Yes, the stairs directly opposite the front door is not auspicious. It's compounded by the transom window. The result, according to Feng Shui principals, is unstable chi, which is said to cause all sorts of problems.

I think your idea of extending the last tread and reorienting it away for the door is a good one, if it can be done harmoniously and if it's feasible. You could create a railing that is perpendicular to the door that will further obstruct the unstable energy from the stairs.

If you can't go that route, you might want to keep looking. Why get into something that you're not certain about?

If you have your heart set on this house, there are some cures. It looks like your entry is in the skills and knowledge section of the bagua, which relates to earth. This area of the bagua needs to be bright and warm. First cure would be to remove the transom window. If you can't remove it, replace the glass with stained glass in colors of earth and fire. Fire strengthens earth.

Crystals are another cure. Placing one on a red string and hanging it in the window to the right of the door so that it catches light, is said to activate positive chi.

Light is another cure. My opinion is that a crystal chandelier has the advantage of the beneficial energy of light and the crystals. So, the combo seems logical. Consider a pretty one to replace the current one.

Colors can serve as cures, too. Consider red candles on the sideboard. Remember, red is from the fire element and strengthens earth, which is what you want in this area. Orange, pink, yellow, purple and red are all good colors for the skills and knowledge sector. With that said an attractive area rug with earthen and/or fire like colors would also strengthen this area. You could also install a red roman shade on the window, in one of those colors.

Plants and/or fresh flowers also serve as cures. But you have to be meticulous about keeping them healthy and fresh, otherwise they'll start throwing out bad chi. You could put a healthy jade plant on the console. I can see an attractive vignette there with red candles, earthen ware pottery and a nice plant or bouquet of flowers.

Interestingly enough, dogs belong to the earth element.

You will want to keep water out of this area. So, no blues, pictures of water, fountains or fish.

I hope this has given you some ideas. Best of luck to you.

I am not a feng shui master by any stretch of the imagination. But I have read a lot of books on feng shui, and a less costly fix is to build a wall between the stairs and the entry area. If there is at least 40 inches between the first step and the window casing you have enough room to build a partition wall that blocks the outflow from the stairs. However, you would likely have to move the overhead entry light as well. A room divider screen could also block the outflow.

Another fix is to draw the eye upwards by placing bright art on the wall of the landing. In fact, place bright art along the stairwell wall to further pull the eye upwards. Whether these fixes would be sufficient remedy for your mother and grandmother I cannot say.

Hi I wanted to answer you to dispel any myths and misconceptions about Feng Shui. This entry is large enuogh so that the stairs are not a problem. It is only when the stairs are very close to the door that it becomes an issue, because the entry is too small and restricted. In this case it is wide enough.

You can hang a crystal chandelier at the entry because its beautiful but it won't do anything to change the design of the building structure.