I will try to post more pictures asap. It is currently raining. I also forgot to add that I'm in zone 5b.

Here's a suggestion for a layout scheme. What plants to make it out of is something you could play with. A bed with trees should be sized such that the trees fit comfortably and are not on the edge. If one imagined the tree in a giant pot, the bed ought not to be smaller than what a pot would be.

I agree w/Yardvaark regarding the size of the tree encirclers, and with his suggestion of something low and roundish or horizontal in front of the horizontal window. I also think that when your house needs repainting, it would benefit from not having contrasting trim. I quite like the lines of the house, but I don't think the various colors are adding any benefit....the nice brick colum is enough. The neighbor's arbor & fence aren't adding anything, either...a simple panel elongating the existing bump out on your house might be a positive, or a swelling out planting bed on that corner filled with a little grove of 8-10' shrubs...all same kind. That's a very nice house that will look much better given even very simple landscaping.

@yardvaark Wow, I really like that layout. You're very talented. Thank you.

@samrnn I plan on painting the house soon. The neighbors told me the house has had the same color scheme for 30 years!

I also have a question regarding the "panel elongating the existing bump" you spoke of. I don't understand what you mean. Of you can elaborate I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

There was an overgrown, out of control evergreen in that corner that's bare.

I meant a simple fence panel extending out from your bump out, or perhaps a L, turning a corner, depending on what use you have for the side yard. I would like better a bigger swelling out of Yardvaark's corner planting, giving a bit of separation between the two yards, but that might take a few years to fill out, so a fence panel could be a temporary bolster.

Now that paint color has come up I'll add my 2-cents. I don't think the problem is a contrasting trim color, but I far prefer a medium weighted/neutral body color (essentially some variant of grey) with a lighter trim color (some variant of white.) What's there now is essentially the opposite (insofar as where the dark and light goes) ... a variant of white for the body color and a variant of black for the trim. The very dark trim reminds me of how dark lipstick and fingernail polish has the effect of being ghoulish, spooky or dark of character ... the goth look. To reverse it with a medium body and light trim looks bright, cheery and happier. But when the body and trim is the same color, it starts looking like governmental economizing of a mass paint purchase ... like one would see for army barracks or other buildings on the base.

To me that house has quite a Japanese feel to it which the contrasting trim emphasises. The tree fits that vibe but the blobby little conifers along the front don't.

I agree on the Japanese feel of the house and think you should add plants to encourage that.

I don't like color blocking for this house.

Where is the property line? Is the white arbor and picket fence the neighbor's and the chain link gate yours? My non-professional opinion is that this area is the corner of your frame and could use enhancement or obscuring. The right planting could edit the arbor and building behind it right out of the picture. Agree with Floral's impression as it was mine too. I can see going in a more modern, Japanese direction with the landscaping. (Yard's preference in colors may be a Florida POV. Where I am, Tudor and Japanese dark wood/light mortar/stone combinations seem tasteful, not garish at all.) My first step would be changing the unnatural looking circle of stones around the birch (?) tree in front. Yard made it an oval, and I think obscured the rocks with a groundcover or removed them.

Hey all. Thanks for the replies! Yes the black chain link fence belongs to me. The Arbor belongs to the neighbor. The chain link is right on the property line.

I was thinking of removing the stones around the birch tree also. I hate the black trim, and the previous owner went crazy with the black trim inside also.

Regarding the fence. I was thinking of maybe converting it to a nice wood fence and maybe coming out to an L like sam suggested.

Also the color of the house really bothers me. I'd like a light grey with white trim and maybe keeping the fascia black. I'm not sure how much replacing the fascia would cost.

I really like your house! Yardvaark gave you some good ideas. I would look up mid-century and Japanese style landscapes. A blend of ideas from these areas would work nicely with your house.

The pics below aren't specifically like your house, but to me they have the same vibe.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d6/1e/74/d61e7425a849b73e93cf40179e8bc1ea.jpg

http://www.beeyoutifullife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/japanese-bed-frame-Landscape-Traditional-with-Asian-garden-art-Japanese.jpg

https://d3df8ea8ea59eq.cloudfront.net/photos/6063391372700811264/6133443708202127360/large.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c6/cb/b0/c6cbb01fc18994bea89800bdefc8a234.jpg

It's a work of art -- Piet Mondrian.

I LOVE your house. I agree - it is a work of art