Yes, I agree they are fairly narrow and I think practicality must trump original design in this regard. You can still remain true to the era, and simply widening the steps to flush with width of verandah will only improve upon the original design. I believe it will also future-proof the steps as I can imagine as people age, they sometimes require the firm arm of someone else to assist them safely up and down the stairs. I have to agree with Mel about the letterbox. IF you are set on mixing styles, then perhaps use the same timber you used for the letterbox to face facade (street facing) of new steps.

using the plan posted earlier showing the direction of north on the laundry side my suggestions include: replacing the built in structure in the family room with shallow free standing storage to widen the room, the kitchen needs to be wider for stools and losing the wall at the end of the stove makes the kitchen more open with space for a study nook, there should be a a ventilating skylight over the guest bathroom, a roof window or bigger skylight over the dining area will improve brightness in the centre of the house and/or consider several smaller Solar Skylights in a line from the front to back doors...the family bathroom has been reversed for more privacy from the family dining room and theres' a handbasin in the toilet..the guest bathroom is reversed with a corner shower, the wiw and laundry are a little wider and i've widened and/or added windows on the north and reduced or removed windows on east and west for better sun control and furniture placement and you might like splashback and/or highlight windows in kitchen and bathrooms ...the whole plan has not been enlarged and is still the same 249sq, just under 27 squares

The garden will help , and some variety is good , but the low hedge , the white stones , everything there is pleasant enough . But to be honest , I think the problem is the house . The brick is the safest colour you could possibly choose , the lights as already picked look like temporary ones a builder would install just so theres not wires , the door is boring , the windows are not only boring but weird , the roof is similarly nothing , and don't even get me started on the charcoal gutters . Change the $120 door for a $800 timber one , because painting it red or yellow or blue or green will look like a cheap red or yellow etc painted door . Change the windows , or at the very least see if you can get them powdercoated -- charcoal ironically would be nice ( in spite of the gutters ) , or even a silvery blue . I personally think the little segments doesn't suit the house , and would get replacement windows in 2 segments only -- a larger top and a small bottom section would suit the proportions IMO . But on a budget , stick with what is there , powdercoat it AND tint all the sections the same . The gutters -- I'd pick a mid buttery yellow or steel blue for you , as I suspect you don't want to stand out too much . If it was my place , I'd be bright orange gutters and a bright orange door with 3 or 4 glass panels , and the street numbers 25cm tall , and set 3cm out from the bricks , with orange LED lights behind them at night , but not everyone is like me !

If you are referring to the plan posted on another discussion, you only have three windows on the facade, so it would not be a big design choice. I personally prefer 2430mm doors and windows with 2700mm ceilings, and standard height window and doors for upstairs 2500mm ceilings. But every increase to window and door height costs more money, so it goes back to budget.