Merely a start - remove shrubs, or prune. The entry door is at the side? do you have any Spanish/ Mediterranean vibe? What about accent tiles, in a great place, and design.

Entry door is in the middle on the right, kind of perpendicular to the street. I wouldn't say spanish or Mediterranean too much, maybe a little? There is at least one arched doorway and both bathrooms will have patterned tile. Original pine hardwood floors and white/ marble/ pale blue/ butcher block in the kitchen.

What's the roof color? plantings could repeat and blend - there's feather grass that is earthy rhubarb berry...., etc. maybe for secondary near the tree...

Actually we just finished a new roof I haven't gotten photos yet. It's a grayish color.

I just noticed the great spot for statement entry light.... ?

Yes we could do a nicer entry light. I'm not sure what would look good.

A few angles going on - might like softening grasses -

Mary-Liz Campbell Landscape Design · More Info

Tall, large, but soft -

https://www.amazon.com/Heirloom-Ornamental-Perennial-Grass-Seed/dp/B017BH8DAI/ref=asc_df_B017BH8DAI?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80264440658682&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583863989779657&psc=1

Is that stucco?

Yes stucco

Showing photos of entire front, and entire yard, and even 1 from way back is good.

I'll go get more tomorrow

Online: "How do you grand up an entry? The Red Grass Palm's unique characteristics can attract the eye and direct people to an entry point. Be careful with this application however, as the Grass Palm will certainly reach heights of 10 plus feet eventually, so plan for the future! tropical, southwestern, or modern. It can be used in pots or in the landscape. It’s lush, but drought-tolerant."

https://www.budgetplants.com/plant-blog/red-grass-palm/

Lantana on wiki says height can be 2.5 - 6 feet. Pretty colors.

Paint a clean white, remove the stone making planting beds. Sod the lawn and use colorful plants in pretty pots.

Cute house, nice trees.

$1k is a lot if you are DIYing but not so much if you're hiring the work out...

The concrete ribbons in the lawn make me think of a converted garage. I'd pull those out.

No specific plant recommendations ought to be made until we know the location. Until then only design suggestions are useful. I do agree totally with getting rid of the stacked concrete blocks.

Are you flipping, renting or living in it?

1. pull all the shrubs

2. get rid of al those pavers acting as a garden bed

3. re seed the lawn

4. paint the trim

5. get rid of all the dangling wires.

6. put trim around the square windows

7. if you can diy paint it off white do so.

8. house numbers.

You cannot put a hanging light in that entry it would hang too low and feel looming, I would go for a slender flush mount wall light instead.

I'd disagree that $1000 will get you very far, even DIY'ing. I can easily spend that much annually on new plants and garden supplies! Exterior renovations do not come that cheap.

Get rid of the blocks, remove the concrete in the lawn and work on lawn improvement and add a couple of light fixtures....there won't be much left of the $1K after that but what there is, invest in some permanent landscaping.

btw, DON'T pull all the shrubs until a) you know what they are and how to deal with them; or b) have the funds to be able to replace them with preferred choices. Ripping out healthy, functional and prunable shrubs is the equivalent of throwing $$ away!!

I disagree that those shrubs are functional in those locations. get rid of them. especially the one on the far right.

That arch window on the left is missing its chance to shine with the trim being painted the same color as the house. IMO that window is one of the best features you have going, it should be amped up with contrasting trim color. Something like Urbane Bronze (similar to what you have as existing trim color elsewhere? it’s hard to tell) might work with White or creamy white color for the body of the house. In addition to trimming the shrubs and removing the pavered edging, proper steps/landing across the center opening (assuming the entry door is off to the right there?) would make a big difference.

I would be tempted to trim up bush in front of the window, lay sod ($$ but is usually a game changer) add a large statement urn with eye catching flowers at the base of the ramp on the left -

On houzz, for information: "If you are facing your own staircase challenge, Karcher advises readers to consider the rest of their home’s exterior. Is your house simple and modern? If so, choose something a little more understated with clean lines, she says. Or is your house older and elaborate? If so, consider something more ornate and decorative, such as paved steps or an ironwork railing."

• Remove the falling down block planter
• Remove or tie up the dangling wires
• Remove the extra cement unless you need it for parking. You can break it up with a sledge hammer and haul it away.
• Remove the temporary ramp
• Remove the broken vertical blinds inside
• Remove the satelite dish if you can
• Re-seed and revitalize the lawn
• Replace the light fixture with something more bold that fits the style of the house
• Create some flower beds around the foundation of the house and plant perenial flowers
• Paint the house (white) if it's within your budget

houzz: "The design team paired the cambara with PVC trim [for stair risers], because it resists sunlight, holds paint well and is easy to work with, Squier says. The PVC also wards off rot and insects, he says, making it a perfect wood substitute in areas exposed to water and sun that sit close to the ground. PVC risers used to create this small staircase."

-------- if you get snow, I think they say should be concrete stairs.

---- like this photo, what about stones between 2 concrete walkways [from the sidewalk]? and remove 1 at the left.

North Chatham New Construction · More Info

You could also have groundcover between the 2 long walkways somehow... but with stones too?

On concrete a bit to the left of entry area? W 20.87"/ H 39" / 22 lbs.

It's $224.

Outdoor 2-Tier Pedestal Waterfall Fountain · More Info

for $236.

20.5" x 36.5"

Outdoor Stone-Look 3-Tier Floor Fountain Gray · More Info

Is an outdoor rug in the open space practical?

Harper 5'3"W x 7'6"L Power-Loomed Mali Area Rug in Tanzania · More Info

Marina Tribal Stripe Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Gold, 3'3"x4'11" · More Info

just get back to square one, paint, and add window frames to match trim new black mailbox and house numbers.

The cheapest way is DIY painting. Get inexpensive spray and paint with white color.

I would plant some shrubs or flowers between paths and trim existing trees.

The house is already a pleasant rich cream color and goes well with its roof -- painting it white would not be an improvement, IMHO, so spend your money elsewhere. Other than that lots of good ideas above.

It seems like this would work really well with a mid-century modern style, so you do not need to have a lot going on. I would say a contrasting color for the trim, door, and windows. Something like turquoise or orange. Planters that tie your colors together would be great, some taller ones that create visual levels. Finding a way to put up some string lights always makes a place seem more fun and romantic in my opinion. I can’t see the tree but that might be a good place for them? There are some great solar ones out there. Gravel between the cement lines would be low maintenance. Obviously, trim the plants, but I would wait to add other plants last.

The existing paint color may not work as OP stated they put on a grey roof.

It may need repainted.