Add glass shelves across it, put in glass bottles and vases.

Does the opening get light all day from the door Windows? If so, add real plants.

My first impression: the entry space is hard to decorate because it's too open. Currently, the only surfaces are the floor and the doors.

It shouldn't be expensive, so if it's in the budget, would you consider filling the gap in the wall? If the intention is to see the Dining Rm upon entry, you already have that ability. I feel like a full wall to provide a smudge more privacy would actually be a plus for both the entry and the DR.

With a full wall, you'll have something to decorate! You could hang a mirror above your bench below or use a console table instead.

I think you want the focal decoration to be on the wall the door doesn't swing into, so that means drywalling the dining room "peek-a-boo" opening and using some of Beverly's ideas.

I'd add drywall and close it up, as the shelf is not wide enough to do much with. Once this is drywalled, you can add beautiful artwork to the dining room side, and the foyer side, if this is your desire.

When I lived in a 1920s house it had open shelves similar to this in a window sized opening between 2 rooms

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-home-eclectic-los-angeles-phvw-vp~1030995[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-home-eclectic-los-angeles-phvw-vp~1030995)

Ignore the bathroom things in that photo, but the idea is you could put small potted plants, I had some small American art pottery pieces, small flower vases, etc. and changed things up with the seasons.

Thanks very much for all your input.
I never thought about closing up the opening before.
I will give that some thought and your ideas collectively have given me lots of inspiration.

another vote for closing the opening, since you are getting nice light into your foyer with the double doors. any of the 'fixes', if done in good materials, will cost more than just sheetrocking it closed.

try putting cardboard over the opening to see how it feels to you from both sides.