This is the main entry into your home? Are you considering how it looks from the outside? Many houses have a more formal entry or at least less utilitarian.

We it front door is centred on the two pillars out front but then the foyer is off centre slightly. It is totally fine and not noticeable inside really. We have a plant on one side.

@Mark Bischak, Architect we asked for a lot of storage in the entryway. So yeah, it will probably more mudroom-ish as we want it to be.

Make it centered from the exterior. Inside, you can adjust for it being off-center by doing your storage at different widths. Bench and cubbies on one side, and hanging on the other - for example. The walkway through the two will center on the door.

I don't see how its possible to understand the impact of these options without seeing the front elevation.

I agree we need to see the exterior and how the options look . IMO an entry from the garage is where a mud room works best it is also where you bring in groceries etc the main entry more of a statement area not one filled with boots, back packs etc. I need to see the pillars BTW

@Patricia Colwell Consulting thanks i asked to merge the entry and the mud room (the room next to entry is a tiny laundry that leads to the garage).

@res2architect thanks for the feedback

This the elevation for option #2 (centered on the entry option). i don have #1 yet since i guess the architect hasnt rendered it yet.

Move the post over. Add another post between the two posts, centered on the center window.

I agree with mark. Currently it looks like your door should be between the 2 windows. The right post needs to move. And do whatever you need to put windows on both sides of the door or change the size.

Of your original two options, I much prefer the first. The entry/mudroom is more elegant, for lack of a better word, and less like a walk-through closet. As for the door location, I think the need for symmetry is way less important given the assymetrical nature of the porch. The door is already centered in the first option, and you could add a small window in the entry by pushing the bench next to the door and combining the two cabinets.

Will any alternative be easier to keep neat and tidy than the other alternatives? Most people would not want someone's first impression of their home to be their mud room.

Agree with Mark, which is the main reason I prefer the first option.

@Mark Bischak, Architect In my current house, my problem is that my kids come into my house through both the front door and the garage. This lead to a problem of having two shoe rack locations, and kids running across the kitchen to find their shoes. To me the practicality of unifying the two locations was more important than making a nice impression on strangers. :) Obviously not a common choice but it works for me and my familiy.

Will the first view that I have when I enter your home be of winter coats hung on hooks in the bench area, with boots stored beneath? Perhaps the door should swing in the opposite direction so that the mud room cabinetry, etc. is behind me and I face a wall without those cabinets upon it. On the other hand, your intent might be to showcase the built in cabinetry. And your goal is to make it look less utilitarian. Just curious….

Why don’t they just come in front door and carry shoes to mud room? That’s what mine do every single day. Then our entry is not a mud room

@WestCoast Hopeful Thanks, i do think that is a reasonable solution for some families. I also believe (thanks for forcing me to clarify my thought) that there is something very honest and welcoming about an entry that makes it clear where to put your items. Why hide the detrius of normal everyday life?

And if things get messy there is a very clear reason to keep things clear: safety on the exit as you leave the house.

I hope that people wont feel poorly about the informality of their welcome, but instead more welcome to kick off their shoes and join us.

Also pardon my punctuation and optional capitalization. The mobile comment composer on houzz makes editing a challenge.

Our guest leave their shoes outside and simply hang coats in the closet. Kids carry shoes and coats past closet and put in mud room. Of course do what works for you but to me a mud room entry always feels like a poorly designed after thought and not actually welcoming.

I see no reason to be concerned about centering the door on anything. The elevation you posted is fine.

Would not even try center it with ?built-ins? in the entry along one side. Putting it clearly on one side is the better choice.

Do carefully consider on which side of the entry it will be hung and, importantly, which side of the door you want the hinges to be on. Are you right handed or left handed and what position for the door knob is most comfortable for you.

Is your home more "formal" or less so -- would you want to consider leaving a "window" open in the kitchen wall.

In the entry, do you actually need two cabinets, requiring the side/end of one be against the front exterior wall, or would it be practical to have the hinge on the right side of the door as you approach it from the outside, with door knob on the left, and have the door more to that right side, giving you an opportunity to not only have a hall tree and/or cabinet or bench, but a narrow table against that left wall with a side light with glass above the table top height of that narrow table -- a table/cabinet that could be used to "catch" purses and/or or cell phone and charger or a message center of some kind.

"Why hide the detrius of normal everyday life?"

Will you be having doors on your bathrooms??

lol @Mark Bischak, Architect. I’m okay with a spectrum of comfort with mess. I have closed bathrooms but an open kitchen. In my mind any odor of feces should not spread beyond that room. But maybe other people feel strongly about the seeing the bags and coats of their hosts. ;) Make your place work for you

Why do you have half a window taking a piggyback ride on the door? Sorry, that's what it looks like.

Narrow short sidelights are usually used in pairs as shown below but a single one helps resolve the asymmetry of the porch.

Full height single sidelights are more common.

Since the house is not symmetrical I see no reason to introduce it at one side of an asymmetrical porch.

I had a client that made their 'forever home' just for them. The had a heck of a time selling it.