The front looks like a different house than the other three sides. Why isn’t the concept continued all the way around?

I assume your referring to the siding...

Cost savings 🙂

We will get quotes for board and batten all the way around, but I'm under the impression it would be a pretty big price increase.

Treat all sides of the house the same; it is honest that way.

Agree with bpath -- keep it simple and cohesive.

Use lap around the entire first floor. B&B above. Brick as much of the foundation as you can, especially here.

I changed the right side gable (and would do the left too), dropping it down making it a little less 'look at me', and removed the 'pork chops'.

And ask your designer for some 3D color renderings so you can really see the house as it will look.

Make the windows and other features match. A house is seen from all sides, it should be cohesive. I like the front of my 1960 developer-built house, but we spend time in the back yard and while we like the woods, looking back at the house is so plain. Same with driving up the street toward the house where we see the side. It wouldn't take much to make it match.

The house next door, a previous owner really worked to make the sides and back look as nice as the front. We appreciate that every day.

The front of the house is Farmhouse. The back is Contemporary.

Oh boy. bpath, when you say "other features" is there more that you had in mind than windows and siding? Apparently our cost saving siding idea is major design faux pas.

As for the windows, we really wanted a more traditional farmhouse look from the front to fit in with the rural landscape and a few other homes. That said, we wanted a more modern, unobstructed clear view out the back windows. Is there a better way to accomplish that goal, or is that a goal we should abandon?

I have grids on my windows all around the house and I have no problem seeing out the windows.

As others have alluded to, all sides of a house are equally important.

There are porches and gables in the front, while the side and back are flat, straight roof. It's not just the materials, it's the design. They have nothing in common. And they should.

I am not a professional but I'll share a different opinion.  I think it's not worth stressing too much about the elevations matching.  I am totally fine with a house that has nice curb appeal from the front,  but is more plain and functional on the sides and rear.  I think the interior floor plan is more important than the side/rear elevations.  You spend most of your time inside the house.  When I'm outside in the backyard,  I don't find myself admiring the back of the house.  I'm more focused on the landscaping and nature.

I should add that if you do care about all elevations equally,  then the examples Mark posted are good metrics to go by.  If you can't easily tell which side is the front of the house, and they all look equally appealing,  then you've achieved the goal of a house that has consistent curb appeal from all sides.

I can't fault you for not carrying the same detail on all four sides - massing, window style, roof, siding - it's a common compromise made between money, the builder, and site. But while you are getting alternative line item bids, picture standing in the back with 1.67 story tall walls of white siding (assumption), and apparently no opportunity for a deck or anything else to break it up. It would be nice to at minimum carry the brick foundation (water table line) across the back, even if the brick were painted white (another assumption). Removing the brick on the front gable bumpouts might account for about 1/2 the brick needed for an entire perimeter (already on front and garage side) and might help the front elevation too.