It does feel a little too flat. The landscaping needs more variation with texture, color, and changes in height. Have you looked into a local landscape company to help add more character?

Not as of yet, however, I suspect we will. I wanted to get a feel for the community suggestions.

Great size yard to work with, especially on the left side. I can see a continuation of the formal theme, adding to what is already there. Don't know your budget, but it would be great to have some pathways around formal plantings. Could you do gravel with pavers as a walkway. Gravel is a great formal look but don't know how it works in your climate. Add height with some taller evergreens, or a trio of small trees on each side of a central bed. This sort of idea but with square lines.

I agree: the house looks great but the landscaping needs a complete overhaul. The best advice you will get here is to hire a professional who can lay out your options according to your budget. The other thing I am noticing is that the grass is petering out under the magnolia. A professional can help you with that, too.

Add some pinks!

This is the time to decide whether you want to keep a formal look, or go more casual. It's really a matter of preference. Either way you can keep what you have and add to it.

Too many straight lines and landscape is way too close to the house. You need to curve it, bring it away from being smashed up against the house.

I love the formal look and with the boxwood, you're on your way. Look a these great British gardens http://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/topiary-gardens.html

Or something like this with softness round it. I have a neighbor who has low boxwood along their sidewalk and it looks great (you could do that with the plan from parity above. It grows slowly (at least in North Carolina) and you don't have to cut it often so you can keep that boxy look that really frames they yard.

I would put mulch under the magnolia. It' competing with the grass and in Dallas I would imagine the grass loses.

If you can afford that house, you can afford a local pro, who will design, and arrange for plantings, excavation and all entailed.......appropriate to your home, and region. You're under "treed............ and a bit of berm would help too

It's a formal look and I'm not disliking it. In Dallas as somebody posted above I'm not sure Limelight hydrangea or any hydrangea would work, but would look beautiful added to the long side to soften up the, "formality". I do love boxwoods, but mine are far enough (for a while) where they don't touch and so they are just more rounded even though I have never manicured them as I do like them to blow in the wind and such... they still keep a nice shape.

You might look in to hydrangea if they work in your area and get perhaps the Limelight if they do as they bloom on old wood and are fairly maintenance free. They have lovely smaller scale trees as well as bushes which grow at a fairly good clip. All still in keeping with your formal look (again, like it and the boxwoods too) and adding some interest.

Limelight or Little Lime...

Have you considered lining the path to the door with a dense low flowering shrub and some path lighting? It would add a lot to the house as well.

Might be best as mentioned to consult a local landscaping person to better help you with things that work in your zone.

A path light that would look lovely incorporated in to the walk:

Big tree to the right of the house…how about a seating area to the left to balance?

Run a pathway off your front walk:

wow, lots of great ideas that I didn't think of to add just that interest we're looking for. Thanks to all of you for taking the time to share your ideas. The color, shapes and textures will add so much. Much appreciated!

Cut out a kidney shaped bed on left, flank with rock wall. Plant with one deciduous tree that would be main feature and accent with shrubs and/ or grasses for your zone. Try to go for low maintenance.

Beautiful home btw and having just moved in myself, I have the same problem, flat no life and all bland in color,... there are tons of great suggestions here!