The home drawing expresses significant and appropriate thought and care.  On the outside, low-profile [read:  low solar-gain, naturally resonant] and balance [read: conventional, curb-appealing] predominate.  On the inside, there is primarily a familial purpose in room number, designation, size, and arrangement.  The whole is tightly, efficiently drawn.  In other words, the home design properly follows function with form. 

As drawn, home plans suggest several styles including Spanish-inspired, mission, and ranch.  Let’s call this style Central-ranch; a digital picture attached exemplifies such a façade of a very expensive property recently offered by Christie's and within a half-hour's drive of your up-coming home.

Central-ranch home’s apparent home design vernacular follows: rooflines low-pitched, of several faces, permissibly of more than one ridge height; overhang narrow to moderate; clad simply; windows of varying, smaller sizes; front entry recessed, covered, with larger windows; elaborations and adornments modest, artful — even classic, parts somewhat rigorously, symmetrically arranged.

Given local, community board prescribed conformations to both style and materials, limits range narrowly for exterior modification.

No change in roof pitch is suggested at this time. 

We merely suggest extending the soffits to no greater than 18” all around, thereby marginally raising the rooflines vertically; however, we further note that soffit depth and available area to apply the force of wind lift are synonymous.

You could be obliged to bring the stone or rock facing into the recessed front porch; and, if so, then porch-front columns – necessarily rock, too – may be too heavy.  If not so obliged, then otherwise; and thereby set such columns so as not to block a straight-on view of either the front door or the two proximate windows.  Optionally, should a different clad be permitted in the front porch recess, then stone clad at the corners of the front porch bumpouts (for interior closets) may visually accomplish ends similar to standalone columns.

All exterior doors should be a minimum width of 3’-0”.

Windows might reasonably stay the size and configuration as drawn for the front and side faces – the master bathroom’s smallish window size notwithstanding; whereas, larger windows (possibly including palladians, half-rounds, transoms, etc) are suggested for the back, or north, face.  We note herewith that window size increases will be tempered with the added expense of physically larger windows (more material, more labor) and high-impact resistant glazes consistent with high wind resistant home building materials.

You may consider minor, inexpensive variations to exterior clad of some home design in relief, as in eyebrow entablatures (simple, low arch, in relief) over windows, quoins (again, in relief) at outside corners, and the like.

Having previously mentioned possible changes to window size due to fire safety ordinances or just good and common sense, your local authority having jurisdiction – e.g., fire department, building department, et al. – should be consulted on this matter prior to home design drawing.  

Refer to your local building authorities for any requirements regarding fire safety, particularly those which relate to emergency egress.

Refer to your local building authorities for any requirements regarding high wind resistance home building.

Refer to your local building contractors for any high wind resistance home building packages offered.