Putting the door in front of the stairs is a great idea. Moving stairs is not just a matter of redrawing the plans. Placement can impact all sorts of hidden utilities. I'm surprised a door here wasn't part of the plans.

This is the front door currently...and I hate how it’s tucked in the corner. But I was worried if I shift the front door down that it won’t be appealing to be across from a staircase.

Should I also move the half bath closer to the kitchen and living room area?

I don’t think it is bad having it opposite the door to the stairs. However, if you use a barn door as opposed to a normal door it will draw attention to the door, which is not what I think you want,

If your basement is (or will be) finished as another living/ recreational area dress up the basement entrance to invite people in the home to go down there. If it is not intended for additional living then close off with a door that matches other doors in your home. If you had an entrance that faced a closet there would be no problem with a door.

Ask what it would cost to move the stairs and reconstruct the flooring system for the new stairs and let that help make you decision. Hint, it will not be inexpensive.

Would you all recommend exposing the stairs next to the kitchen table and removing the door to go downstairs all together?

Also, it was drawn to have a half bath next to the front door but should I put one near the kitchen and living room space instead?

Can you put the opening to the stairs where the door to the closet is currently? Then arrange the stairs so the top of the stairs is opposite of the way it goes down now. That way you could close the opening that would face the front door, and you would not run in to structural issues. You might still have room for a closet where the top of the stairs sits now and put that door opening facing the kitchen.

phassink, that’s an interesting idea...does anyone else have thoughts on switching the entrance like that? Would it be weird to have the entry way going downstairs right by the kitchen table?

I don't think seeing the stair supercedes the problematic huge open area that is not defined when you enter. Since you are capturing the garage as habitable space and that will now be adjacent to your entry, keeping the existing front door tucked in the corner would not have the "forgotten impact" as it does next to the garage. Plan-wise the door may be better where it exists.

Further, depending on how the remodeled plan is derived (the garage capture, what you eliminated to move the door, the porch layout) and visual aesthetics (the garage door wall and porch roof), the corner entry can be minimized.