I was about to suggest radiator covers and then teacats beat me to it! I would do a radiator cover and then mount a shelf and appropriate sized mirror over that. I am going to be the naysayer about hooks on that wall at the bottom of the stair. You don't have a ton of space there, and that means that the bottom of the stair will look even smaller and more crowded when you have a bunch of coats hanging on the pegs or hooks. I would use that wall for the 14 pix that you discussed. Use the upstairs wall to do the family geneology items. By the way, I don't think the window at the top of the stairs looks high at all. It is in proportion to the upper floor. Once you hang artwork on the wall to the right of that window, it will connect with the window and make it all work together. The topiary you have there only accentuates the height of the window, as it is still taller than the top of the topiary. If you want something there, I would look for a small arts and crafts style plant stand and put a large vase or a plant with trailing ends like an ivy on the stand. Or you could stand a large vase in the corner with tall twigs and grasses coming out of it. Your home is fabulous - I am SOOOO jealous. It feels like a place that I could just walk in and be at home.

I like the roman chamomile with daisetta on the back wall.

If you have the budget, you might consider building in a window seat with shelves on either side of the windows for taking off and storing shoes. Your electrician could move the outlet and you could have venting for the heat. I wouldn't use the area between the front door and the stairs for any storage. It doesn't look large enough, and you have such a nice big hallway for that. Regarding the rug, you might have to have something custom cut and made. Alternatively you can have one area rug for the immediate foyer area and another larger one for the hallway.

If you go with tile, I like #3. You can do a darker grout so you don't see the lines as much. But you also say that you're sanding and restaining all your hardwoods as part of your remodel; can you lay wood in your entry? From just seeing the one picture of your entry, I think extending the wood would look really nice. What does the flooring look like on the other side? Can you stand at your front door and take a pic?