Paint the inside of your door the white trim color, it will soften the space and make it seem larger. Add 2 large art pieces on the left wall and a larger vertical mirror on the right side. Paint wall color to match whatever color is adjacent to the space. Add a patterned rug with color to the walkway.

I would embrace the element, but I would get rid of the wood chips. I'm thinking back fist sized river rocks. Then I would get a tallish flowering tropical such as hibiscus and add a few ivy plants to grow between the rocks. Additionally, a small water feature might be nice. For me, the bigger problem with the entryway is the door. You have an obviously contemporary home, yet you have a -very- traditional door. I would want a wood door with some sort of art glass element in it. The wood would of course need to be stained to match the existing woodwork. The door will be some big bucks, but it would remain regardless of flooring changes. These two doors are not specific recommendations, but examples of the type of entry door I have in mind. Best wishes!

I have not heard anything bad about having doors that open from any direction of the house and as you have not confirmed which country you live in I can not even predict where the worst of the winds would come from. I live in NZ and my front door faces North West. Where I live that is the worst / strongest winds that we have so the only negative for me is on a story day I might be blown down the steps or the rain might soak me as I try to unlock the door. I have simply eliminated what I can by adding a glass roof above my front deck. My back door faces south east and again the weather was and is the only problem so I enclosed this area with a porch which allows me to have the door open most days, almost all year round. NZ's bad weather comes from the south and the sun is in the North. If you are also in a similar location / southern hemisphere then your plan shows me your house is perfectly positioned for the best of the sun. I think you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Don't listen to negative comments make the most of what you have and if you need to make small adjustments for wind, rain or too much sun. ENJOY YOURSELF AND YOUR NEW HOME.

I'd get a signwriter to do a bespoke sign that doesn't look like a mass produced one , with something like 'Our main entrance is this way' or similar , say orange lettering on a 40cm square white powdercoated alloy sign , and a squiggly arrow -- or maybe get it on a varnished wooden sign or similar -- spend $50-100 rather than $10 . Fasten on that left hand front beside the garage door . Not a complete solution , but it will help if done right .