Something like this, maybe? I did the rendering you liked, but your house has a different feel, less California Spanish, so the detailing needs to be different. I repeated your house's materials: brick columns at wall ends and corners, with pyramidal caps to echo the roof shapes, yellow stucco(?) over concrete blocks for the walls between columns, brick patio and widened walk. I would probably make L-shaped steps descending from both the full front and the left side of the entry stoop, so no rail would be needed, and would use a heftier column at the corner.

I used all California native plants from the list at sanjose.watersavingplants.com, although (1) I have no personal experience with these plants, and (2) I don't know where you are in California (climate varies greatly from coast to central valley to mountains to desert and from south to north), so these might not be appropriate for you. Choose plants right for your region and your taste. But maybe this can be a start to envision what you would like to do.

And maybe another tree in front (this is manzanita; lots of character and its mahogany-red trunks pick up you brick color beautifully).

Wow! Thank you so much! This is absolutely what I needed and really appreciate the additional tips and recs you have given!!