Hi TJ We are an hour south of chicago. Under the picture window size is already set because of the sidewalk. We were wanting to stay even on the other side of the steps so it’s all pretty much shade. I don’t mind staying with shade just wanting to make sure what I have picked out will work

Can you visit some of the many Frank lloyd Wright houses in your area for inspiration? Your house and desire for a low horizontal landscape suggest they may be just what youre looking for.

Great suggestion kitasei. I love FLW and prairie homes

Hope you have some nice big windows on the back of your home …as that is where you will get your best morning light/sun…setting up a breakfast/ coffee spot by the windows….with some nice landscaping in the back …it will be more private …..and more amenable area to put your landscaping $.. as well…focus on an area far enough back to not be in the shade from the house in the afternoon….if possible….to get the most landscape friendly conditions year round…i would put some lighting on some sculptural plantings in the back area to enjoy the garden in the evenings as well

Btydrvn, we have a large picture window about the same size as the front window in our dining room and big kitchen window too. Very sunny and bright in the back of the house. There is zero landscaping back there either but I’m mainly looking for something to dress up the back for now. The money we have for the back yard needs to go to a patio. All we have is a stoop lol

What i would add to the front plan …is a smallish tree in between the windows on the left…something with an interesting silhouette ?…that can be decoratively pruned? Or even one that flowers ? …this will break up the big brick wall section….

in general i would try for a more free form shrub arrangement with a larger curved bed around the tree to breakup the long flat façade

Then add matching big pots …with tall grasses or plants….on each side of the bottom of the porch steps to enlarge the look of the entrance..

this will leave the area just under the window that may be nice to fill in with concrete …or just place a little bench on it….for seating …or just add a row of flowering annual pots on the bench in the summer..

Pea gravel adds and interesting texture to any garden…using that as a ground cover in the area the right of the steps….. would be a perfect foundation for pots and annuals with or without the bench

I like your plan. I also live in a 50's ranch facing north in zone 5b. I am working on redoing the front bed after renovations. Yew, Holly & Boxwood are the main contenders for evergreen shrubs in shade. I decided to plant Taxus x media Densiformis (Yew). I also planted native heurchera (coral bells) which are supposed to be evergreen. There are some evergreen sedges too which I am contemplating. Good luck!

Thanks everyone 🙂