We took out a lilac next to the front entrance walkway; it was perfect in framing our steps, except that it suckered like crazy. There's some kind of maple on the other side that's going to have to go too; it grows too fast and wants to be taller and wider than the space allows. But now I need ideas for some shrub/s:

- attractive... right in our view all the time

- doesn't want to be taller than about 12' or so

- the parts up to about 7' or so are not too wide

(up to about 4') and not so dense they block the view

- can handle about half sun

Any ideas? I know a lot about vegetables and edibles but these landscaping things are kind of new to me...