I would have to go with your DH on this one. The higher the ceiling the better IMO.

I vote for 8'.

The idea behind compression and release is that the smaller entry compels you forward, first toward that centered window and then to the larger living spaces beyond.

My feeling is that the extra height would be abrogated by the complexity

I think ceiling height at all costs has led to some really odd ceilings and awkwardly proportioned spaces.

I also vote for 8'. And I've seen something similar in person. The foyer has a lower height than the rest of the home and it's nice and cozy and inviting. I'd prefer the simplicity of a lower, flat ceiling than the complexity of a multi-planed higher ceiling; too much going on.

I also vote for 8', for the exact reasons as Pal and ck squared already noted. I love what you are trying to do and I'm afraid you're going to lose something in that trying to get the "height at all costs" approach.

Here's another argument for the 8' ceiling height. After greeting your guests at the door, the lower ceiling will help guide their eyes toward that opposite window which hopefully has a stunning view! With a large, vaulted ceiling, your eyes won't know where to go first and it won't feel as welcoming to your guests.

I vote for 8'. That's the whole point ... the contrast between the foyer and the rest of the space.

Thank you all for your input. You are supporting my intuition, and I'll need backup to convince DH!
One concern our GC expressed is that the cedar on the ceiling would make it feel even lower in there. To me it is just celebrating the coziness of the space and promoting the indoor/outdoor feeling I so want the house to have. What do you think?
I'd be willing to sacrifice the wood ceiling as a compromise to obtain the simple planes.

Since it is a small room, if you have fire sprinkler requirements and want to do a ceiling lighting fixture, check early to make sure everything will work in your space as you have planned.

I think the cedar ceiling treatment sounds great.

You have an architect. Why listen to the aesthetic judgment of someone whose primary skill is hiring plumbers and cement trucks?

The primary reason why so many new interiors are ugly is that ceiling height is pursued above all else, never mind if it's disproportionate to the space or if it intersects the walls at random disturbing angles.

This is the FLW room at the Met in NYC. The entrance to the room is the low opening to the left. The ceiling is low, especially when compared to the rest of the room. That is the point. And having been there, it is extremely effective.

Marcolo?

I vote 8'.

Another 8' vote here. Love the cedar ceilings, no need to sacrifice.

Holy cow, marcolo the great emerges..and for my foyer! :-)
Well, our GC has had a few good ideas in his day (every time he does, he asks me to tell his wife, LOL), though I don't agree with him here. Your second point is spot on, but tricky to convey to some. There are folks, my DH is one (recovering), who believe that the frequency with which they have beheld a design element is directly proportional to the design element's merit. Anecdotal evidence suggests that soaring, weird foyers are high on that list.

Thank you for that image, Annie! It brought DH back from the dark side. 8' it is.. phew.
Thank you all!!!