Ooooh! I love the one AndiK posted. My idea is similar...couldn't find a photo, so I worked it up in my design software. It's just the interior elevation looking toward the door of the ante room so you'll have to imagine being able to see through the glass to your front door. If I find a photo, I'll post it later. I think I recall there being a nice door set up for the ante room in the movie Uncle Buck starring John Candy & McCaulay Culkin. I looked for a photo online of it with no luck, but you could probably rent the movie and check it out first hand. I thought the Home Alone movie house had one, but while they had the ante toom, alas there was no door on it--just a cased doorway. Hope this helps! Keep us posted on what you decide!

Honestly? I think the gable adds nothing to the look of the house. In fact it doesn't go with the style of house. I would do as you have in the second plan but have the overhang just go straight across the front. Here's an idea of what I mean.

I agree, you have potential for a much more welcoming entrance. The steps look small and precarious, consider moving them forward to create a much more spacious landing/porch where flowering pots can be placed, maybe some seating. I like the idea of using the entire width of the area and prefer a covered entrance so guests don't have to stand in the rain or sun. There are a number of possibilities for the materials depending on your taste and budget.

sorry for my terrible picture just trying to explain what i mean... we have a drafting company doing the design for us, but we still need to make a decision on if we want the dormer window to be open to the entrance and find it hard to visualize how/if it would work