There is nothing I would change. Looks good to me.

Why are you asking? Do you like it? When you drive up are you happy and proud? If so be content. While your house is not my style I’m sure it is lovely inside, has a great outdoor space and makes your family happy.

I’d be happy to move in tomorrow....

Thanks everyone...Alison I guess I'm asking because I'm getting cold feet...and hanging around mcmansionhell site is making me second guess everything. Ha I always thought I was stronger this. Its a big decision for me and my family and i just want to get this right.

I’m no expert but I think it’s a nice looking home. I read that blog too but go more on how it makes YOU feel.

Bad taste -no, McMansion - probably but so what, remodel- can't tell, it would probably be expensive. Looks nice for its site, large home is a plus in my eyes. Does it work for you and do you like it? If so, I hope you have a long happy life in the home.

It’s lovely (but I would want to clean it. LOL). I always think of McMansions as being a big house in a neighborhood of smaller homes so that it sticks out like a sore thumb and is all house with a tiny yard.

What is the interior like? For me that is far more important than an exterior.

I realize that McMansions are spoofed for architectural heresy but for me I think of McMansions are being large houses that are oversized for their lots and completely out of character with the original houses surrounding it. If I wanted to live in a large house in the suburbs I wouldn't have any snobbish issues about this one - it seems no worse than the ubiquitous tract homes of earlier decades.

If you’ve lived in many houses you probably have a good understanding what you want in a house. I wouldn’t worry about if someone would label this a McMansion.

For me I’d prioritize the floor plan, the kitchen, southern exposure across the living space, bathrooms, neighborhood, etc. The things you can’t change or things that are expensive to change are way more important than a label.

Only thing I don't like is the arched window ..but if you like it ..thats all that matters

My first question is why are you buying the house? You said you are starting to get cold feet. Is this a financial stretch? Cold feet because you are not in love with the style of the house? What are you moving from? Are you moving alone, with a family? Is this move to improve schools for your children, a better place to raise your family, a career change ?

I have a family and every house I have bought was with what was best for my kids. Schools, safe neighborhood, yard, long driveway to ride bikes in, family room, space for trampoline, pool, having their own bathrooms....

Bad taste? This is difficult. Your house is not my style but that doesn't mean you have bad taste. When you flip through magazines or meet with a realtor what is your style? Do you feel pressured by a realtor to buy this house? I would say don't buy it. Unless you feel confident in your decision don't buy a house that you are 2nd guessing. The exterior of your house can be changed but it could be expensive. I am guessing if you are buying this house you can afford to alter the exterior. But this is not what you are asking. You first asked if you have bad taste. Well that is a loaded question. If you are basing your taste on this house only you know if you like it. You said that you are starting to second guess.... When that happens it is best to put the brakes on and figure how why you are worried and figure out what you want. Is this the only house available for you to purchase. Then build one you LOVE.

Get what you love.

Bigger is not always better... just saying.

Yes, if you don’t see the issues with that house, you probably lack discernment. If it doesn’t bother you that you can’t see them, then yes, you probably have less than good taste.

But you arent alone. Most Americans have bad taste. They are brainwashed into newer gaudier and bigger is better, without consideration to scale, repetition and proportion. No one insists on art education and the exposure to these ideas anymore. So no one learns.

By exposing yourself to these concepts, you’re trying to learn. But, it may be too late if you won’t let them influence your decisions.

You'll never makeover that house into something graceful and that doesn’t violate a dozen rules of good design. At that price level, you can do better for a house. But if you can’t in that school district, is it worth private school in another location? That’s the dilemma of those who SEE architectural sins, but have to live in them anyway. The perfect combo of great house in the perfect location is usually accompanied bybthevtruly imperfect cost to purchase it.

For millions of folks, the harder choice isn’t worth it, even it it would be the cheaper choice. They want to live in tract suburbia. Plenty more reject that, and don’t mind being urban pioneers in an older home in a fringe zone. It depends on what you value.

And this is why regular posters are so hard on the dreck mass produced for a new build. That’s your opportunity to not have to compromise. IF people can jettison that everything in the jewelry box must be worn mentality. Simple is skways better, unless you have a zillion dollars. Even then, you’re going to have to make compromises. They just won’t be based on affordability.

Is this home considered a mcmansion and if so can if be remodeled or fixed?

Yep, it's a McMansion, and there's nothing that'll change that. Don't worry about it, though—there's nothing wrong with liking or wanting it. If this house checks all the boxes on the needs list, and has enough bells and whistles to make your family happy, then it's the right house for you.

Only about 1 in 50 houses in the US are architect-designed, so don't sweat it if this one isn't.

I think it has SOME McMansion features, but having spent considerable time on McMansion Hell, I can assure you with some confidence that this would NOT be quite worthy of a McMansion Hell skewering!!!

I do appreciate that the garage doors are not forward-facing.

it's definitely a McMansion. not my style. not my taste. but if you like climbing stairs and multiple levels of flooring styles and risers and platforms inside the structure...have at it. I think as we get older and wiser we find that it doesn't matter much anymore how big the house is. I wished when we bought our first house that we could have slept inside it. lived inside it for a week to see if we liked it. getting a house that doesn't fit your needs is a huge mistake. location is big too. if you think about where you are in proximity to things like power, city water or well, septic systems it sewer, is your house closer to a fire hydrant for insurance purposes.... how often does your house loose power ? does it need a back up generator? ...there are so many more variables to consider...how close is your house to schools??? does the bus come to your driveway? how long is your driveway ? if it snows a considerable amount, do you need a plow truck of someone to do the property maintenance....
there's so many other variables to look into.

I think if you like the house that is all that matters. I do agree thata huge house out of proportion for the lot it sits on is poor taste and a mcmansion. This house even though not my taste at all at least has a nice big lot to sit on. I will say that bigger is certainly not always better. Do you love the interior, does it suit your family those are the questions you need to answer.

I think you might just feel guilty being able to afford this house ....if you like it , if it fills your needs , be happy you can live in a large and rather lovely looking GRAND house ! You could use some landscaping ...trees and beautiful plantings alongside the drive way ...make it even more beautiful and ENJOY your fortune , your good taste and
sometimes ..bigger IS much better ...it all depends on the needs of a person ..and their pocketbook ! Have fun decorating , perhaps you could fit a bowling alley and a screen room and private disco ...and making it even grander than it already is ! Just enjoy !!!!!!!!!!!! Life is too short to be feeling guilty ...or wondering , you will know when you live there ...and you can always move in the future ...
Tastes change during a lifetime ...so will yours ..when your needs change !

if you are up in the air about the exterior, consider the interior instead. 1. do the room numbers and sizes make sense for the rooms that your family needs. 2. which way is west? will the sun beat in the windows and sliders in the back requiring them to be covered at the time of day you want to hang out in the back yard. 3. can you imagine window treatments on the windows or are they oddly sized, oddly placed. 4. does the family room and living room have a layout and fireplace placement that makes for a good furniture layout. 5. are you going to have to redo bathrooms and the kitchen because whats there isnt going to work for you.

the problem i have with "mcmansions" is their large willy-nilly facades often have large willy-nilly interiors as well. there are a lot of dilemmas at houzz posted by people who seem to have been taken in by flash and 'wow factor' but didnt consider they'd actually have to live in the house they bought. don't be that person. if the inside doesnt work, the outside is really beside the point.

for yucks... show us a house at the same price point in your area that is clearly not a mcmansion. i'll tell you which i'd buy given the choice. ; )

Is it a McMansion? Yes.

Is it a paragon of architectural design? No.

But if you're coming down to "should I buy this house?" there are probably other factors to weight more heavily. School district, services available, all the things enumerated above. While, in a perfect world, you'd be able to buy a more tasteful home with similar functionality in the same school district with the same convenient access to things you need... that just doesn't usually exist.

Buying a home like this because it fits your needs and wants isn't really a reflection of "bad taste." It's more a reflection of reality.

NOW - if you look at this house and consider it to be the best-designed residence you've ever seen... you and I need to spend some time discussing everything Sophie was talking about. :-)

Go and have fun with this house !

Think about all of the homeless people or those living paycheck to paycheck. Then remember how fortunate you are to afford such a large home.

Thank you all! This is a lot of good info. I'll try to answer questions as best I can.

Does it work for me and family. I believe so the interior has most everything we have been looking for. I more concerned about function over wow factor and I believe this home is very livable and designed in a way that makes sense.

BeverlyFlaDeziner - Why do you advise against exterior remodeling?

Boxerpal - Cold feet are coming from this simply be a huge financial decision. I'm a big researcher and as I did more research I started thinking I did not have all the knowledge needed to make an informed decision. This home is 100 percent for family and I have a lot of folks. And this area has really good schools which is very important to us. I think the stress comes from our plan of making whatever home we purchase a forever home.

Sophie Wheeler - Yes I do see those issues...now and it bothers me...now. Ignorance is bliss :) But it appears every home in this area has issues. Some worse than others...now that I see them.

Joe T - Just one in 50 houses are built by an architect?! I didn't know that! That does make me feel better.

Speedy Andrew - You're right! we have definitely thought about stairs. This home has a 1st floor master just for that reason. We know as we get older and are no longer raising kids we can just live on the first floor and wait for grandkids to fill the home again :)

Ninigret - Unfortunately this area is pretty much all mcmansions. Some are mass produced like NVHomes and Tollbrothers on 1 acre lots and others are custom built on larger lots. Not much to compare I suppose.

Thank you all! This a lot of good info. I'll try to answer questions as best I can.

I believe the interior does work for me and my family. I most concerned about function over wow factor and I believe the home is very livable and the design is thoughtful and makes sense.

BeverlyFlaDeziner - Why do you advise against exterior remodeling?

Boxerpal - Cold feet are coming from this simply be a huge financial decision. I'm a big researcher and as I did more research I started thinking I did not have all the knowledge needed to make an informed decision. This is home is 100 percent for family and I have a lot of folks. And this area has really good schools which is very important to us. I think the stress comes from our plan of making whatever home we purchase a forever home.

Sophie Wheeler - Yes I do see those issues...now and it bothers me...now. Ignorance is bliss :) But it appears every home in this area has issues. Some worse than others.

Joe T - Just one in 50 houses are built by an architect?! I didn't know that! That does make me feel better.

Speedy Andrew - You're right! we have definitely thought about stairs. This home has a 1st floor master just for that reason. We know as we get older and are no longer raising kids we can just live on the first floor and wait for grandkids to fill the home again :)

Ninigret - Unfortunately all the homes in this area are either a massed produced mcmansion that sits on an acre such as NVHomes or TollBrothers or a custom build that sits on more land. I guess not much to compare to :(

Holly - I'm starting to realize you are right. These "perfect homes" don't exist unless you build from ground up with your own architect.

Changing the exterior with the idea of de-McMansioning the house would be expensive because it would involve changing the roof line, wall structures, and windows. The windows would be changed to reduce the number of different sizes on the front of the house. I would make the building sections to the right and left of the front door symetrical and that would also involve changing the siding. I can't tell from the pictures if they are actually the same width or height.or projection from the main body of the house.

All that said, the landscaping is nice and I would spend my time and money adding more color plants to the front and making the back yand a paradise for my family. No changes to the building, not even paint.

If stairs are already an issue for you when you still have school-age children, have you considered the following option?
Renting something small and simple now in the desired school district and buying land on which to build your custom home, designed by an architect to be all one floor, barrier free with the bells and whistles you consider important.
(Not the useless, tasteless flourishes and furbelows that pass for architectural embellishments.)
An architect working from scratch can do clever things like put the children’s bedroom in the other end of your house and you can have them on a different thermostat (if that’s what you want)
You can add in a room for a nurse in the right place(I hope you don’t need one but just in case), you can make the bedroom large enough to accommodate hospital beds or wheelchairs which take up a lot of space.
Some of these McMansions really have awful kitchens, no thought was put into them about how kitchens are really used on a daily basis.
Their builders did not hire kitchen designers!
Have you ever torn an ACL or blown a meniscus? That’s just temporary, usually.
Old is forever, and nothing beats no stairs!!
There’s a reason you want no stairs and it’s undoubtedly a very sound one.
Go with that!
It trumps taste any day.
Lots of luck in your decision!

Aren’t all homes, track or custom designed by an architect at some point? So then why do track homes always have that “look” of poor design choices no matter the size?

Kate I have that same question!

Most houses are drawn by draftsmen or similar. Here's an article for more info—

http://commonedge.org/architects-design-just-2-of-all-houses-why/

OMG! Ok...I know nothing about this at all, until now I had no idea what McMansion even meant! But I think this house is beautiful and I only wish I could have a house like this! If you like this house and would be proud to call it yours, don't give a hoot what anyone else says!

Really good read Joe T!

This is a beautiful home on a lovely lot. Some people on here have very specific ideas of what is right and wrong and yet we are all different and like different styles. I agree with others that say, if you love it and the home works for your family that is all that matters. Having just built a custom home that I do really like, I don't know that I would ever do it again because of the inability, as much as you try, to control costs.

Agree with Janandrews. Not a Pro and the below is just my opinion.

Most people see a large house and one that has been built in the last 20 years or so as a McMansion. Larger expensive homes built like the previous smaller homes in other words tract homes in a devepment. Many smaller tract homes also built in the last 20 years have all sorts of design problems in and out and people still buy them but nothing said here about them. :/

This happens I imagine all all over the world but maybe more prevalent in a greater number in newer suburban developments or “neighborhoods “ here. Some obviously are better than others. Some are terrible designs but so what if the builder added embellishments to help make them more sellable. Having an Architect design a home for these builds appear to be quite rare.

Again IMO if this lovely large home has the interior space that is livable for you and your family, that is what matters. Most anyone looking at it would think a lovely home on a lovely lot, what a lucky family. I could be wrong but I would think it may be very difficult to find a modern large home meaning between 30 years or so that isnt considered a McMansion from many here on Houzz. Maybe those would prefer as mentioned to buy an older home in an urban environment where many families don’t want to live. Good luck with your decision. Would love to know what you decide in the end with interior photos of course. :)

Thank you wmsimon85, will do!

From Wikipedia on the definition of McMansion

“... McMansions often mix a bewildering variety of architectural styles and elements, combining quoins, steeply sloped roofs, multiple roof lines, complicated massing and pronounced dormers, all producing what some consider an unpleasant jumbled appearance.[9]

The builder may have attempted to achieve expensive effects with cheap materials, skimped on details, or hidden defects with cladding:

Though construction quality may be subpar and materials shoddy (from faux stucco to styrofoam crown molding and travertine compounded from epoxied marble dust), McMansion buyers are eager; the real-estate writer locates them in the generation of my angst-ridden Boston University students: "mostly young, mobile, career-oriented, high-salaried 30- and 40-something individuals" who are too time-squeezed to hire an architect but seek "a luxury home" that they might soon (and easily) sell whenever "it's time to move on."[10]

Another unflattering observation is that some McMansions have been designed from the inside out, rather than from the outside in. Because priority has been given to the interior, a house's exterior appearance suffers, with oddly placed windows and an amorphous or bloated quality.[18]”

Loolab, that is a great description!! I am no expert but the above home Reed Richards posted looks solid to me as well as on a beautitular large lot. There is a subdivision down here that are all McMansions. They are HUGE and imo not pretty just chunky but on tiny lots not much bigger than the house and the houses are right next to each other. It is still a popular area but takes a while to sell a home there. A realtor told me when we were looking for a house that around 2005 they were selling like hot cakes. Most sold before they were built.

There was another thread recently about Mcmoderns!

https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-are-ditching-the-mcmansion-for-the-mcmodern-2017-8

Have you met your neighbors? This will tell you what you need to know about the general mindset in this neighborhood. You won't be an island onto yourself, so get the pulse and you will know quickly if this can be your forever home.

So, I kind of wish I could have liked a Mcmansion-lite (I couldn't live in a 5000 sqft gas guzzler) enough to chew it up and spit it out: live in it while the family needs space, spend as little as possible upgrading anything, then sell the beast to some other sucker and buy a cute little 3 bedroom on a lake or farm or ski mountain, somewhere we could really make home and the grand kids couldnt wait to get back to. I mean, how many sq feet do you want to retire in, waiting for everyone to come back? if you love the house, love it as is and put your dreams in to your final home, not trying to make this one something it's not. It sounds just right for where you are in life. Good luck!!

Gables and hips and arches. Even a shed roof thrown it. About the only thing missing is a gambrel. Looks like someone was trying to recreate a house that has been added onto a half dozen times. I would have nightmares over what it's going to cost when roof replacement time comes.

For those who don't see why/how the house posted is a McMansion, have a look at this article which Sophie Wheeler posted a few weeks ago.

McMansions 101: What Makes a McMansion Bad Architecture?

Sometimes people ask, why is xyz house bad? Asking this question does not imply that the asker has bad taste or no taste whatsoever - it means that they are simply not educated in basic architectural concepts. In this post, I will introduce basic architectural concepts and explain why not all suburban/exurban/residential houses are McMansions, as well as what makes a McMansion especially hideous.

Disclaimer: These same principles do not always apply to Modernist or even canonically Postmodern architecture. These principles are for the classical or traditional architecture most residential homes are modeled after.

Design Principle #1: Masses & Voids

The mass is the largest portion of a building. Individual masses become interesting when they are combined together to form a façade. The arrangement of these shapes to create weight is called massing. As the pieces are combined, they are divided into categories: primary and secondary masses (1).

The primary mass is the largest shape in the building block. The secondary masses are the additional shapes that form the façade of a building.

Windows, doors, or other openings are called voids. Voids allow creation of negative space that allow for breaks within masses. Placing voids that allow for natural breaks in the mass create balance and rhythm across the building’s elevation.

The secondary masses should never compete with the primary mass.
For example: an oversized projected entry or portico (secondary mass) will overwhelm the house (primary mass) behind it.
The McMansion has no concept of mass.
McMansions often have so many secondary masses that the primary mass is reduced to a role of filling in gaps between the secondary masses. An example:

Another issue with McMansions and mass is the use of too many voids. Some McMansions are so guilty of this they resemble swiss cheese in appearance. In the below example, the masses are so pockmarked with voids, they give the façade an overall appearance of emptiness.

Design Principle #2: Balance

Balance is the relationship among the parts of a building on either side of an imaginary centerline through the middle of the house. Houses can be symmetrically or asymmetrically balanced.

In a symmetrically balanced house, the shapes on one side of the centerline match the shapes on the other side. The two halves are visually equal, as seen in the example below.

In an asymmetrically balanced house, the shapes may not match exactly, but instead have equal visual weight they are still visually balanced.

Another example:

McMansions have notoriously poor balance. See the example below:

In this design, one can barely tell where the line of symmetry is to be drawn due to the conflicting rooflines and architectural elements. Another example, where the line of symmetry is difficult to distinguish:

Design Principle #3: Proportion

Proportion refers to the relationships of one part of a façade to the whole. A house that is correctly proportionate establishes a visual relationship between all parts of its exterior. The voids, primary, and secondary masses should all be proportional to one another in order maintain architectural harmony.

This is an example of a properly proportioned house:

Another common feature of proportionate houses is that they abide by the ubiquitous Rule of Thirds. Below is an example of a simple suburban house, whose proportions properly follow this rule:

McMansions are horrible at proportions. Just look at this example, which completely lacks proportional harmony:

Design Principle #4: Rhythm

Rhythm in architecture describes the use of repetitive elements in order to establish architectural harmony. It is based off of three main principles: the principle of Proximity, the principle of Similarity, and the principle of Continuation. These principles are part of a larger set known as Gestalt Principles.

The principle of proximity states that objects that are close together should complement each other. This is the same principle that has us grouping four windows in two groups of two, rather than as four individuals. This colonial revival house properly demonstrates the principle of proximity:

The principle of similarity refers to how our eyes are easily able to group objects together that share common textures, colors, or features. A house demonstrates clutter by having too many shapes, too much variety, or seems generally disorganized. The same image as above also demonstrates the principle of similarity:

The principle of continuation refers to how the eye will move along a path in given direction until it reaches a final point. This is a useful tool in creating movement. In our colonial revival house, continuation is revealed through certain architectural details:

McMansions lack architectural rhythm. This is one of the easiest ways to determine between a McMansion and a, well, mansion. Here is an example of a house with terrible rhythm. On the example below, none of the main windows match any of the other main windows. The contrasting materials distract the eye from an otherwise somewhat asymmetrically balanced (if massive) house. The inconsistency of the window shapes as well as the shutters make this house incredibly tacky.

This rounds up post #1 of McMansions 101 - but don’t worry, there are many more factors that make an otherwise normal suburban house a McMansion, and each will be covered in their own special posts. Sources:
Edelman, Sandra, Judy Gaman, and Robby Reid. What Not to Build: Architectural Options for Homeowners. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Creative Homeowner, 2006.
McAlester, Virginia, A. Lee McAlester, Lauren Jarrett, and Juan Rodriguez-Arnaiz. A Field Guide to American Houses: The Definitive Guide to Identifying and Understanding America’s Domestic Architecture. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Knopf, 2013.
Photos taken from screenshots from Zillow.com. The use of this content is for the purposes of education, satire, and parody, consistent with 17 USC §107.

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http://mcmansionhell.com/post/148605513816/mcmansions-101-what-makes-a-mcmansion-bad#post-notes 

For those who don't understand why the house above is a McMansion, and why it violates basic rules of well, everything, please read this article-

http://mcmansionhell.com/post/148605513816/mcmansions-101-what-makes-a-mcmansion-bad#post-notes

And that is just aesthetics. (although I am curious about all the roof lines to be sure you are not asking for trouble in heavy rain and when the snow builds up.)

Dollars to donuts, if you post the floor plan here, there will be plenty wrong with it on a purely functional basis.

Just look at it, doesn't it remind you of some one wearing too much makeup or too much jewelry?

Contrast it with the tasteful homes in the article just referenced above..

Looking at those houses, you just take an easy relaxed breath.

Complicated doesn't mean sophisticated.

Whoever said that is an idiot, and is still trying to get through life with the high school essay test philosophy of "if you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bull$7!#"

Well, just have a reliable bull$7!# detector, because as PT Barnum said, a sucker is born everyday.

Manse, Mc. Is what it is. One is, one isn't

I think an important distinction has been made which is that OP wants to give this house a family to love it and did not bring it forth in to this world. Thank god because nothing is worse and more wasteful than seeing perfectly habitable buildings torn down because they are out of fashion. Love her then leave her I say...

What I find interesting is there doesn't seem to be a lack of mcmansions. They are everywhere. Homes built by an architect don't seem to exist at least in my area...at all; and I have looked! A person can only buy what is available (unless they are able to buy land and build from scratch). It seems to me home buyers don't have many options so people are just buying homes that are available in towns they want to be in which are also being built by developers. Your options are severely limited when your choice is to pick a plan from a book. My guess is if architects were building homes, most home buyers would gravitate to those these homes but they seem to be no where to be found.

We have many architecturally beautiful homes near us...but very few want to live in them. They are in the dying, heroin infested communities of the rust belt. Most of the homes were built in the 20's and 30's by steel magnates. They have custom wrought iron light fixtures and Italian imported marble but are selling in the $200/300k range. My friends and family that are looking for homes won't even consider investing there due to the sad state of the towns. Hence, the rise of the McMansions. They may not be the perfect architectural homes, but they are safe places to raise your kids.

If this home "pushes your buttons" go for it. Sounds like that you have done your research and everyone says, location, location, location. It looks like a nice home on a nice lot and in a good school district. I find it sad that so many base their decisions on other people's opinions. You and your family will be living there, so you are the ones that need to be happy. Many will find something wrong with any home another desires.

Meh. I happen to like McMansions. I think they look dandy. My only issue with them is, due to their size, the cost of living can be a stretch. Plus, there’s always the issue about green building and resource abuse. But that is a whole other rabbit hole that humans in general suck at i.e sustainability. Visually I find McMansions quite whimsical and charming. But I also bask in my bad taste and feel no shame in it. I like what I like and make no apologies anymore. So you’ve gotta go with what makes YOU happy.