Sure, we could scale it down - but we would rather not take this step and before we even consider it (because of re-planning) we first want to explore what is still feasible in the 34 area.
Without wanting to offend you: our preferences are not up for debate
... mine aren't anyway ...
my parents' generation also lives in houses with lower ceilings, but that's probably not how houses are built today
... however, I wouldn't leave unused the cheap trick of rebooking height from the eaves that is not needed on the ground floor to the knee wall without affecting height or cost.
But the application of knee wall rules, which do have an impact on the ceiling height on the ground floor. But 2.6 m is quite normal. I also have that on the ground floor. Even a bit more.