Why not just remove the lattice and the wood siding below it? It would expose the entire door. It seems that it would make that whole space more inviting.

1. Take out the lattice
2. Install a window box for flowers
3. Install a great hanging light fixture
4. Consider painting the front door a fun brighter color or slick black with shiny hardware
5. Consider if budget allows? A new front door that has more glass in it to allow even more light to enter your entry and to be even more open feeling to welcome visitors
Good luck! Looks like a neat place and congrats on your new home!

it's pretty handsome. I would leave it.

Where are the address numbers? Could they be placed closer to the doorway?

HI -- This makes a perfect hiding place for someone to sit and break into the house and not be seen . You should remove that whole screen and open it up so the front door can be seen . Just leave the post for support . I think it will look much better and add some good lighting .

I'm always interested in why someone built something like this in the first place. Was it just a style thing? Was there something objectionable about who could see the front door? Was the wall built to protect the door from weather? Could a heavy rain flood this doorway if the wall wasn't there?

Definitely remove it - but be careful. Whoever built the thing in the first place appears to have notched the top rail into the post, which isn't something you should do to a structural post. You may want to build the post out a bit once you get all the lattice and siding off - it may appear too skinny and need some detail to make it look like it belongs. (a photo of the entire front of the house would help). I have no idea what the people who did this were thinking - it reminds me of the entrance to a change room or outhouse at a public park! Even if you left the lower part, it's still a very cramped and uncomfortable space, which is why I think you should remove it entirely.

I also vote to remove the entire thing, or at least the lattice portion. new ceiling light, paint door a brighter, nicer shade. maybe a blue. and give all the surrounding area a good power washing. everything looks grimy. If you can repaint everything a nice, brighter white, that would help a lot. after removing lattice, consider some hanging flowers or a box hung off the bottom portion filled w/trailing plants.

Thank you all for your awesome feedback! I thought about removing the whole thing but this would mean I would need to address the cement stairway so that it is a proper stair from the front and not just the side. I can price this out and see if it is in budget. I like the idea of widening the column to make it more proportional. I do not know why it was planned like this in the first place....but don't think it is for weather. We will be living with it for a little while anyway so we can make sure. Could have just been a design feature or even privacy? We are not fans of the door, so a new one would be good. Thanks so much!!!

I really don't see how the lattice is for the weather. if it's gale winds and rain that you have blowing, it's going to get through the lattice. Otherwise, it's really not necessary. take the lattice piece down for now and live w/the bottom part until you decide.

I know from experience that this a a wonderful set up for someone to break into your home. Totally secluded.

Because we are only getting a small detail of the front of the home, no one here knows how this fits into anything else on the home. Taking it down might be right or it might be terribly wrong. Post an image that is inclusive of the front of the home.