Yardvaark, thanks much for the suggestions - very helpful. Until I saw your rendering I didn’t realize how much the house was crying out for the massed rounded forms under the windows. Really softens the appearance. As you mention we may need to consider putting in a new walkway further out from the house to achieve the desired effect. Thanks again for the good ideas!

Do you like cottage-style gardens? If so:

Place a narrow lattice so that it runs between the top of the windows and the gutter, then down along the sides of the house—on which to grow vines. Non aggressive ones. For example, depending upon where you are located, clematis vine and possibly a rose. A lattice of cedar, either left to weather into silver-grey, or painted pale grey, would work for this. Use this only in the side with white siding; the brick side could be left as-is.

On the left/brick side, a planting bed that extends about 12ft toward the street and then swings generously around the corner for perennials and shrubs, making sure to incorporate different levels for interest. An ornamental tree in the lawn in front of the brick side of the house, closer to the sidewalk. Then extend the planting bed on the white siding side of the house as well, and continue it along the driveway, perhaps 3ft wide. When it reaches the sidewalk area, it could expand to about 5ft diameter, with shrub, and something structural (mailbox on post, light on pole, boulder, low fence) and flowering perennials. If you use the low fence for structure, plant both behind it and in front of it.

The plantings would be : evergreens for structure; seasonal sequence of color from deciduous shrubs and herbaceous perennials; vines.

TwelveGardens - really appreciate your creative ideas. I’ve thought about the trellis idea for the white side of the house before but need to go to a local nursery to find plants that would do well with a north exposure in the area that is also shaded by the roof overhang. The previous owner put in a rose bush in the corner on the brick side of the house but it seems to struggle and has not bloomed.

On the left side of the house adjacent to the brick front (east exposure)there is a perennial garden with lovely red tulips in the spring and Shasta daises in late summer. I would love to have some of this color in the front next to the house but I’m concerned about the lack of sun. However, putting a bed near the end of the driveway as you suggest would be a much better option. Thanks for the ideas! We’ll definitely give them some consideration.

That's a great idea, to head to the local nursery and discuss plant selection with them—maybe take photos of the house with you to better explain.

ideas:

DigDoug - the house looks beautiful! Love what you did with the landscape forms and colors. Really gives us some useful ideas for improving our home. Thanks much!

maybe go a bit more contemporary with the shutter and door color.