The roofline in your inspiration photo doesnt have any overhang. Maybe getting rid of or reducing the overhang on your design might give a "taller" appearance?

Also, the scale of the windows is wrong. Skip the grids too.

Two things would help the aesthetics, particularly in the front elevation:

1. 12:12 pitch;

2. Some change in wall plane and roof plane as in the rear elevation.

The photo looks like the plate (wall elevation) may be 9' or 10" which would be a big help. The plate height on your elevations looks very low. Is it even 8'-1"?

Right and left elevations are simply hopeless!

Good luck with your project!

I like your inspiration picture. I think the big windows are what create a lot of its appeal. Also the change in roofline on the left side adds interest. Maybe you could find a way to incorporate bigger windows and something simple to add interest to the roofline?

I like your inspiration photos. IMO what makes them work is that they are relatively small buildings with proportionately large windows. Also the inspiration pictures vertical ratio of wall:roof is greater than one.

You also have high width to depth ratio in the inspiration picture (possibly >2) while your width:depth is ~1.5.

Although I like the no eaves modern look, depending on your climate it might not be the best choice for long term maintenance or for providing shade for your windows.

I appreciate the efficiency of your design so hopefully there are some tricks that could be used to dress it up a little without adding tons of cost.

Maybe a small gable over your entry or a porch? This will help visitors easily identify the front door and also make it so snow (if that is a thing in your climate?) sheds to the left or right of the front door rather than right on the door step or a trellis across part of the front with climbing vines to provide some shade?

This designer focuses on energy efficiency and low cost houses and has many houses with similar efficient footprints. I wouldn't call their houses beautiful but you might get some ideas looking at them.

I think adding more pitch might look better but will give you a lot of bulk up top. I really appreciate the simplistic design, I find it refreshing. Adding something to the front door, a covered gable will help.

Rain chains, if you live in a wet climate, also look great on this style.

I wish I was more computer savvy so I could try some designs for you. I think its so fun to design.

Good Luck!!

Chelwa - Thank you!!! Thank you! Thats awesome! The 8/12 looks much better. The interior ceilings are 9'. I wish I knew how to work these types of programs. So helpful to really start to see what it might look like.

Thanks again!

You are welcome, I feel like elevations can be very misleading. Especially to the inexperienced eye (which is me). Basic shapes like this are pretty easy to do in sketchup but there is some learning curve. I might be able to add the bump ins/outs fairly quickly tomorrow if you share your footprint dimensions. I like the 8:12 also. 12:12 is a little overwhelming. Either way you will have lots of attic space potential.

Here it is with 9' ceilings. 8:12 pitch in the foreground, eye level at about 6'

In my opinion. I think 6/12 or 7/12 might look most aesthetically pleasing and likely most affordable. You can try playing with window sizes, grills, trim and ratios to try and get the look you are after.