I have an asymetrical cottage style, so I understand not wanting to hide the shape. Ours is English cottage inspired, but some of the same elements come into play. Of course, we had to put a porch on ours to create passive solar. We couldn't afford a stone house, so we used stone elements everywhere we could.

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We were in France a few weeks ago. Been to Provence before,too. Since your friend is from France, she probably just needs to know a bit about what is grown in France that will work here in NC.

Are deer a problem?
Are HOA covenants a concern?
Is there a budget for hardscape to build a low stone wall or an aluminum (wrought iron look)? If using a wall, fence or hedge, step it back at least 4 feet from the street so that some gardening flowers can be on that side -- that's more of an American design, but it just looks better in a neighborhood like hers.

Some suggestions:

Lavender (Munstead, Grosso, Godwin Creek, Provence)
Broom
Rock Rose
Delospermi Cooperii (ice plant)
Roses (Knock Out are easy-care)
Nepeta
Coreopis
Snapdragons (tall)
Dusty miller
Thyme would work in lieu of some lawn
Oregano
Dianthus
Valerian
Irises (Dutch, bearded, Japanese)
Black-eyed Susans (unless she wants sunflowers)
Pittosporum (check zone)
Rosemary as hedges if fence is a problem
look/shape like a mimosa tree (but not a mimosa)

Buddleia was also used a lot for hedges, but they actually shaped it into a flat-topped hedge, flat on the sides and kept it waist high.

I like spirea 'Neon Flash', but I don't remember seeing it in France. It works great in full sun, greens up quickly in the spring. Starts blooming in June.

They used a lot of cedars (like Italian), but arborvitae would work here for a smaller shape/scale.

There are boxwoods, but I don't put those in full sun here.

It's rare to see a "lawn", but when you do, it is something like these villas. Lawns are more formal, rather than cottage.

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In pots:
Geraniums
Agapanthus

I saw bottlebrush in several places. Don't know if this color works in your design.

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Buckeye was in a lot of places, but I don't think it does as well here in full sun...more like partial.

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Can't grow these trees:
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Roses and snapdragons:
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I have more photos from France in my gardening blog:

http://definingyourhome.blogspot.com/2008/05/flowers-in-france.html

Cameron

What a cute house!

If a shade tree is put in the front yard, that yard is pretty small -- at least half of the yard will end up in shade, although that would take a while. Big tree -- red maple or sugar maple. Sugar maples do well even in Johnston County so should be OK in W-S. Small tree -- Vitex.

Purple: Homestead verbena, Buddleia, purple penstemon.

For a touch of Provence the only thing I know to suggest is lavender along each side of the sidewalk -- might be a bit of a maintenance bother with weeding though. Rosemary would be good too somewhere in the garden but I'd plant something dark behind it so it won't be lost against the house.