Hmm.. that is strange. I would get rid of it and maybe put a nice bench in that area. I love those doors.

Demo it.

If you already have an entryway closet/coat rack/mirror/bench, then you can remove the dirt, put nice counter top material on top of it (or just wood planks), place a vase or a plant in a pot there. This would solve he issue of have soil in large amounts indoors. If you do not have a proper entry area, then yes, remove the whole thing and put a bench with shoe shelves under that mirror :)

I agree with others. Demo the planter and the mirror. Sometimes you need to remove the ugly before you can see the potential beauty. As others have said, this little nook could be a super cute entrance area with bench and even a console table for stashing the mail, etc. Maybe googling for similar ideas (or even looking at cute mudrooms) could help you or your friends see what it could be.

This may sound sacrilegious, but if there is no closet at the entrance, I would remove the "planter" and put a closet there. No clue what you would do with the window...

Oh wow. Both need to be removed. And then put a stair railing there to complete the staircase railing.

Yes on the stair railing!