I would try to soften it with two well designed trellises to place on either side of the chimney. Then, add more landscaping to the front beds. I would also paint the roof trim to match your window shutters for a bit more interest.

Resurface driveway, make the flowerbed curved not straight across. Plant an ornamental tree, ornamental grasses, hydrangea, and hostas depending on your growing zone. Add some type of vine up the side of the house. Add a stone pathway. maybe an outdoor seating area.

Landscaping, including some vertical elements.

ilikefriday: Driveway being resurfaced in the next few weeks once it warms up a bit; agreed that it looks awful! Your other thoughts were also appreciated, along with the others: any clarification on "vertical elements" (hbfn) or "well designed trellises"? The house is more of a traditional design; will this look too modern? (as in image above posted by Glo European Windows & Doors). Thanks!

I agree with vertical elements to break up the wall and a focal feature like a little boulder garden with some flowering plants would distract from the wall.

have you considered putting your money into adding windows? or does the interior layout really not allow.

we looked at a house like this.... it was an old old house that had faced a street the other way, with a big front yard. they sold off the front yard and someone built a house on it and then the original house was left looking foolish. we didnt buy but the people who did added windows and made it look stellar instead of broken, increased the value in a big big way.

I would go with a more traditional approach and plant a couple of small trees at the end of the house to soften the facade. Depending on your zone and preferences, an evergreen towards the back and something flowering like a weeping cherry for the front. Have a landscaper give you some ideas for a beautiful side yard.

I agree with L Roberts, a couple of small flowering yard trees would soften the look. In addition to the gorgeous weeping cherry above, consider Japanese maple which has red/purple leaves year round that would go nicely with a medium grey paint. Plum trees have beautiful pink flowers and purpley green leaves. Apple blossoms are barely there pink and some cherry blossoms white. Any of those would be stunning in spring with a solid grey backdrop.

Do you get any sun on this wall, morning or afternoon? Can you add another photo from the curb?

Perhaps a climbing hydrangea if you get a bit of sun to have blooms, it will take shade. They take about 4 years to take off, so you want nice looking trellises while you wait. The first photo, this style could be interesting. If you did a wall trellis, you could add an arbor top, similar idea to photo three or four.

I have a trellis fence to hide 6 rain barrels. I installed sections of plate mirror behind the trellis, it's an interesting affect and bounces light, looks great in the areas waiting for the vine to grow. I got most of the mirror for free on craigslist etc. The trellis is tight enough that the birds don't attempt to fly into it thinking it's sky. Similar idea to the last photo, there is mirror behind.

Beautiful examples Bette P.

Maybe some evergreens? type shrubs plus maybe some low mounding false gold cypress or something...

sorry for the terrible iphone drawing.

I like the idea of a conical evergreen. Anything you put on a trellis will be brown half the year whereas an evergreen will give you color year round.

This is a better shot from the curb Bette P. Thanks again everyone!

nnigrt: any chance you could tell me where the house you mentioned is, or have a pic? I'd love to see what they did, even if only on Google maps!