I'd go with option 2. Then, to create a sense of entry, use a different flooring on the approximately 6' x 8' beside the stairwell and set a grouping of 3 or 4 plants (at least one large one) in the living room just to the right of the front door. It looks like your great room is tiled so maybe you could get a floor medallion or "tile rug" that coordinates with your tile but is distinctively different enough to demarcate the entry. They're not all that expensive to do and look really great. DON'T do a drop down or raised entry. The dang things are just too dangerous. No one ever seems to notice the step. One couple I knew had an entry way that was dropped down by about 3 inches from their living area. Every single time I went to their home I almost fell and I saw a lot of other guests nearly fall as well. Everyone recommended repeatedly that they consider raising the entry way up level with the rest of the floor before someone got hurt and they got sued. Then one day, the wife of the homeowner tripped and fell on it and broke her arm! They had been living in the house nearly twenty years by that time but she had stuff in her arms as she was going toward the front door and just momentarily forgot about the step. Down she went. Needless to say, shortly after she fell, they raised the entryway up level with the great room and repositioned their front door. Cost them a pretty penny b/c they had to completely rebuild that section of wall to raise the header on the front door - but I guess they finally got the message about how dangerous it was! Here is a link that might be useful: One source of floor medallions and

You would best safest by having an architect do the plans. The particular layout will determine how and where best to create the access and nake sure all the necessary support is designed in. For instance, floor joists will have to be cut and that load will have to be transferred to other load bearing structures(walls/posts/etc.) There has to be sufficient room for the actual staircase to be built to code---height and width of the treads---so it is safe and comfortable to use.

Vstavay- thanks for this! I really like the evergreens, repetition and making that bed in front of the house much larger. I hadn't considered that. I'm not sure if we can put a tree on the left due to the cistern proximity, but we really could use one. Thanks again!

Depending on how you end up arranging your furniture, I would consider adding a low bookcase or console table between the entry and the living area. Change the light fixture to something with more presence. An area rug will also help visually define the entry.