Forget the Chamaecyparis - they won't be happy in much shade and nearly all threadleaf cultivars will eventually get much too large.

Some good zone 7 shade plants would include nandina (heavenly bamboo - watch for invasive issues in specific areas), Japanese holly, azaleas and rhodies or pieris (if soil conditions are appropriately acidic), camellias, sweet box (Sarcococca), hydrangeas, shrub dogwoods and Euonymus fortuneii cultivars. A dwarf Japanese maple could be a nice focal point or if enough room, a witch hazel.

You have lots of choices for groundcovers - the pachysandra would work fine; also lamium, vinca, ajuga, mondo grass or lilyturf. And there's lots of shade loving perennials you could include for some seasonal color.

You might want to visit the library and check out The Complete Shade Gardener by George Schenk. It's kind of a shade gardening bible and with lots of great ideas and photos for inspiration.

Thanks gardengirl! I was thinking about japanese maple. I have 8 in pots... and I was thinking about using one of them...

I'm leaning towards mondo grass for the ground cover. I have TONS of pachysandra and vinca... The previous home owners planted it everywhere...

I was also thinking about Japanese Hakone Grass... I love the look - and I've read it may do okay in shade... I'm just not sure about availabilty and price....

Meadow Lark

Hakonechloa is an excellent choice for a mostly shady position! Depending on exactly where you are located, it should be readily available but not necessarily inexpensive - it is rather slow growing and takes a while to bulk up to a decent sized clump. And it combines beautifully with other shade perennials like hostas, ferns, astilbe and hellebores. It does die back in winter though, if that is an issue.