To me the style is Neo-colonial. I don't think your choice of doors work with the house design you have so far. MCM doors do not belong on this style house.

Every home being built/renovated in our neighborhood is white with dark windows. As noted, it's a classic look, so don't avoid it because your neighbors have chosen the same thing.

Color is not the only element of a house's exterior, however. There are many different types of siding, for example. Ask your architect or builder what your options are, and what goes with your style house. Your architect should also be able to suggest garage door styles that match the house. Not every element you like is the right choice for your home, and mistakes can be very expensive to fix!

As to the barn, red is the classic color, but it could also be blue-green, yellow or some other color. Black will be hot, if that matters.

I certainly don't want a classic colonial look with shutters 😏. I'm not sure why a very simple modern farmhouse won't work here.

Was aiming more for this:

Not this look. It may be hard to tell on the drawing but both the chimney side and the garage side sit about 7 feet in front of the main part of the house. they are not flush.

Love the black barn, but I’ve heard that black exterior paint tends to fade in the sun. I’d recommend that you check that out before you paint.

Are you planning or under construction? If under construction, how far along?

I can see a bit of the plan above, but seeing the entire plan would help us understand the shape of the house.

Ask your designer for a series of color 3D renderings showing various options for colors and materials.

As others have suggested, the details matter, and your current design seems to lack what is needed to reinforce your chosen style.

Your elevations are too small to see, but it's clear the person who drew them did little to capture your ideas.

Breaking ground this week. Y'all are freaking me out 😬

Your first set of inspiration images look rather different than your "Was aiming more for this" picture.

Do you see the differences?

I just noticed your chosen garage and entry doors -- that do not work with your last picture. Both have more of a mid century modern look, not a modern farmhouse.

This was in progress but shows the dimensions better. None of the finishes were decided on at drawing. So he just added colors and materials.

Is it not possible to mix farmhouse and mid-century? I love both!

I’m not a pro (strongly suggest you listen to PPF) but two different house styles may not be impossible (I don't know, maybe it is?) but I’m pretty damn sure it would require an architect with great skill and vision.

Just because I love two different anythings doesn’t mean they should or do go together. To try to do so would only lead to visual confusion and this lingering sense that something is just not right and you can’t put your finger on it...and it will be too late to fix.

And based on your comment about Mark’s architect suggestions, I’m going to assume you’ve been reading these forums for a while so you knew this was coming. :)

Good luck.

I see it...mcm + farmhouse (not a pro)

love the black idea...or gray

Just noting that the front elevation shows five different types of windows. Five. I think that some degree of uniformity in window size and composition might help in unifying the facade.

That's a great point. They will actually all be casement style windows expect for the basement. And no transoms anywhere.

Lisa, maybe you love egg rolls and lasagna - doesn't mean they should be on the same menu. Or two favorite pieces of clothing you would never wear together.

A bad decision on your house can cost $$$$ to fix. Please find an architect or designer to help you.

How about a dark color? I think Pacific Sea Teal would look stunning with your stone.

"Would still love exterior ideas on this."

That is what the architect is for. When I see poor design, I recommend engaging an architect. You may not want to hear it, but it is the best advice you have received so far, and I am not the only one that knows it. You have good reason to be freaked out. I do not say this to be hurtful, I say it because I want you to truly love your house and when you go to sell it I do not want you to have a forever house because you can't sell it. A local architect will be able to determine your needs and wants, analyze where you are in the process, and spend the time to fix what you have; hopefully in a timely manner. Nobody here has what it take to properly come up with a solution for you, they will just throw out random ideas to see if you bite.

That's fair Mark, and if it's not too late in the process I will try to do that. But it always feels arbitrary. So I guess I am wondering what is very wrong with the current drawing?

If you have a barn, I'm guessing you are on a larger lot.

Why is the garage such a prominent feature? The house looks more like one designed to fit on a small city lot.

Look at the windows on your inspiration houses. Most are oversized.

Look at the pitch of the roof on your inspiration houses. All are steeper than yours.

Look at the shape of your inspiration houses, all have more texture, more variety than yours.

And then you have the "Was aiming more for this" house which does not look like your other inspirations, nor does it look "modern Danish/Scandinavian farmhouse" (whatever that looks like ...)

You mentioned going black would "increase the cost a lot". Why is that?

Okay, good points. The lot is deep but very narrow. Especially with the existing barn. Just spoke with an architect this morning. Hopefully he can help.

Curious, for my own edification: who put this design together for you?

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I hope the architect you spoke with is perfect. Good luck, I think you will be happy you contacted them.

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Wanted to post these suggested modifications here if anyone cares 😄. Hopefully you can read them. Some of them if not most are excellent. I am not sure about the lone standing closet in the foyer. I understand that it needs to be weight bearing and I do not want a pillar. any suggestions for that spot? I don't need a foyer closet, just hooks. Guests have never hung their coats in my current foyer closet.

I love simple. Like 100 year old farmhouse simple - no ornate details. But modern elements like I posted above in the doors. I am going to ask about that next.

Is exterior window trim proposed...is that what I’m seeing? That’s a deviation from simple.

The drawings are not easy to read, but from what I can tell it looks like a big improvement; although I never liked hanging clothes that turn a corner or angled walls. Make sure there is enough space around the free standing tub to clean or retrieve anything that falls there.

Katie B I think just plain trim, same color as exterior.

Plain is good. I didn’t see much issue with your original renderings, to be honest. But I trust the pros here. The only thing I‘d say is that, for the very modern doors to work, it will need to be zero frills. I’d consider no window grilles either. This is the best photo I could find for what I imagine as a Modern Scandinavian Farmhouse. Might help for selecting your details. I’m a big fan of both MCM and farmhouse, so I get you.

Katie B, yes! It's hard to describe. I think you are right about no grills. I've seen them very thin, minimal grills, but maybe should just do without.

Look at Joanna Gaines house - I mean she is the one who has this whole modern farmhouse thing going (although she does live on a farm) - Her windows have grills in them. You can't make MCM and farmhouse - It just doesn't work.

I’ve seen some that come close...they’re a mishmash that somehow works

Some look more farmhouse, some more modern, but definitely a blend of those styles

Yup - Mishmash

I believe . . . Mid Century Modern style and Farmhouse can be combined, but I have yet to see evidence that it can. And, if I were a betting man, I would bet on a train wreck.

I didn’t miss the slight hint at optimism there Mark.

So happy the revisions are working for you. Even if no coat ever hangs in your foyer closet, you will find the space useful. Vacuum, broom, umbrellas, boots, tablecloths - you will find something.

Or something will find it.

I'm sure I'll find it useful I'm mostly concerned about it aesthetically. I can't picture a random closet stuck there in the middle 🤔

You can find an example of anything on the Internet and those examples are not visually pleasing.

😂😂 I like them or I wouldn’t have posted them. Visual appeal is subjective.

Is anybody still here? Sharing a progress shot and also looking for color opinions! Help! Lol. So far I've successfully avoided creating an eyesore and I hope to keep that up, haha. Everything needs to be painted. Soffits, trim, siding, front door and I need to pick a garage door. If anyone is bored I'd love fresh ideas 🙂

This is a better view of the stone.

Love the stone.

I would paint the siding and trim a color that matches the grout.

No suggestions (I’m definitely not a designer!), but I just read this entire thread and I wanted to share that I love the way it turned out!!

Janelle would love to see how the house turned out. Share an update?