Could you also back up with the camera and show all the above (and a little more) from a distance, in a single shot, so we can see surroundings?

Sure. Because we are on acres, one shot is pretty tough, but here are three. BTW- we pulled out 20 y/o Spanish lavender and rock roses last year. Left the Mexican bush sage. Thanks!

You're in a wildfire zone right?

Yeah-pretty much anywhere in the Sierra foothills is a potential wildfire area.

Here is a basic planting scheme that could be done. I don't know what plants you'd use in your climate, but they would be what provides much of the personality. It is a single shrub below the window, perennial filling in at each side of the steps and low groundcover in front of the rest.... as much or little as you wished to extend it.

Gosh! Thanks so much-this gives me a place to start!

I love the Sierra foothills native vegetation. You have a lot of really neat native plant material to choose from! As others have noted, you'll want to landscape with fire in mind - Cal Fire has some specific recommendations which you can find at http://www.readyforwildfire.org/Defensible-Space/. 

I don't think that planting shrubs up close to the house (foundation plantings like what is common in the East Coast) is a good idea. If you like the idea of planting something beneath the window, see about using a large, dramatic succulent like agave weberii, or agave vilmorniana in front of the window. These types of plants are fire-retardant. They tend to boil and simmer, then melt instead of going up in a blaze like a shrub might.

Thanks to all for the imput. Fire danger is certainly a real threat to all of us here in the hills. Fortunately, we were pretty grooved into the fire danger aspect of living here when we built our home in the 1990's---stucco house, tile roof, defensible space, large green lawns, well pruned oaks, and livestock grazed fields. It didn't hurt that my husband worked in emergency services and hazard mitigation (saw lots of fire devastation first hand), and my schooling was in environmental horticulture and agriculture. Sadly, I'm still crappy at design! I'm looking at the "fleshy" succulent plants that Josue suggested for under the window (thanks for the placement tip Yardvaark) as they seem to fit most of my needs-evergreen, structurally interesting and medium sized.

And to confirm, my drawing is not a suggestion of exact plants to choose. That's where the owner applies all their needs and desires in order to pick the right plant for them. If the best "shrub" for under the window is an agave ... it's an agave.

Agave weberii in the shade looks so beautiful. The leaves grow large, and recurved. It also lacks the vicious teeth of the more common agave americana also, so it looks like a giant, blueish bromeliad with age. There are some variegated specimens or others that are bluer or more of a lime-green as well. It might be worth looking into those. If you don't get frost, agave desmettiana or agave attenuata look great in my opinion. There's a cultivar of desmettiana called "Joe Hoak" that is absolutely stunning. Furcraea foetida 'mediopicta' is near the top of my list also.

I have some agave weberii that I planted in dry shade last spring. They were tiny pups at the time. I have extras of this one. If you would like a couple, I can send them by mail - just send me a message.

If you're going for texture and interest, you might want to look into natural flagstone of real stone for your walkways. The pieces will tend to be more unique and each one will feature a slightly different texture. You should be able to find a color/type that matches your house or roof, maybe something like this one. Best of luck with your project!