Ahhh...Andrea Palladio and symmetry...Google and learn about a significant element in architectural history.

So refreshing to see someone conceiving the style of a home first, rather than doodling floorplans and then sticking whatever mishmash suits them on the outside. Because, hey, no rules to design as long you like it!

Lots of Italian Villa flooplans on-line that might help.

I don’t want an attached garage.

Thank goodness!

I need to keep it around 3500 sq ft

The inner courtyard enables you to have a generous footprint minus the building cost.

Zoning, or cost?

If it's cost, the incremental footage between 3,500 sf to 4,000 sf comes at a much lower cost than the 3,500 sf. That's because some of the most expensive items--HVAC, number of baths, kitchen don't change.

Are you planning to build the house in a cold climate area?

Central California foothills

Interestingly, the house in the inspiration photo seems to be in California as well.

[https://www.houzz.com/magazine/roots-of-style-your-home-may-have-a-renaissance-classical-past-stsetivw-vs~12761125[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/roots-of-style-your-home-may-have-a-renaissance-classical-past-stsetivw-vs~12761125)

The photo is featured on this plastering company's website as one of their projects,

http://www.naylorandsonsplastering.com

Good find!

As other pics on the site show, there are simpler variations on every feature of a villa that can retain the style and charm but hurt less in the pocketbook

Great info - thanks all. Yes, I have a ‘villa’ appetite but not a Beverly Hills budget ! I can do the Italian plaster finish - on the trim, I’d love to have traditional solid plaster rendering done - but will settle for precast materials. No foam!

https://youtu.be/rVIbHus9oCQ