You have such a lovely entrance to you home that I would choose full width in a really popping colour - be brave as it really works. Also have you thought about opening up the panels on the Sid of the stairs to give it a more open and bigger view ?

As mentioned above, acoustic rated ceiling would need to be dropped, it would reduce the amount noise resonated from upstairs, that would be an i wise investment if sound is playing a major issue. There's some products out there that were used commercially for large spaces, created for the solution that you desire. They are called acoustic wall panels, they are designed to look like art but prove to swish around sound to stop the sound waves bouncing from wall to wall, they absorb and distribute sound evenly. Hope this helps and feel free to drop us a line for more information.

Communitec, well I for one would like to put in a full electronic home security system with motion activated cameras so if there is an alarm I can view everything on my phone but my house has concrete walls and ceilings so potential installers all want to leave all cables on the surface - even wifi systems require power cables or new batteries way too often. For the same reason the rear speakers for my theatre system are in front with the other speakers - apart from cables to run the wall behind is a glass block feature wall. As for veering off topic goes, well I see people commenting on the appearance of things like thermostats and what functions they have as well as a lot on their aesthetics, so lighting, switches, sockets and control interfaces are on topic really. The fact that a lot of people simply accept these items without thought just goes to show how today's new tech becomes tomorrow's standard and expected items. Where we locate things has changed a lot due to changes in usage patterns and acceptance of items in different settings - phones are rarely in hallways now for example, even though that was a standard location up to the 1970s (and are disappearing in favour of hand phones). My computer always used to be in a room used as an office but I'm typing this on front of the TV on my notebook (no more PC) - tech evolving to suit environment or attitudes evolving to allow tech into what were exclusion zones or perhaps a mixture of the two?

In looking at the other houses, they have quite long lower windows - which you probably would have had in the original bay. If it's in the budget, maybe a window replacement and seeing how much more height you could get might help it sit in the street a bit better. This, along side the front door auggestions from @nancyorford, might help as the new window is quite short. Oh and the vertical blue curtain/blinds.... mmmm. Somehow they don't make a house a home. If that is too much cost right now.... try some better window treatment. Some window film in an arch shape on the window above the door, could give an interest point whilst you save up to reinstate the bay! Good luck.