We have already taken out the old exterior stairs! Here is the before and currently:

And here is a pic from inside our living room:

You can see here that the ‘attached garage’ does not have direct access to our home. Here is the original floor plan and the proposed:

The main purpose of the addition is to have direct access to the house from our garage for myself and the little humans (including our baby) in our Canadian winter! Extra storage will be a perk- but I want it to look good! Please help!

I’m thinking opening up the wall between the house and entry with a railing similar to the attached photo. The sketch is a rough idea. The addition will actually look taller than that. How can I keep it balanced ? Any ideas are welcome :). Thank you muchly!

How about a fourth option that builds on the third picture in your first post. Two wooden benches with larger above, on either side of storage cabinets on that long wall (I think 3 tall cabinets can fit) with three square windows above the the storage cabinets. Door with side windows and transom remain as you have them in the picture . I hope my explanation is clear :-)

No offence taken! Thanks for taking the time to respond. Do you have any suggestions?

Sorry Lindsey, I don't like any of the given options much.

What you need is:

a) a lot of natural light, for your husband is right on that, and

b) a lot of storage place, for you are right on that. I bet a place to hang up your guests' coats would be required.

So use the front to get in as much light as possible, in a style that matches with the rest of the exterior of the house. I'm thinking of a wide door with lots of glass in it, and on both sides glass all the way down and on top glass as well. But not as boxy as in the pictures.

Then place a matching vertical window in the middle of the big wall (the wall where you also want your storage).

Under that window comes a bench to sit on (and also stash things in), while putting on shoes. On either side of the window have a beautiful (!!!!!) closet, preferably identical, to hang up coats and store shoes and the likes.

Hang a large mirror on the other wall, both to check make-up and clothing and to reflect any incoming light.

Keep the colors of walls and furniture light, as to not feel trapped in the space and to also help reflect the light. Have nice lamps; one for the cozy feel of the room and enough for bathing it in light when necessary.

Make sure that this extension becomes part of the rest, by using a similar style / similar accents / similar accent colors.

Hey everyone! I just reposted my newest options for this. Please take a peek and vote!

where is the post? Attach the link here

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5839173/please-help-which-front-entry-plan-looks-best#n=1

Is it possible to make sky lights in your roof? That will give a lot of natural light and you can use the whole wall for storage:

https://www.prelux-design.nl/kast/kastenwand-strak-modern/