Maybe this will work:

They all look pretty nice to me. You could trim them and then extend the bed out by adding plants in front of them that won't grow quite so tall. I often see this done with low growing azaleas, and in front of them, a line of liriope.

That sounds good. Thanks for bringing the pic. up, too!

The one in the front used to be hidden behind something similar, only larger. Repeated trimming has left the back side of the plant looking pretty bad, dead sections showing and all, and it kind of looks funny behind the arbovitae. The other two are nicer, and I can't really justify getting rid of them. The house is on a corner, and the section from around the chimney to the gutter drain is in full view driving down the road, so it's somewhat worth fixing up. Not that anyone notices, but you know :)

Lol! No idea what 'sweet briar' is. I did suggest Itea Virginica 'Henry's Garnet' or 'Little Henry', they can take a bit of shade and have great fall color. Yews and boxwoods can take shade, those may be better choices for you since you probably want some winter interest in the foundation plantings. I'm not real keen on deciduous shrubs up against the house. Maybe one, but you may want to consider chosing evergreens so that things don't look messy in winter....

Yeah, I think you're right. I had a Japanese Maple put in the, and it's somewhat desolate in Winter.

You know, some of the big hollies at the nursery were pushing $300. I'm afraid if I bought one, my landscaper would soon be raising his rates!

Yews can handle pretty much any sun exposure - they are tough. I don't think red twig dogwood would give you enough color without full sun.

There is a shopping center near me that did a row of laurels (cherry or Otto Luyken) in the back, small evergreen azaleas in the middle, and liriope in the front. It is really attractive - the contrasts of the different sizes and shapes of leaves looks great.

Well, in seeking to address this "side of the house" issue, I was wandering nurseries. May be getting in too deep :)

I saw some fancy evergreens trees called, Chamaecyparis Nootka Pedula. There were also smaller ones called "Weeping Nootka Cypress" which I'm not sure are the same thing. Anyway, you see the arbovitae in the pic. It appears to be along the border of the house, but it's actually 3-4 feet away from the house. That leaves the front of the house with "sharp edges", which annoy me. I'm thinking to replace the arb with the Nootka Pedula and move the arb to the side of the house. In addition, add a "densiformus" yew which is wide spreading and a bright green color. I saw some other interesting and inexpensive shrubs such as hicksii yews (upright), small emerald green arbs, "halo" dogwoods, and "serviceberries". If I'm going to buy the big evergreen, I'll probably go lighter with these things though. .. or I could skip the Nootka and go heavier on the small stuff. Still mulling it all over.

I'm in the process of replacing my mother's front foundation plantings. Does anyone have any suggestions that are evergreen, stay around 3' tall without pruning and are easy care. I will need 6 plants to put there. I have everything else I'm using, dwarf nandina, May Night Salvia and Crimson Pygmy Barberry but need some suggestions for the rest.
Thanks

First I see nothing wrong with the side plantings that a nice trim wouldn't fix up. The taller arborvitae or whatever that is would look spectacular ringed by some pygmy crimson barberry (or depending on your taste, goldens too) - give them space to spread out. I'd front the existing side foundation plantings with something lighter in color- perhaps some nandinas (fire power, not gulfstream) or perhaps a nice low-growing mopping juniper in a nice golden or chartreuse color, then front it like others said with some liriope- but with the lighter shurbs in front I'd go for the darker unvariegated type, planted en masse- or to be a little different a line of daylily would be grand too- something reblooming to extend the season. I'd plant the area where the gutter extends with a triple grouping of giant hosta (behind the tall evergreen and barberries as a nice transition between front corner and side). Is that your gate? If so, I'd install a nice set of slate or other stone at sod level to define the area. If not, I'd just cut the sod from your edge of the property forward to the front corner of your home and plant something low to the left of the forsythia there which I'm glad to see you've let grow out and haven't slaughtered in to a ridiculous looking top-heavy shrub. Less grass to worry about. Another nice plant is spirea. I like little princess or lemon varieties- they are a nice, rounded plant, flower profusely (no scent, but fun color) with good foliage color (deciduous) and tolerate most conditions both in soil and light. As for your Jap maple, I've underplanted mine with narcissus and blue hostas- one follows the other so in early spring when it's budding out we have the nice burgundy leaves with the bright yellows underneath, then when the narcissus is done the hostas sprout up a deep blue green. It works and I love the contrast. I have three varieties of Jap Maple- two weepers, one upright and they all have companion plants. I have a line of Burning Bush I've paired with low growing junipers and book-ended with abelias-they are blasted with morning sun and have shade in the afternoon and love it and get quite red in the fall.