I suggest that you hire a landscape architect to design a comprehensive plan for landscape and hardscape. You needn't do it all at once, but having a plan will ensure that in the end you will be pleased.

Render wall so it matches the house finish. On front of this wall is where you put your "big shrubbery", the view of the house next door is not the greatest. At front lawn I would have a curved bed or oval lawn with the shrubbery to the rear, that is; bed would be on house side and lawn at path- pavement side. Taller shrubs on the left and descending to low shrubbery on right of bed which will not block view of porch. Contact any local landscape maintenance company, they will know best as to what will grow and survive well at your location. email me if you want a rough idea of design.

Thanks for the great ideas.