We need more info. Is this the entry you will be using daily, or mainly for guests? Where in the country are you located (do you have to deal with winter coats/boots)? Do you have any furniture yet for the space?

Without knowing more, I would build out window seats under each big window, with shelving on the walls on either side of both windows. Next to the door, you can add hooks on one side, and basket storage for other "outdoor" items on the other side.

This layout could work for your room. You can even do a much larger dining room table if needed.

@Sammie J, this is the main entry to our home, so yes, used daily. Yes on winter coats/boots. I really like the idea of building out a bench beneath the window sills, with storage underneath for shoes. I think the biggest question mark remains the coat situation… as you can see in the real-life photo, there isn’t really room for pegs/racks to the immediate right or left of the door.. it would have to be on the far wall, which then feels like it interferes with the dining room. Any thoughts there?

@BeverlyFLADeziner thank you for this visual!! this is exactly what we had in mind in terms of thr layout, we just didn’t account for things like shoes, coats, etc. Perhaps as Sammie J mentioned, we could build out some kind of storage bench beneath the windows

You have the whole wall where I placed the dining sideboard. That total wall could be a closet system like PAX from IKEA.

Do you like the sliding barn doors? I don't, but in the right house they look fine. What about the bench under the dining room window (for taking shoes off), and built ins along the wall Beverly is talking about?. Either with sliding barn doors or just regular cabinet pantry doors.

The only other thing I can see is to enclose your porch, like a sunroom, and put storage out there.

When you say you'd like to create the illusion of an entryway, I thought of this photo. The wall at the entry creates a pause before entering the home, allows light and sightlines to come through, and a moment to happen with a wonderful overhead light fixture. It doesn't address storage but it could be modified to add narrow closets to be built in for coat storage.

@BeverlyFLADeziner @Sherry8aNorthAL I LOVE the idea of the ikea system along that wall!! i think that will solve all my problems, thank you both so much!

can't you add a short stretch of coat hanging/space under the stairs?