We’re putting dormers o ok. The front of our cape to add a bedroom and an office upstairs.
Which exterior design do you prefer, number 1 or number 2?
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2 by far
Another vote for #2 - much more visually appealing.
@Kid
2 for sure.
- Design 1 looks too blocky.
2 and it’s not close. Actual dormers would be best of all but I’m sure don’t provide the space you’re looking for. Would you consider giving up a bit of space by having a set back area between the two main windows (and I guess nixing the fifth window)?
We had a couple designs that incorporated that but we really need the floor space otherwise it cuts into the office or bedroom, and both will not very big in sq footage with this design.
It’s funny, my architect friend (not the one we are working with) likes 1 but almost everyone else I’ve asked likes 2. I like 1 because it doesn’t feel as towering because the roofline is lower but we will almost certainly go with 2
Not considering cost, I like #2. Guessing #1 is considerably less expensive.
I like #2 but be very careful to make sure that the valley between the two dormers is wide enough to allow for drainage in the event of a lot of rain at once.
Dead valleys not allowing for proper drainage are a huge cause of interior damage. For about a year I worked “day claims” (versus catastrophe i.e hail/wind) which are claims where the damage was not caused by some major weather event. Quite a few of those were for water damage to the interior. I could almost always look at google streets and guess where the interior damage was before ever stepping foot on the property. It was always caused by dead valleys.
In a nutshell, you have three large slopes that are shedding water to a small valley that isn’t wide enough to drain all of that water when there is a massive rainfall. Since this is the second story, it could cause problems on two floors. Just make sure that the design allows enough valley for drainage and you will be fine.
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There’s always 1.
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Make it 2. For 1 I mean.
I’m saying I like 1.
The shutters and shake/siding/color/materials will ultimately make the difference. But 2 looks like a mass production off-beach house design. Two is by far the blockier of the options.
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I like #1. #2 makes it look like a 2 family building.
My 2 cents of additional unsolicited advice 
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Overall the symmetry on the second floor doesn’t match up with the more interesting asymmetry of the first floor which makes either #1 or #2 a bit off-putting. How about a #3 where the dormer is on one end of the second floor, and counterbalanced with a new porch on the first floor in front of the larger window? I think that would add some visual interest/appeal.
Agree completely. FWIW I’m in the design industry.
Same (visual arts, graphic design etc.).
This thread is a perfect example of why I am no longer in the business. Joe Public always knows better.
nah there’s three
i like 1 better, geometry more assertive and steep eaves in central space vs two per room (if I’m understanding floor plan correctly)
depending on your geography you might catch a fair bit of snow in that gutter
downside is less light with only single windows
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