Ditch it. It's actually very bad feng shui—essentially crossing a moat.

I bet it can be hard to maintain but I think it is cool!

I think it is cool also. I bet it would be pretty with water plants.

Oh dear. Oh no.

Things like this belong in theme parks or restaurants (which are really adult theme parks). If you dress it up to complete the theme (go full Asian temple) it looks silly because it’s out of context (almost a mockery of the real thing). It’s time to move on.

I’d pull the doors to the front of the house and get double glass doors, the room will have much more light, then turn the whole thing into a big foyer you can decorate well with a skinny table, big mirror and plants,

What's on the other side of the stone wall?

Thanks everyone for the input. I should have given more information. We are located in the tropics - Big Island of Hawaii, so the lava rock wall is staying (local product & it’s an original feature we love). Also, the wood doors are staying, for the same reasons, although they don’t provide any security, they are just to define the space (one side entryway, the other side is the lanai). The doors are always open anyway. Although this is the “formal entryway” it isn’t how we enter our home. We come and go through the mudroom, which we access from the carport (the carport is located on the other side of the lava rock wall). I’m not carrying groceries or anything like that over these paver stones. Also, we live out in the country and we always keep our gate locked, so this entry doesn’t get a lot of foot traffic. Also, when I say Japanese themed, I probably mean more like Tropical-Japanese (like Okinawa) due to our climate. My husband and I both lived in Okinawa and our children were born there, so that’s the inspiration for incorporating something like that.

We are replacing the 8x8 tan flowery tiles with 12x24 grey tiles that will provide better traction because the current ones get very slippery when wet, which is a daily occurrence!

I like the feature but it’s a little dated perhaps. I would change the blue surface for pool to something darker or more natural looking maybe fist sized river rocks? Replace the yellowish steps with something like stone or granite and carry color thru to new tile at door way. Those square ceramic tiles are circa the 70’s. New light fixtures. I know you like the door but more light would be good. Could you get someone to make them into a screen or gate set further back into the inside entry. It would be stunning highlighted and seen thru a glass entry door .

I have no clue how feasible it is nor what your budget looks like, but I'd make the pathway a continuous stretch with tile as per your husbands idea but leave planting spaces on either side. Just reduce the depth of the one near the lava wall for more symmetry and do vines up the lava wall on one side and some low growing flowers and ground cover under the windows.

I think it’s neat. Could you put water lilies in the water portions? I think updating the tile would freshen it up and make it more modern without losing the Japanese/local vibe.

Updating the tiles and creating a rock garden on each side that looks intentional would be very pretty.

Depending on budget, I like the idea below of filling in and continuing the new stone into front hall, so it feels like one large, connected and welcoming entrance, especially as you keep these doors open.

I’d also suggest changing the lighting to a lantern style and painting the walls inside and out a color that compliments earth tones. In the last wall section after windows, adding a long tall sculpture that reflects window size would be an added feature. One below is from Hawaiian Furniture Company.

Is that Japanese vibe running all through the house? IMO the whole entry is a mish msh of styles that do not work together . The stone wall the wall that looks like panelling the cheap trim around the windows . The only thing that is really Asian to be is the water and the front door with the transom . The lighting is horrible the tile is from some other planet IMO rip it all out and start over . I think we need to know a bit more about your home and what you are trying to achieve

Following with interest

Sharing a few more pictures to give perspective. The house is a ranch style. It’s a typical style to others in our area. It may not appeal to everyone, but it’s a style we like so we aren’t planning any major exterior changes. Also, the floor plan works well for our family, so we aren’t changing the floor plan either. The house was built in 1978 and it hasn’t been updated at all, so we need a completely new kitchen, new windows, new sliding doors, all new lighting/electrical, all new floors (those same flowery tiles run throughout the house), new drywall, etc.

Ariel view sent from a friend a couple weeks ago.

OMg! Do not ditch it. It’s sooooo cool. Homes are so boring these days. It’s truly one of a kind!

I like your original idea of gravel, plants and a pagoda. Your house is amazing. Enjoy!

Well you live I. Hawaii and have a view of the ocean, so anything extra you do to your house is just a bonus. Place looks fabulous. I retract my earlier advice, keep the water and go all in on the Hawaiian.

Water plants will NOT grow in the dark of this entry. The photos added by sherry52 and Maureen show a completely open-to-the-sky entry, and another with lots of natural light. This house does not have that. I agree with Patricia Colwell's assessment of the style. I do not like being so critical, but this entry is so dark and closed that I think it would benefit from adding openings to the carport so there would at least be some air movement.

Very cool feature, keep it. What an amazing property!

If, on the other hand, the house was in Pittsburgh, I’d probably nix the waterway.

Sherry52 didn’t suggest plants, just rocks.no plants in photo euther

you could do something like this with it.

you could also fill in the tiled area w/recycled glass meant for landscaping. I've used it myself in my porch entryway. comes in all colors but the blue is nice

Those current doors you have would be so cool in a glossy enamel! Add some mcm cool hardware, lights....

I don't know. I might want to hang onto those. you can paint them any bold, bright color.

If you plan on keeping the blue water feature, then paint the doors a deep cobalt

I'd prob limewash that stone wall white too, o match the other white.

unless you plan on doing something like this w/the slatted wood addition

whatever you do, I'd prob have to change out that porch tile. don't like that at all.

The water feature makes the path to your front door narrower than the door, which is hiding in a tunnel. To give those doors the focus they deserve, I recommend filling in the water feature. Rather than plants along both sides, just along the feature wall. A simple lighting plan for the entry to welcome your guests at night and help them find the front door.

Nice home. Great location.

Consider how much effort it takes and how much it costs to maintain ... then, considering all the pros and cons, decide if the entry water feature is worth maintaining an entry that y'all don 't even use regularly. As you do that, you might also consider what rooms are behind the left and right walls of this entry and could it be practical and would it be a plus to the home if one or both side walls s were opened up -- at least partially opened up. Would that make a difference in whether YOU want to keep the water feature.

I love the gravel and plants and Japanese garden feel, that is so cool. But since it is Hawaii there are more options than just a Japanese statue. You could put something native Hawaiian there too. Not a kitschy Tiki but something authentically Hawaiian. Like some antique weapons or tools hanging on the rock wall - whatever a high ranking native Hawaiian would have had in the front entrance.
PS - this isn’t authentic but I swiped it when my Mom moved because how could you not?

Or go with some authentic Okinawa antique tools/weapons/goods. That would be cool too. Like an ancient functional hallway of stuff.

Wonderful setting! You’ve mentioned a lot of renovations with this house and all will start with your new interior tile selection which I assume will effect that area by the front door. If you post that selection we can advise further about the entry specifics. In the scheme of things, filling in that area with the blue glass like B suggested would be the minimal improvement in my mind. But, to fill it in might make even more sense after overall budget is addressed.

I think having whatever you do water or rock on both sides is claustrophobic for the walkway itself. I would look at shifting the feature to just one side and moving the walk way to the other widening both strips in the long run.

I like the simplicity. Its unique and may have been part of what drew you to the house initially. Maybe change the blue to something more subtle, or line it with a tile mosaic of sorts.

Hi Brandi. The only things that are especially jarring to me when I look at the entrance is the color of the stepping stones/path and the tile and the location of the lights on the outside of your house. If those two things alone were changed to a color that better suited your lava stone wall and siding it would make a huge world of difference.

1. I would have your door refinished to show off the beautiful wood.

2. I would retile and have the tops of the stepping path redone in a stone that reflects the color scheme of your home

3. What about some water plants that can get tall. Certain types of tame bamboo water plants and flowering plants

• Lighting- Although the MCM lighting is cool the two on the outside of your home look like an after thought in their placement. There is hardly room for them there.

1. I would remove them.
2. Your boob ceiling lights I would replace with some asian inspired hanging lights.
3. Think about a stone pilaster to the tight of your walk way where it connects with your drive way. You could do it in the native to the area lava stone that is on your wall and top it with an asian inspired light. This will bring on path lighting you will lose when removing the outside two lights and it will frame the area.

Here are two very rough mock ups to give you an idea of what I am explaining

I am by no means a Feng Shui specialist but I always believed clean water gently flowing toward your home brought good fortune. I agree about changing the tiles and lights but I love the water feature. I would look into placing pumps in the water to create a gentle flow/movement toward front doors. Will help keep water clean also.

It's actually pretty cool, but if you need a change replace water with smooth river rock, update floor tile and lighting, and add plants. Potted bamboo or any shade loving plant, or fake plants that look real. Go for a zen look

Depending on your budget, you could go all the way with it. If you could install glass around your entry or on your right-side wall, that would be great. Wood ceiling, concrete floor or your 12x12 grey tiles would also work nicely. Don't forget to add an awesome light fixture.

I researched "zen entry ways with water feature" on houz and got these pix plus many more.