Here is a view from another angle. Thanks!

What style you are trying to create? You can go with so many different styles.

Hello! I am a huge fan of midcentury modern. I love clumping bamboo and muhly grasses. I also love horizontal fence designs and strategically placed privacy screens.

It needs to be landscaped. What keeps you from working in front yard? Do you garden in the nude??? Just saying.... sorry....

I live across from an apartment complex. Lots of transient neighbors and prying eyes. I need privacy without feeling confined.

I'd love the idea of a grey house with white trim and a burnt orange front door.

Think of your landscaping in roughy a c shape. The open end would be along the path to the door. Close to the sidewalk or road plant taller shrubs that are native to Florida. Along the side of the house could be lower shrubs - azaleas if you don't need privacy there. In front off the house also lower. I would do some interesting shaped shrubs along the front of the house because their shape will show up against a light facade. Hinoki Cypress is an evergreen with unique shape. In the interior of the C is either grass or a rockery.

I am a big fan of horizontal wood board fences. If the building across the street makes you feel like you're living in fishbowl why not install a tall privacy fence? Check with your municipality for the minimum setback permitted.

I would add shutters and beef up your porch pillars to stained 4x4s

Thank you PureMichigan60. Thank you for the visualization. I like your suggestions.Especially the part regarding the interesting shaped plants in front of the house. I've thought about getting a local iron worker to create a piece of art for the area of space between the two front windows. Either to attach to the house or something free standing. Plants with interesting shapes could really set it off especially at night if properly lit. Hopefully, without looking too busy.

The neighbor two doors down has the same privacy issue. He put up a 6 or 8 foot stockade fence. Feels a bit extreme from the road, but it allows them to use all of their property without feeling exposed. They even used the front part of their yard to outline a couple of gardens and an area for free range chicken. The right front part of their yard has a giant trampoline for the kids which is private from the road. I've considered going this route. I just think there is a happy medium between functional and stylish. I don't want it to look like a compound. lol

I am definitely going to box in and beef up the pillars (the "stripper poles" have got to go). The other option is to get rid of the pillars using a brace and post technique. This way if we extend the porch out to where the current steps are and over to the right we can still attach a railing to it but also have the structural support we need.

Your neighbors ' house sounds like a fortress... so glad I live where people aren't so obsessed with "privacy "... no offense.

I'm trying to stay away from shutters. I was thinking of adding trim around the windows we we install new ones.

I also prefer trim. You want to add depth to the facade and shutters or trim in a contrasting color will do that.

Exactly Jacknewportbeach, His fence reminds me a bit of old news footage I saw of a certain Waco, Texas incident back in the 90's. I'm looking for something a little less penitentiary.

Thank you puremichigan60, you nailed it. The contrast between the facade and trim is what it's all about. I've recently noticed how many people have no contrast between their facade and trim/shutters. It's especially noticeable at night. I think a house can be styled to look great both night and day.

I have a ton of space in the back. Overall , the house has very little shade. The privacy in the front is so I don't feel so exposed in my coming and going. Also, I love to have the curtains drawn to let in the wonderful (but, at times ,overbearing) natural light without feeling seen. A strategic planting should serve as shade and a touch of privacy.

A few of Ideas: A four foot high horizontal fence with a live oak and silver saw palmettos in front or behind it. Ornamental grasses such as muhly or fakahatchee. Star anise hedges flanking a horizontal privacy screen along the side of the house.

I like the staggered horizontal screens with inter spaced plantings. I also love the slight elevation of the screens to allow for wildlife to cross under.

These all sound good. I'm not familiar with plants specific to your zone. Your point about not wanting it to look too busy is good. Smaller gardens I stick with 4-5 different plants - however, you need each to shield the house or soften the fencing, so that's different. As often as you can use the same plant, I would. And they're almost always better in groups of 3.

The goal is to create privacy that is still open and inviting

Your inspiration pic shows an informal look, which is all about personal taste. Of course, zoning as well. MCM is more precise and spare. Also consider that when varying the depth of each fence panel, you're using up front lawn space.

Here's a creative approach

Plant bush one foot from house under window next to garage. Paint door green or turquoise.

Hi happyleg, I'm undecided with whether to go with a cool or a warm color for the front door. turquoise is tempting but so is a saffron/burnt orange color. The roof is kind of a light grey which is a cool color so maybe I Should keep the door a cool color?

Sunny side or shade? The door is the jewel of your home & welcomes u every day!

The door is on a sunny side and faces south.

Mine does too & is burnt orange!