I would do the zen garden

It seems the planter box is shallow. I would fill it with a soil mix appropriate for cacti and plant a mosaic of succulents; there are many types of Haworthia and Gasteria that should work well there with the light level. Online resources include Arid Lands greenhouses in Arizona and Tropiflora in Florida. Good luck with your project!

Great house! I think the above suggestions are right on the mark. The minimalist feel of a zen or succulent garden would be appropriate for the style of the home.

Love your house!

Since this is right as the house is entered, seems to be intended to direct your path, is very low and so a tripping hazard I would use a single plant species that grows to about knee height with a carpeting plant or moss or decorative stones filling in.

Does light ever come through the windows? If not I think your initial thought of sanseveria is good. Look at cast iron plant as well.

You could place a large bonsai trimmed house plant on a low wide pedestal off center and fill in the base with gravel and stone. Thinking a ficus might be able to deal with the apparent low light. Thinking a foot tall and wider slice of tree trunk as pedestal. A small leaved trailing plant could be potted and placed next to the pedestal. Wire vine might be right.

I love inside house plants..... that said, I think I would cover your planter with some wood or tile like your floor. Then I would find a decorative pot to sit on the wood or tile. Plant something tallish if you have enough light...then since you have an Asian thing going on, find some figurines or zen dogs to put near the pot. Would look neat and tidy IMHO

A little more info: the planter box is 3 feet by 6 feet, and 6 inches deep. The foyer is quite large, so luckily it's not a tripping issue. While no direct light comes in the north facing window next to it, it does get indirect light from the large floor to ceiling windows facing south in the living room across the foyer.

I had also thought of raked sand with a bonsai tree, but the boulder with the sand is intriguing (and I can't kill a boulder lol).

Thank you all, these are all great ideas!

Another view of our foyer

@groveraxle - you're awesome, thank you! I especially love the second one

^ Bigger boulder is better, though.

C'mon, you knew I wasn't gonna suggest a boulder and then not give you one. ;-)

Yes, I hate it when somebody gets to my ideas first! The sand with a tiny rake is perfect as long as you can be sure it will stay contained and that you don't have a cat in residence ; (

I love the mother-in-law plant! It really withstands neglect. I've had mine for over 20 years. Any other indoor plant is lucky to last more than a year with me. If you do a plant you could add decorative pebbles.

That is considered a low light area so succulents won't thrive. I like Grovers ideas and definitely don't get a cat

I like the boulder and sand, but would select both in BLACK.