Generally if I am asked about foundation plantings I refer people to this link: http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/other/landscaping/hgic1702.html It contains a lot of good information that should be taken into consideration when choosing plants for this purpose. The information is good even if you aren't in the same zone since you just substitute in plants that are appropriate to your zone.

Is there budget to do some hardscaping?

Jagood- if we can do the work in stages (to spread out $) then we could add hardscaping to the design. What are you thinking?

While I think the design you posted is beautiful, it will take a lot of trimming to keep it like that. Little princess, despite it's name does mot stay little. :) actually, non of what was suggested will remain small. If you are looking for low maintenance, these plants won't do well. However, the scale and design are very nice for your house.

Jessica, that is an excellent link for landscaping design. Thank you!

I agree, it has excellent advice!

I think you need to connect the driveway to the front door with more than the stepping stones - thus was wondering about hardscape. I'm also a big fan of a "layered look" in plant beds, with various heights, which your example seems to have but I still don't think that plan is quite right. One thing you can do is walk around your neighborhood, or another neighborhood where you admire the landscaping, and take some photos and try to determine what it is you like about those yards. Since they are in the same geographical area as you, those same plants should do well in your yard. Plus you have a better idea of what the plants will look like when mature.

Then take a photo of your house from further back than the one you posted, without the car in the driveway. Convert it to gray scale, and print it out 8X10, and start drawing your ideas on top of it. I did this to your house, and could see several ideas that might work, but it is difficult to tell because too much is missing - we need to see part of the street and the entire driveway and side yard on the right side of the photo. Even if at this stage you are just going to worry about the foundation planting, if you have an overall plan to work toward you won't have to rework an area already done. I don't see any trees in your yard, and I think the right tree(s) should be part of the landscaping plan.

Post the photo that shows the entire front and we may have some additional specific comments.

BTW, could you consider getting rid of the exterior light fixture on the window side of the door, and installing a larger and more dramatic one on the other side, positioned in the center of the space?

Jessica- great link- thank you! Jagood- that's exactly what I plan to do with the exterior lights. I think the window/shutter allows for a good balance with one lamp.

Re- pictures from further away. I will have them up later. Your feedback is fantastic! I definitely did not know the level of maintenance nor the size of the mature plants.. Also have not considered a more distinct pathway.

I think the biggest improvement you could make to your garrison style home would be to spend the bigger bucks on a new entry with low plantings to enhance the "garrison" style.

Additional pics attached. These are full house shots meant to show Japanese maple (I think) and large rhododendron,

the plan is not for you - too much trimming required. looks good, but plant selection should consider MATURE size.

Since you have said you are planning to rip all the plants out, perhaps you are open to the idea of trying some different pruning styles on the existing plants to lower them below the window openings. The secret is in using good sharp tools. If you can arrive at a pleasing height and form for the plants under the window, you could then plant some low growing plants in front of or around those shrubs. I am envisioning them pruned in a more natural open form and less like a flat top hedge, but lower than the windows. The rhododendron can also be pruned to resemble a small, more open tree - you can find examples looking at Google images. By opening up the bottom of the rhododendron, you can continue a planter bed in front of and at the base of the rhododendron. I'm not sure of your location so don't know plant to recommend, but I'd rip out the shrub right next to the porch step and plant something more dramatic and colorful, but with controlled growth (something you see growing in your neighborhood that you like). Some plants come in miniature form.
If the pruning experiment fails, all you've lost is your time since you were planning to rip the plants out anyway, and if it works you will have saved yourself a lot of money and time.

There are lots of videos online that show pruning techniques and the tools needed. Your beautiful maple is getting lop-sided and could benefit from a professional pruning too.

Photo shows a side yard, with the plants next to the house looking similar to what I envision under your front windows - i.e. less rigid structure, varying heights and textures.

Jagood- I am intrigued by the idea of a pruning run before ripping everything out (and my husband even more so). Looks like we have our work cut out for us. I also love the pic- and the less structured look. You did mention hardscaping in your initial comment. What would you do in place of the stones connecting the driveway to the front door>

decoenthusiaste- I so wish we could re-do the entry but I just don't think the cost is doable. Maybe in a few years..

ddrake25 - now that we can see the total yard and driveway without cars, I better understand why there is a small step-stone path from driveway to the front door. The widened driveway creates an awkward looking space, but looks like needed function.

When you redo the planter bed under the window nearest the driveway, maybe you can widen the bed slightly, and move the pathway toward the street somewhat, and eliminate that bit of turf in the portion where the enlarged driveway ends. You could beef up the path to look more like the photo I posted. But honestly, I'm not sure that this will make a big difference.

I've been studying the asymmetrical nature of your house and yard, and trying to figure out a way to bring it into harmony within budget. My eye sees the roof line of the front entry, with the longest portion "pointing" toward the driveway, and my eye wants to move in that direction. But the view in that direction is an awkwardly enlarged driveway that feels like it is encroaching where it doesn't belong. So I am asking myself what can be done to encourage the eye not to notice that awkward situation.

The windows across the top are not evenly spaced, and I think that is why the roof line on the entry was designed with the long sweep in the driveway direction. Have you considered painting the entry and the lower portion of the house the same color as the top (similar to the photo that decoenthusiaste posted)? (But DON'T emphasize the roof line of the entry.) Also, paint the front door a noticeable accent color. (Color experts can help you with that choice.) You want the front door to become a focal point. These changes, along with the new light fixture you mentioned should help it become a focal point.

You could also consider a small planter bed around the base of the light pole fixture you have by the street. This would also help our eye stay focused on the right side of the front door.

With the above changes, and the landscaping changes already discussed, I think the asymmetrical nature of your house and yard would become an asset. But I would definitely play around with printed elevations of the front (in light gray scale) and draw on top of them to get the feel for what the changes would look like. BTW, beautiful trees in the background!