Okay, I'm asking forgiveness in advance for opinionated comments: In everyday living, exterior stairs get wet, slippery, cold, icy. And, unless exquisitely designed (to be a statement of elegance), they look tacky. Statements of elegance are quite often inconvenient to live with, although one can bask in the initial admiration of visitors. I know that in some areas, exterior stairs are a... neighborhood tradition; a statement of necessity. And all too often, they look it. I think the architect's foyer is rather big, but oh my, the opportunity to make a decorating statement!! OTOH, I suspect 12x14 may be in proportion to the house. The architect needs to bend his brain so that the top of the staircase does not interfere with your views. I do hope someone has realized that an elevator would be of even greater use, especially if anyone breaks a leg, brings in the groceries or hauls out the trash. And if DW wants a traditional entry, an elevator could certainly take one up to the usual doorway.

I like that runner. AND I need a cabinet like that for shoes, too! So, to answer your question, yes, I think you are on the right track. A rug with blues, browns, and greens would tie everything together. Keep looking. You will find it-and don't settle for something you don't love. :). Oh, and don't reject out of hand polypropylene rugs there. They are soft, have great colors, and wear like iron. Easy clean, too which is great with boys and dogs (ask me how I know). We had one in our family room which was also our most-used entrance to the house and now our son has it in his home. Also, Rugs USA is having a 65% off sale for Columbus Day. Might be fun to browse.

So the first picture is at the bottom of the stairs with the entry door to the right, the second is just what you see when you are in front of the door, the third is going down the stairs towards the entry door and the last is at the top of the stairs. Is that correct? You could do something fun with the stairs themselves. If you removed the carpet you could paint or tile or do something fun on the risers. https://www.google.com/search?q=fun+risers&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS868US868&sxsrf=AOaemvLrTTujzCFJ2-wpYMaLqDomTT2q4A:1641327315930&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwim2oDd9Jj1AhWrSjABHcABCrEQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1400&bih=1276&dpr=1 If that is not an option you could add a runner and also hang some art on the stairway walls. https://www.google.com/search?q=runner+on+carpet+stairs&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwj4varf9Jj1AhW1wikDHds_Dd4Q2-cCegQIABAA&oq=runner+on+carpet&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgBMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgYIABAIEB46BwgjEO8DECc6BAgAEEM6CwgAEIAEELEDEIMBOggIABCABBCxAzoICAAQsQMQgwE6BwgAELEDEEM6BggAEAUQHlDOBVjdHWDlO2gAcAB4AIABzAGIAY8YkgEGMC4xNi4xmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=2KrUYfjxMLWFp8kP2_-08A0&bih=1276&biw=1400&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS868US868#imgrc=5qlsDIMQ473rCM https://www.google.com/search?q=art+in+narrow+stairway&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjF1vj39Jj1AhWLOd8KHRyYDtgQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=art+in+narrow+stairway&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoHCCMQ7wMQJzoGCAAQCBAeOgUIABCABDoICAAQsQMQgwE6CAgAEIAEELEDOgQIABBDOgcIABCxAxBDOgQIABAYUN0KWLhBYItEaAFwAHgAgAHrAYgBvCSSAQYwLjE1LjmYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=DKvUYcWgGYvz_AacsLrADQ&bih=1276&biw=1400&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS868US868

My client (keeping up appearances) thought about an 'applied fascia board' but figured it was not worth it because few (maybe none) people would notice it (or care). Yes, it's all about priorities. With regards to not noticing or caring in the specific sense, the applied fascia board would probably mean even some of them who do notice would not notice that this this was Not an actual dormer but was a full width addition, because the applied line would be enough to create the illusion that it was a shed dormer. With not noticing or caring in the general sense, that's multi-layered, and to some extent I think that's why so many houses have become so cheaply built and ugly, people neither notice nor care beyond the most general impression, the desired impression currently most often being that the house look bigger and fancier than it actually is. On the other hand, I don't care all that much what the outside of my house looks like, other than well maintained and tidy. I originally looked at it because I thought it was one of the uglier houses in the neighborhood and I was compelled to see the inside.