The 2nd floor layout is tricky. You could put a window in the tub

Or place an oval window at the end of the tub on the side wall.

In any case, instead of double hung windows, casements would be more appropriate for the house design.

In addition to what has been said already, I would expect a few arched windows or doors on the façade.

Given the massing of this home, an arched opening could work well, or just confuse things further. Attention to proportion of glazing to wall massing critical.

Chriss,

Thank you for your comments they are very helpful. We are still in the beginning stages of designing the elevation and feel we are a long way away from something we love. All of your suggestions are really great and have really opened our eyes. Is our elevation limited to the floor plan we've made (If that makes sense) because we do like the design and function of the floor plan. The elevation has just been a major roadblock.

Thank you ALL for your feedback.

Two homes with some inspiration windows/ design elements. I'd consider getting a second 'vision' from another architect!

Thanks for including the lower floor plan.

Aesthetics are controlled by many factors in the design process. One of the most powerful, is the floor plan, which greatly affects massing and roof form. It's hard to fight a bad plan. Your starting from scratch, with a clean piece of paper. The plan can be modified, and help the elevations. And on that note, I'm concerned about the left side elevation. The small office, with it's own roof not connected to the body of the home, might look very odd. I also don't like the way the single car garage pushes out, almost as an accent. It's competing with the entry. It's bad enough that 2/3 of the front facade are garages, I get it, I have a 3 car garage and love it. But the garage should be down-played, simplified, to allow the entry to stand as an important element. I would study averaging out the garage depth, look at a 3 single door solution, and cantilever the upper floor out, as earlier described. If that becomes to massive, a break in the facade certainly can be considered, but I'd look at making the entry more important, and provide additional mass to the office.

it's hard to design a home with words. Study sketches, willingness to modify the plan, site information, setbacks, views, mature landscaping all affect the solution. Don't get to attached to your plan, it can be adjusted and improved to help other aspects of the design.

btw, there is something wrong with the roofs at the upper floor. Your elevations show a hip roof over the entry, in front of the mass over the first garage stall. This is inconsistent with the plan. Re-study roof design and adjust elevations.

I would do almost anything design wise to keep from having a garage on the front of a custom home. Until looking at the floor plan, it never occurred that the "large window" by the front door with its own roof line wasn't the living room.

Its unusual to have a tub on the front of the house, and this is why you end up with that small window above it and it sets off the front elevation.

Take the bathroom window out, and make the bedroom window double and center it over the garage. The window will not be centered in the room (which is not a big deal), it will be closer to the closet, which is better, it will give you more of unobstructed wall space in the bedroom, and at the same time it will make the front elevation look much better with that window being centered.

Good luck

Karis, here is something to give you an idea what I was saying before, I just had to run out and didn't have time to make an elevation shot.

Thank you Greg!