I have two possible entryway designs to choose from, and I'd love your opinions.  Click images to enlarge.

I didn't mind the original front steps of the Heritage kit, but once I found this inspiration photo they didn't stand a chance.  I love these stone steps!

I found an excellent tutorial by Lesley Shepherd online while searching for additional stone stair images in which foam core board and air dry clay were used to mimic stone stairs.

I bought some 1/2" thick foam core board and cut some new stairs for the entry.  I didn't cut sides, but I did put the horses from Katie on some pedestals at the end (a bit too tall on the part of the pedestals, but you get the idea).

The stairs and pedestals get somewhat lost in the overall look, but I think that's just because they aren't painted and the porch isn't on, etc.

The second option involves wrought iron railings and gate posts with the horses on either side of the gate.  I'm not sold on these railings in particular, but I happened to have a sample in my miniatures stash.

I am limiting my front yard to just about where the railings are (a board size of 25" deep) so I can move this house around my real life house, in and out of doorways.  So, I can shorten the depth of the front steps or have this maximum amount of yard from the gate to the steps.

So, what do you think?  With or without the railing?  :D

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Here are a few more photos with Lyssa's suggestion of painting the stairs for a better mockup.  Borrowed some random Newport parts for the porch, too.  Now I am even more undecided!  :O

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Okay, I think I've got it.  I angled the stairs, added sides and small pedestals, and put it with the gate posts.  :D  Hurray!

Note: I couldn't find any artist info on the creepy house photo, so if this is your photo and you'd like it removed, please contact me.