Landscape with shrubs.

You need 2-3 small trees, some medium sized shrubs and a flower bed!

You can also buy solar garden lights on overstock and add them around the shrubs.

The first thing I would recommend would be planting a large shade tree or two as a long term solution for cooling the whole space and even your house.

For creating privacy a perimeter planting of shrubs, small trees and tall perennials will start to provide a barrier from the street. A low fence would also help create a psychological barrier and make the space feel more like a semi private area and less like a front yard.

I've attached a couple of pictures of a front yard of a corner lot that was landscaped a couple of years ago to create privacy and make it safe for young children. There are more pictures of this project on my business website at www.acultivatedart.com

You could warm up the home by painting the beige a chocolate grey (more grey than chocolate) and then a lighter version that blends with the room where the white is now. To avoid the expense of a fence or shrubbery you could extend the front porch area with a pergola-type design that doesn't obstruct the view but sets a barrier area, and focus the landscaping around the front area. At least at first -- then slowly branch out into the other areas (adding a semi closed area around the carport, that would be in line with the pergola design but offer a bit of privacy). Nope, not suggesting shutters here, unless you want to use them to build privacy screens and enclose the carport to make it more of a living area. ;-)

Your house reminds me of the "Brady Bunch" home - I love the style. I would play up the 70's/mid century look to enhance the architecture. A round clear globe front porch light. A red or blue front door less victorian and in a style more cohesive with midcentury. For plants (depending on where you live). A mimosa tree would be prefect for this in front. It's drought resistant with a pretty shape and lovely flower. Also, playing on the mid-century modern look, it you get a palm tree in your landscape, and plantings that aren't symmetrical, it would look great. Italian cypress (planted in a row) would make a very nice, tall privacy shield. I've included a couple of images of midcentury homes. Here are some images that may inspire you.