Ah! I thought there was a way to select more than one choice. For some reason, I’m not able to edit the post. Thank you for your input Sigrid! My original plan was for stone veneer but I’m leaning against it.

I voted no arches, no stone. I don't see any arches on the back windows so no need to echo arches imo

That main window off my kitchen has an arch! I Al leaning against the stone the only reason for considering stone is its low maintenance.

If you add the skylights I would definitely plan on the kind with the built in shades

. They can make the area below very hot. We added a 20 X 30 foot enclosed porch and included 2 ceiling fans. Those do make a huge difference.

I’m not much help since I like both, arches or no arches. If stone affords for more ease of maintenance I would opt for that. BTW, I’ve had many skylights in my homes over the years, some brands, e.g., Velux, have built in UV & heat protection, but there are many other options available if that is a concern. I’s never been an issue for me even though I live in sunny ( not today! ) So Calif. It’s going to rain on the Rose Parade, first time in many years.

Thank you! I need the skylight to bring light to my sunroom and living rooms. This patio faces mostly west with a short window of direct sunlight. Thank you for sharing the skylight brands- will talk to the contractor to make sure we have UV protection.

I want to change my vote to "No arches, no stone on posts". I didn't know there were more choices at the bottom of the list.

Got it!

In the picture at the top, there is stone on the first floor, meaning stone on your porch will echo that. There are shallow arches on the first floor windows and one of the windows in the gable. The shallow arches shown on in the poll will match that. Without those details, I'd have gone no stone, no arches. But, on your house, I think it will look good and help a large additional structure look cohesive with the existing house.

This was an inspiration.

The AI photos are very deceiving. Your structure will not be as dominant or large as they portray. The spans between columns is not as large which affects an arch and how it is perceived.

If you look at the current rear elevation picture of your house, what is dominant is the Sunroom wood cladding, the shake siding, the rectangle-ness of the muntins, and trimwork. The Palladian window is not a unifying shape that carries through, just a choice nested in a gable end. The front of house has some small arches (arches are more subtle than semi-circles) and stone, but the front clearly presents a different overall language than the rear.

Then the proposed pergola's roof is a very shallow slope, so will not be seen much when standing in front of the pergola. The extent of the pergola will be aligned with the wood of the Sunroom. I assume you are retaining the patio stone which is much more dominant in pictures in your other threads.

So based on all of that, I would forego stone bases on the columns and forego arches. It doesn't mean it wouldn't look good with either though. For the ceiling fans, the skylight placement and furniture plays in that, draw a 52" fan on the plan.

Sorry for a long-winded explanation rather than a vote, because aesthetics is so personal, I feel the "why" is more useful.

Also, it may be good to lay out your furniture. You will still have the steps down which eats space. I don't know if the kitchenette being on the open yard side in front of Family Room is better than the other side of pergola. Also, at 20' wide/deep and with the height matching the Sunroom roof, it might be good to see a version without a mid-point column to see proportions.

Very true on all accounts! I appreciate your very thorough input. AI renderings are far from realistic and are deceiving. I have added a more realistic rendering of the kitchen. Its placement takes into account main seating area at the other end of the patio, as it has to face away from neighbors. But also with wind direction and proximity to the crawl space with easy access to gas and plumbing.
A future plan is to extend a small patio down from the covered patio.

This would be the most realistic rendering- have given up on AI and opted to scribble in the last few edits depicting arches with bases versus neither.

So I’ve decided to go with straight lines, no stone! Thank you for all your input. They start next week!!