Sounds like he did a "bait and switch"! Building a house can be stressful, contentious, and exhausting! My husband and I have built two custom homes and fortunately were on the same page most of the time. A neighboring house sat at a construction standstill for three months until, as we later found out, the divorce was finalized. Hopefully you both can reach a compromise that won't make you feel like one is giving up more than the other. Make as many decisions as possible, big and small, in advance and write everything down that you decide to help minimize later problems, and name calling. That said, how about a modern farmhouse style...

I suggest you tour some "open houses" with an open floor plan to see how they can look, up close and personal. Maybe you'll like them. If you tour 5 different ones, you'll no doubt find things you like and don't like. That could help you resolve just how open you're willing to go. But be aware that houses and furnishings have become less traditional in the last 5 years. Take a look at "Traditional Home" magazine for some ideas you might like and show them to your husband. I've been a subscriber to Trad Home and several other interior design magazines for many years, and have definitely seen things changing rapidly lately.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

agreed with a comprise mix in between.

look at some Mid-Century Modern images, they are "modern" yet use lots of wood and color, so the feel is warm and cozy and often it's quite fun. It might be a way of compromising. Look at some of the Danish Modern furniture for example from that period.

Hi Muller, many nice suggestions given. You can have a modern or contemporary look and at the same time create a very "warm" space. Does not have to be cold at all. Please browse through Houzz and post some of the photos you like, here, and let's see how you and you hubby can meet halfway. :)

I don't know where you are in your "life stage", ie: do you have kids? Will people be watching TV in a room adjacent to the kitchen? That is a consideration. The house we lived in while our kids were growing up, (not babies, but school aged) was a fairly open floor plan, with a family room with a cathedral ceiling right off the kitchen and dining area. I thought it would be a perfect plan but it ended up being being so loud I couldn't stand it! If I was doing anything in the kitchen, (running water, garbage disposal, dishwasher, etc), the sound bounced around the whole area, which prompted a boost of the TV volume in the family room. Eventually it was overwhelming. I love a big kitchen where everyone can gather, but if the whole house is too open it can get really noisy.

Thanks so much for all your suggestions! We have two girls, ages 7 and 9, so they aren't usually too wild running around the house, so an open floor plan may still be ok for noise, but then again I always hear it from them when I'm running the vacuum in the other room that they can't hear the tv. Ed, I'll take a look around the website and find photos. Thanks!