Why not simply make all the ceilings 10' high?

That's definitely an option, too. I guess I am trying to create some interest and define some spaces instead of having everything flat.

”Adding interest” to a home is the sign of architectural failure. A well designed home should be interesting enough on its own merit to not need gaudy and inappropriate details tacked on to fake a thought out good design.

Have you started building yet or is this just in plan form?

How will you change the ceiling height if it's open plan?

And I'm wondering why DE had to attack another poster with his comment about being rude?

Thank you D E! :-) This is our empty-nest home. We know what we like and the spaces we need, so the floorplan is perfect for US. I have no doubt about that. Unfortunately, I've learned to expect comments like GreenDesign's.... there's at least one in each thread. Thank you for the Sarah Susanka reference!

I like the floor plan!. it's a simple efficient shape, you've got good acoustical privacy for the master bedroom, the laundry room is close by for easy access, the kitchen has easy access to both the dining and Living (I like to cook and carry on conversation while cooking) and the master, living and dining both face the same direction (I'm guessing east or south), a generous entry room that doesn't have a view into your master bedroom, not much hallway space, and you don't enter the closet through the bathroom.

I don't know what your exterior looks like, and I know you did not ask, but I noticed something and drew up a quick model to show you.

In the plan you show above, the porch is off center from the door. Just wondering if this was intentional.

I was also curious about the garage roof and how it might be minimized.

I'd second the recommendation to look at Susanka's books, though if memory serves, her concept was more about lowering the ceilings in some areas to create a sense of intimacy, rather than raising them to create interest. If it were me, I'd probably go for the 10 foot ceilings throughout the ground floor - "flat" is a two dimensional concept, and I don't think you need to worry about it in a three dimensional space. Let art and furniture define spaces and provide interest.

This house has a very nice ceiling. You may have to make some adjustments to the plan to carry this off properly.

If interior spatial varuety is the goal it will take more than one ceiling at a different height to achieve the desired design.

You might think about the traffic patterns from the front door and throughout the house as a guide to various ceiling heights.