My plans are PDF, so I tried converting them to JPG.. Is there a better way to post PDFs on a forum (my first post)?

And yes, open to all feedback including exterior!

I snipped the plans only , the PDFs are clear but everything is very detailed and small so it's difficult to get clear captures. Do these look better on your end?

Zoom in on the PDF to focus on particular rooms (kitchen, especially) or quadrants of the house and take screen shots so we can see the detail.

Much better.

I think you are saying that a builder has built this basic house somewhere, and you are using them to build you one the same, albeit with a few personal modifications. In Canada I presume.

Some minor comments:

- Laundry: I don't see why it and the Master Closet can't be rotated so the Laundry has an exterior wall for a window.

- Entry Office/Closet: Not sure what the Walk-in-closet with it's own door to the Foyer does, but it seems the open "office" area can be flipped to the outside wall to get windows.

- Might be nice for some coat closets and linen closet.

- Never seen a double-loaded vanity in a 2nd bath like that. Interesting.

Yes exactly (the builder we are using has built this house twice before) and we are modifying it.

-The main reason why the laundry and closet can't be switched is because we would not want to go through our bedroom to access the laundry...

-Good point on flipping the office/closet space to gain windows! This totally seems doable and I will discuss with our designer.

No, rotate the Laundry and Master closet counter-clockwise. You still enter Laundry from Hallway and Master closet from Master vestibule.

Edit: yes like PPF shows

Unless there is a compelling reason(s) for the angled walls, get rid of them. The slope of the lot does not appear to be compelling.

Layout the exposed beams as if they are structural.

The garage stair looks as if it is in danger of a vehicle hitting it.

Design for resale, I have had two "forever homes" so far; life is unpredictable.

If a room has exterior walls, locate windows in them.

Be sure a free standing tub is easy to clean in and around.

Bedrooms work well when a bathroom is close by.

The stone looks odd.

The shed dormer looks odd.

The kitchen needs work.

I have to get back to work.

Consider a kitchen designer for the kitchen, There are four work areas, two islands, and counter/cabinet in the pantry. I suspect that you will typically come in from the garage and head right through the pantry to the kitchen. That whole area could use some help.

I like the foyer-garage connection! I think it could be reconsidered a bit, perhaps make that walk-through closet two reach-ins, so that guests don’t see the ”messy closet”.

Do you think you’d like a powder room?

The basement bedroom is kind of a walk past open stairs, through a family room, to the bathroom. If it is for guests, I think I’d prefer the bathroom closer.

Anything in bold you should rethink:

The best houses orient the public rooms towards the south for the best passive solar heating and cooling (What direction does your house face?)

The best houses are L, U, T, H, or I shaped.

The best houses are only one to two rooms deep. And covered lanai, porches, garages, etc count as rooms in this case.

The best houses make sure kitchens have natural light, meaning windows so one doesn't have to have lighting 24/7 to use the kitchen. (And no, dining areas with windows 10' or more from the kitchen will not allow for natural light.)

The best houses make sure all public rooms and bedrooms have windows on at least two walls.

The best houses do not if possible put mechanical rooms, pantries or closets on outside walls

The best houses keep public and private spaces separate.

The best houses do not have you walk through the work zone of the kitchen to bring laundry to the laundry room.

The best houses do not have the mudroom go through any of the work zones of the kitchen.

The best houses do not use the kitchen as a hallway to any other rooms.

The best houses do not put toilets or toilet rooms up against bedroom walls, public rooms or dining areas.

The best houses do not have walk in closets too small to stand inside.

The best houses have an organizing “spine” so it’s easy to determine how to get from room to room in the house and what makes sense.

Quick attempt to simplify. Turning the garage so it's square to the rest of the house takes no more room, and will surely save on construction costs.

I came here to say I would hit those stairs in the garage first time pulling in 😂

The amount of 2nd floor spaces could use more bathrooms.

As a start I'd drop down to one island rotated 90*.

1. Kitchen is not laid out well. As it is, the sink island is a barrier to the fridge, so it means you'll be walking all over the kitchen to cook. Fridge is too deep in the kitchen and will have people from the dining room walking through the work zone to get to it. The fridge should be moved to range wall, range should be moved to fridge wall, and sink should be put on the other side of the island. Or make the island sink a prep sink and put another cleanup sink on the wall next the the range-cum-fridge. You would need to reconfigure the mud room/pantry so the pantry entrance is on the other side (again, so grazers can get to the pantry without going INTO the kitchen work zone). The second island is kind of useless as you could just as easily have people sit on the first one. It's just a really expensive table.

2. I would reconfigure the garage and stairs and get some windows in the kitchen.

3. I would want a powder room. Current design sends guests into the private areas of the home (past laundry) into the kids' bathroom. You might be super clean but I'd never want my guests to have to use my kid's bathroom.

4. Master bedroom toilet up against living room would be a no-go for me. Put the shower in that corner and put the toilet where the shower is. Maybe get rid of those angles.

5. Consider a pocket door in your laundry room if you keep it as shown.

"we feel like the counter space will definitely be use more."

Unless you have some unusual cooking habits, I feel like the counter space will definitely make you work more when you cook.