I need to see the space or at least some drawings of both the interior and exterior . I usually like the windows and doors to line up in a space .

You established a budget for a reason.

If this means you will have 28" from the ceiling to the tops of your windows, that will not look good inside. I know, because that is how my house was built in 1995. It's a townhouse, so I can't change the windows. There is a unit with the same floorplan in the community that has transoms, so it must have been an option for people who bought during the build. It's something that bugs me about my house, although there are enough good features obviously it didn't keep me from buying it. Given the choice, I would have transoms. Do you have interior renderings you can look at to get a better feel for how this will look? Transoms aren't something that is easy to change later, so if you decide you really want them, do them now.

Best house designs are a unified whole, considering the house all the way around, not just one elevation. Think of it as a sculpture, not a painting. The design would look better with at least a 24" roof overhang.

Why is long side of the 5/12 triangle not parallel to the roof slope shown?

I would want taller doors and windows, not transoms stuck on top.

I agree with taller windows instead of transoms.  That should cost less than adding transoms.

I would simply go with taller windows/doors. Transoms will make your ceilings appear lower as well as make your windows appear to have less height.

Here’s an example….I took a pic of my kitchen….all the windows have transoms. Now compare it to a photoshopped version with no transoms but with simple windows taking up the same space. To my eye, the windows without transoms look much taller as do the ceilings and the entire space looks more open.

If I could have a do-over, I would omit all my transoms but keep the entire window heights the same. So my advice would be to definitely do taller windows overall, but without the transoms.

If the $2K is a budget buster, but still willing to spend a tiny bit more, IMO spend the extra on a larger (mulled) Living windows. Then, upstairs, align the windows with the lower level instead of just symmetrically placing them inside those respective rooms. If I could swallow the $2K, I would do both - bigger Living, alignment, and transoms.

And, unsolicited but important, if you are in New Jersey and have forced air HVAC, it looks like you will have a couple duct soffits running across your 9' ceiling. And if the beam is flush (not stated), you will have even more ductwork ruining your open ceilings.

Appreciate the input! We do not have forced air hvac so no worries there.

We decided to go with 72” windows, no transom and managed to minimize the increased cost.

Why are the windows so narrow and short? Windows are cheaper per s.f. as they get larger so

instead of three 30" wide windows, consider two 45" wide windows for less money and a better view. Most of the windows in my house are 46" wide. And taller windows allow natural light to reach farther into the house.

If your budget is an issue you might want to reevaluate your budget or draw down your contingency fund; windows are that important.

If I were going to blow the budget on something, it would be windows.

Can you make a cut somewhere else to keep the finances on track? As someone else said, you established that budget for a reason.

Yes we have decided to increase size of windows and spend extra based on feedback here! thanks again

Will 30" x 72" windows meet egress? Most cases I am aware of they will not......................

Yes they will / this is a common style in our area, especially in subdivisions with houses backing on to other houses - helps maintan some privacy while also providing sufficient lighting. It’s often preferred over one massive window in new builds on the back of the house. For me personally I do like the aesthetic of it - we missed out on buying a house with this same set-up and we loved the look/feel of it with the taller ceiling. Wanted to capture a similar look with our new build.