, so we have many options. We consider the garage to be the least attractive feature of a home, so we would like to place it in the side or back. Ideally, one would not see the garage doors at all from the street or front entrance. We are having trouble finding floor plans like this online. We hope to find some, so that we can show potential architects what we like.

It sounds like you might want a more traditional or historic-styled home?
The garage on our house is rear entry, and the way it is placed....our house could pass for a house with no garage! We wanted it that way to look old, like houses in an old neighborhood that might have had detached garages. Our architect drew it that way, but have you checked out some of the Southern Living house plans? They have some with more traditional layouts, perhaps with a center hall flanked by formal rooms...is that the kind of entry you want? A really grand foyer? Also check out some of William Poole's designs. I might be off base...but these are the impressions I got when reading your post. Good luck!

It would help to know what architectural style you would like as well. Some houseplan sites are more specialized than others. Also, don't discount a plan just because it show the garage as a front load--they are easily modified to become a side load.

Make a list of the features you like and don't like along with some photos of spaces you like and give them to the architect. Incorporating these ideas into a total house design that fits your site and suits your life style and taste is what an architect does for a living and if you chose your architect well, he/she should be very good at it. Giving an internet plan to a skilled architect should be like taking a sandwich to a banquet.

Bejewel - We are checking out these sites - glad to hear that I am not the only one that doesn't want to walk right into a great room (with the clutter that sometimes builds up in them).

Nini - Thank you for the suggestion about traditional style homes. We do lean towards a traditional style - only with a more open floor plan. We are considering a transitional craftsman style. We look forward to pursuing the web sites you recommended.

Mydreamhome - I appreciate the suggestion about side loaded garages - we have seen a number of those. Even when it is side loaded, we prefer to have the garage further back than the front of the house - seems tough to find.

Renovator - We don't really intend to take plans to an architect. Looking at various floor plans, however, helps us define our thoughts.