Are you keeping the gravel or whatever is in front of the house? What kind of water restrictions do you have?

Get a landscape designer to plan a mix of hardscaping and landscaping the front that will "frame" the front with rocks, stone, and native plants with water requirements particular to your area.

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In the meantime, some overflowing, flowering plants in large colorful pots would look great on your pillars and so would a garden bench or trellis on the large blank wall on the right to balance out the big garage door on the left.

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Tucker, you have a great mid century modern house, so if you haven’t already, start an ideabook for MCM landscapes.

Taking off from Grover's suggestions, here are some midcentury front gardens photos to add to your Ideabook:

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Thanks, housegal. I just tried to add some photos and lost my whole page. Now I don’t have to. ;-)

No problem. Houzz has been a bit wonky lately.

Thanks for all your ideas! Our front exposure is south. We have no water restrictions and have desert landscaping in the works. The front exterior on the south/west side has no window is really throwing me for a loop. I considered adding a large trellis on this wall with colorful firethorn vine. We are lowering the courtyard wall and adding a brick veneer. The wall inside the courtyard by the garage also needs landscaping. I've considered adding large shutters on the patio window for more of a focal point. I think the paint color needs to be changed as well.

Yes to a trellis, no to shutters on your style of house. Not even sure you need add-on brick. Wait until your landscaping plan is planted then revisit possible painting and other decorative plans. Your house has very nice lines, that hold up well in your desert environment. There's a reason white is often the exterior color of desert houses--it reflects light, keeps the house cooler, and showcases dramatic plantings.

That blank wall is a perfect backdrop for a planter or bed with some specimen plants—palms, yucca, ornamental grass—depending on your zone.

Huntington Beach 2015 · More Info

Lovely, I think those will grow in Scottsdale Arizona. I like the planter idea.

Be sure to make the hardscape an integral part of the design.

Palo Alto Modern · More Info

Definitely no brick veneer.

Figure out a way to work in a citrus tree. Even if you are not so crazy about citrus, it’s a selling point to anyone from Back East or Canada. Totally appropriate for that kind of house, too.

i recommend a blood orange tree, as offering a relatively high value crop. kumquat is the same and has the advantage of being an excellent ornamental.

I have heard that some brands of artificial turf look exactly like grass but without the maintenance. What are your thoughts about incorporating turf to soften the desert look?

No to turf, doesn’t belong in the desert. No fake anything. Will look great with xeriscape plantings, as well illustrated in pics above.

Maybe some artificial turf in the backyard for kids or pets, but keep the front desert.