If you want to be a good architect, start from your own house first ! :-)

In the months of leading up to this project, I have often combed through online and in print house plans, deciding what worked and didn't work for me.  It first solidified around some plans i found online for a modern victorian. 

I've loved the idea of a central rotunda and a main hallway that shot from the front of the house all the way to the greatroom in the back, but I were unsure of the diagonal design. I amalgamated these plans with a few others and tried to eliminate rooms I felt I wouldn't need, like a formal living room. I knew I wanted a master on the second story, but felt that I might want an elevator for when I get older. This shifted the guest bedroom down to the first floor with three bedrooms and laundry on the second.

From these ideas, I created this.

Then I cleaned up the pantry/butlers pantry area and made the mudroom work.  
I introduced to my wife the idea of a two way fireplace to somewhat divide the great room from the sitting area, which should work out nicely.  I'm still thinking of a way to arrange the great room furniture since I would like to have a TV, but are reluctant to put it above the fireplace again. I knew that me and my wife wanted some elements changed,
but didn't know that the final layout would be necessary to best fit our build location.

So over the course of a few months i've gone back and forth with the design of the house, how it flows, what windows go where, how it sits on the land, and general room layout. I've just about done nailing down all the details.

Here's what I hope is the second to last version.