I agree with your husband. The recessed entry is also good for guests who come so they have a nice dry place to wait for the door. Look for somewhere else for storage, since this is the front entry, all those hooks on the wall, are not a great look, and there isnt enough room in the hallway, to have hooks like that, and still comfortably walk down the hall. Find another location to put them. A closet put somewhere, would be a better option, but, dont spoil the look of your house by taking away the entrance.

I would close it in a heart beat since it is the main entrance and you have stuff. I would also want to open up the inside area and get rid of the tunnel entry way you have now so it may go beyond the front porch.

You could push it, but if you do, add a portico like the one celery shows.

Alternative: Do you have a closet close to that hallway? If so, remove the door to it, and create something like these drop zones that were former closets with doors,

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Down the road, think about making your outside entry more inviting with a colorful door and removing the white railings.

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More to go with pergola

Small spaces are always hard to deal with for good storage . I think first try to have everyone take their coats , back packs and shoes to the bedroom.I think if you do what you want that will just be a big cluttered entry to your home There is ittle space for much and still be able to keep the entry open for use. Why a bench ? I see you have a garage so why not have more storage near there for family stuff and use the entry you have for guests and they will still be protected from the elements . If you post a to scale floor plan of the home you might get some other good ideas that you have not thought of.The pergola idea is nice to look at but provides no cover for guests . I think to do this without real planning is a mistake . We had 3 boys and in a really tiny house we all just took our stuff to the bedrooms and when we had guests thier coats went to our bedroom it is just life with a tiny house .

Yes, lots more thought is needed, but I appreciate all the input as I work through it. The garage is currently at its storage limit as is the rest of the house, unfortunately. Original 1950 floor plan is attached for reference. Thanks to all for their time and thoughts.

Are you interested in alternative ideas about storage?

The 1950 plan is compact and practical, but has a typical postwar 1950's amount of closet space. How long have you lived there? Do you keep cars in the garage?

I usually find with clients when they tell me yhey have no storge the first step to do is purge it is amazing how much stuff we all keep and never use . Kids toys for sure if they have not played with them for a year bye bye. Clothes that have not been worn for a year same out. Platic containers in the kitchen many of which are not madefor multiple use . The garage usually the catchall for all the stuff that can 't find a home inside . That porch is too small to do anything with so mnmaybe try the big purge first to see what can go.

You might be able to get some room by putting the door a lot closer to the rest of the facade. Currently, it's very recessed. That would give you space for two entry closets on each side of the door, although it might make your long, narrow corridor a bit longer. If you had the narrow corridor open to a wider mud room, perhaps with windows, it would not seem so long and narrow.

It would keep the existing look, with a recessed door. You're not using the porch space for anything right now, so you wouldn't lose anything there.

You could also make it flush and add a small portico. You probably need one without columns or posts because of your windows. (I love the way AI just removes anything in the way, like moving your windows to accommodate a porch.)

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