elevation help

[mpc]

Here's the next dilemma in my house building adventure. DH and I are trying to decide what to do about the front elevation. There is only the one standard elevation for the house, but it's a custom builder, so we can basically make any changes we want. 

First, here's the model home and the original plans we received. Let's call this option A.



The front door opens into a 2-story foyer which leads into a 2-story family room. On our lot, the front of the house will be north facing. If you can tell, there is a semi-circle window above the doors and a very large rectangular window hidden behind those 2nd story columns. My DH is very concerned with bringing in as much light as possible through those north facing windows and limiting the sun exposure on the south facing (back) windows. We live in FL so it is pretty hot here most of the year.

So, my DH wants to expose that large window. Below are a couple ideas we drew up. I'm going to send them to the builder today to see how feasible either really is, but I thought I would solicit opinions here too. Tell me, do you think they look ok? weird? I've been staring at this stuff so long I'm afraid I'm losing perspective. This is really important to my DH so I think some sort of change has to be made.

Option B. I've been squaring off all the interior arches in the house, so for this version I squared off these exterior arches as well and removed the small columns.  It makes the window above the door a little bigger and exposes more of the upper window.


Option C. For this option we move the small porch roof down. That porch extends out 10 ft from the front of the house, so that roof was blocking a lot of light. Now the top window is fully exposed. But, this option eliminates the window above the door. We're not exactly sure what would happen to all the rooflines, but I made my best guess. I think we can make a tweak here or there to make it work. FTR, this is my DH's favorite.

[boiler717]

I prefer C but can you do a double mulled window a over the porch?

[Deleted]

I prefer option B. I don't like the original 3 arches above the door, it looked weird to me. I prefer your design with the columns extending up and everything being squared off. For option C, I feel like the front door little roof creates too many rooflines and chops up the front too much. It also leaves that large rectangular window above it feeling out of place since it doesn't match any of the other windows on the front of the house. It feel more integrated in option B when its flanked with the columns.

[FoxInFiji]

I like option C with the window either having a vertical mullion or being two windows side by side to fit better with the rest of the windows on the house.

[bearkatjen]

I like Option B. Option C looks a little empty on top, plus Option B lets in the most light.

[nomad100]

Can you access that covered porch area to use it for seating or anything? If not, C. If you can, B.

ETA:  If you go with C, I would go with double windows, like you have on the main level, vs one large window that doesn't match any of the others on the front of the house.  

[trident0]

With the florida "look" to your house I like option B. If this was a more traditional house I would go with C.