New wall above the door to be about 16 inches high. Yes, wooden blinds are kept down at night on upper windows for privacy and always down on the lower windows because I think those are at a very odd location. Will be replacing the wooden blinds with top down/bottom up pleated shades when renovation is complete. Thanks for your response.

I would leave the lower windows and I probably would not add the window above door. the primary reason that I would not add a window just above the door is due to symmetry.

I would prefer adding a window above the door and a window above each existing bank of windows that flank the front door.

I would first see how much area that you have for these fixed windows. I'm not sure if the 16" that you mention takes into account the framing for the new windows. you might find yourself with a very narrow opening for the new windows.

my front entry system is not as wide and I opted to position one window that runs the width of the door and side lites.

I split the side lites so that they tie into the interior chair rail and wainscoting.

the solid wood front door stays closed for privacy and security. however, it is left open the majority of the time since there is another front door that is glass.

as for your exterior and interior trim, I would paint it to match the the respective exterior and interior trim.








I'm not sure how large of a window that you will have above due to the framing.

It's hard to tell what the style you are going for is. Your exterior entry looks sort of Hacienda style. The interior does not seem to follow through with that. I would fill in those lower windows with drywall and do arched windows on either side of the door and over the door. You could add some decorative wrought iron grills over them.

Yes, the house is definitely Hacienda style on the exterior and agree that current design does not match that style. Longer term plan is to replace the exterior steel security door with an actual wrought iron and glass front door and remove the current inner front door and wall and windows. However, the cost of that door is $$$$ and I would prefer to spend that money on my next renovation project -- the pink bathroom. I'm looking for ideas on how to improve what I have until I can afford that next step. Everyone's ideas are definitely helpful.

To save $$, I would think about doing a mirrored bronze glass on upper side windows. Something you can see out of but can't see in. If you will be tearing all this out in the future, I would forget the window over the door.

Given what you have said, I would just finish off the area above the entry door with drywall and wait on redesigning the entry until you tackle the steel security gate.