Foundation lattice will be nice. Most houses seem more gracious inside & outside with a front door & steps leading up to front door from a path. U might not want the path and steps now, but I would not remove the front door. U might need steps 4 saftey.

I'd buy a wood bench, paint same as your trim and place under garage window in the flower bed. Nice house.

I assume that as visitors come up the driveway they have a good view of the front of the house. If so, I think removing the front door would be a huge mistake, and I'd actually recommend steps at the opening terminating on the grass. You have a very traditional style of home. The front door is where we expect it, and that's reinforced by the gable with the window above it. So we subconsciously expect to see steps there as well.

I understand your argument that the front door is never used, but I think that if your walk connects the driveway to the steps and the front door steps go to the lawn, no one will mistakenly go to the wrong door. With attractive, flowing plantings across the front of the porch, the steps flowing out to the lawn will become a charming feature.

Plus, when it comes to resale, if you close in the porch and remove the front door, every potential buyer will refer to your home as "the one with the missing front door" to his or her spouse.

Revolutionary Gardens advice is excellent. Your porch "plain as it is" is simple and elegant. Olidj22's recommendation of a bench under the garage door would be inviting and I would add taller plantings on each side. Shutters might work on some of the windows if they are authentically sized to the windows. Make the path to the front door wide and inviting with handsome plantings.

The front of our home.

There are several things that will improve your home, but removing the front door is not one of them. First I would replace the "pencil" posts with substantial square columns and below them add square brick foundation supports with the lattice between. Paint the lattice white, the door green. Matching steps to the front door and the side entry would also add much. If you don't have one out back I'd install a patio in the area by the garage to serve as a landing and entertaining spot for the home.
https://www.houzz.com/photos/2007-showcase-traditional-new-york-phvw-vp~70299

View from the road.

There is a home near me that has a front porch and no steps leading up to front door, it has always looked wrong and uninviting to me. Just because you don't use it, it is there to balance the house.
I would listen to the good advice the professionals have given you.

I really appreciate all the comments. Keep them coming! Just as background, we live in a very rural area, on a working grain farm.

To define the side area as the main entrance, have front porch go all across without a gap. Add lattice (white) below and add railing to steps you use for entry. I'd prefer hanging baskets on porch.