I had a similar situation replacing a thin porch roof, the down pipes that spoilt the simple lines that the posts and flat roof had, basically down pipes just looked just looked heavy and ugly.

I fitted the gutters in level as these are short anyway and don't need a fall, but left off the spouting. Then by suspending a heavy* galvanized chain from the centre of the outlet down into large buckets set into the ground, which is filled with rocks or small lumps of concrete, the water will trickle down the chain. (that is a thicker gauge, not heavy* weight). You might also want to anchor the bottom of each chain onto a lump of concrete. You don't have to anchor the bottom, but you don't want anyone to be encouraged to swing on them.

Obviously you won't see the buckets, but do need something to capture the water that runs down the chain. Small holes in the buckets allow water to run out gradually. The chains will hang down straight under there own weight, the look is more 'elegant'.

If you get so much rain blowing off the chain that it blows onto the posts or house, it's very likely you won't be standing outside, unless you like getting soaked.

Personally I think a down pipe is the last thing you need to worry about at the moment and I think you will just not see it after you have been there a few days. I think you see it more now because you are constantly thinking about it. Think of it like a spider's web in a high corner - one day you see it and then it just blends right in. Once you have some plants in around the front most of the pipe will disappear anyway. You could even use it as a support for a climber. Move in and enjoy the house. Pipes are pipes we all have them.

Downpipes wouldn't bother me except for where they are in this instance. I think they really detract from the look of the entrance. I'm going to try the chains,