Can't see all the rooms ... which way would a guest come in and where would they go? Is 101 the front door?

Yes, 101 is the front door.

The rest of the plan is fixed and approved--after a mere four years at the City. But here's the first floor, not showing non-structural changes.

Can you get rid of that wall and do a floating stairs? Flip the up and down, and eliminate the middle wall, That what we did.

There is no middle wall between the stairs. These are "switchback stairs"--IOW, there's a landing and the stairs continue up.

I'm considering removing the non-structural "feature" wall. So, on entry, you see the stairs.

In that case, I'm considering stairs inspired by these designs.

Designed by Virgil Abloh

Houston, arch., Christopher Robertson. Photo: Sotheby's International Realty.

Ferra Designs, NY (laser cut steel based on Baroque designs)

Your architect thinks that your visitors are heading straight to the kitchen to drop off the wine and flowers they brought. No, you take those, and escort your guests to the living area. Here, placing the front door does invite people to walk straight through. Is there a possibility to move the front door to the left, so that visitors HAVE to turn right and see the stairs and maybe feature wall, and to move easily toward the living area without having to be redirected by their host?

Interested in seeing if you will post your full floor plan an subject it to the same scrutiny we expect other home owners to?

I'd eliminate it. I'd like the expansive feel of the open space with the stairs. You have to come up with something to define the portion including the counter? left of the dining area.

I know there is no middle wall between the stairs. Eliminate the feature wall, and flip the up and down in the stairs, that will give you even bigger opening. This kind of stairs will look nicer then your inspiration photo. But the cost will be $50k. Like this photo but flip the up and down:

Seeing the plan now, I would open that front feature wall up and make the staircase a feature. I think the feature wall would be a waste of "art" and money, because it would be hard to see/appreciate due to the narrow space and the fact that guests will barely be in that space as they move into the house.

Now can we make other comments about the plan ...

Front door feels underwhelming, but will be better with open staircase. What was the design thought behind that?

For me, it looks like there isn't enough wall space to hang art, specially in the formal living and dining areas.

I would consider pocket doors for the library, so you have one space you can close off in this very open plan.

I bet you are already tired of the project and you haven't even broken ground! Those are ridiculously long permit times ... your housing needs could change completely before you even move in!

Eliminate the stair wall and make the exterior wall the feature wall.

Someone here in my area did a "feature" wall in front of their kitchen with a 5' passageway and the feature wall looking out to a huge window. What a waste of space because inside the house as you assumed, you can't see any art that's substantial, and outside you can't view it because of the light, etc.

Remove the "feature" wall and make the stairway the feature.

Mark’s idea lets you see the accent wall as you go up and down the stairs, and everyone can see it from the living areas. Much better. Find a way to incorporate window into the feature. I’m going to assume you don’t want a large window-wall if it is facing the street.

Or float the stairs in front of the accent wall.

I don't see how the stairs could be spectacular sandwiched in between walls, there is no real opportunity to see them except head on, which isn't usually the money shot of a staircase.

The old modernist way would not have the feature wall off to the side of the front door which faces an axis through the rest of the house. The old way would put the door off to the dining room side and force you to wall by the feature wall and turn the corner to the back of the house.

I know you did not ask, but in this plan people are going to walk straight through the work area of the kitchen when going from informal dining to family, more often than not, because of the way the rest of the house is oriented. North of the island is going to be perceived as the "long way" and most people look for short cuts.

I know a couple artist that can do feature wall installations if you need some names.

https://www.workbook.com/portfolios/view/nathan_anderson

http://www.nealdanderson.com/

It's even less than a 5'-5 1/2" wide hallway, those are to centerline of walls P2/E2, so more like 4'-8" or something.

And they are Canadian inches.

(humor)