Since your hardscape comes right up to the house, your only planting option is in pots. Maybe two large pots planted with Mediterranean plants flanking the large window?

So much can be done! Depending on your budget.

If all you want is to frame the big window, I can recommend getting a couple dwarf Italian Cypress trees and planting them in big pots on either side of the window. I had that for a while, and put colorful ivy geraniums around it in the pots.

Colorful, adds height, and so easy to maintain for a beginner.

I would go with trellis or pergola

Italian cypress is very Mediterranean. Also, gravel, drought-tolerate plants, silver-toned leaves. Lavender is a classic, of course. If the beige areas are gravel, you just have to plant under whatever landscape fabric there is. I'd get lavender and sage, but, if you're in California, there are a ton of CA natives that are better for the environment and will give you the look.

Sacramento Mediterranean Garden - Mediterranean - Landscape - Sacramento - by Wildflower Landscape Design at K&D Landscaping | Houzz

Here are a few ideas:

Why isn't the house white?

Thank you for the ideas. This is a computer generated image of our house. It will be white house with brown trim on wooden windows. The planter/gravel in front of the house is actually soil (it just looks that color because its computer generated image). We are looking for best plants to plants to plant in that soil.

Provide your growing zone. Landscape design is an entire profession. when youre planting an entire landscape from scratch, you may want to engage a designer familiar with your immediate area. youll need an irrigation plan, a plant palette, possibly HOA aporovals (??) . youll need to select trees, groundcovers, bushes, possibly add small items of interest (elevated areas or a swale maybe) .

Perhaps start a pinterest board of plants you like, inspiration front yards… join a local garden club, visit a nursery in your area. It sounds like a big project.

I can tell you that the 4th image Beverly posted is Patina Farm, built and designed by Brooke and Steve Gianetti. They had a blog listing all of the Mediterranean plants they used . That whole property, in Ojai, was just eye candy inside and out, though theyve now moved on, to Tennessee. But please check out their Ojai place, especially the blog about landscaping. You will see a lot to inspire you .

Also check out Scott Shrader’s work in Southern California. Lots of Mediterranean designs and plants.

Mediterranean-style landscaping typically features rustic, earthy tones and natural materials. When selecting lighting fixtures for this type of landscape, consider choosing fixtures that complement the overall theme. Some suitable options include wrought iron lanterns, pendant lights with a weathered finish, or traditional-style wall sconces. These fixtures can enhance the Mediterranean aesthetic while providing functional lighting for your outdoor space.

Where in California ? Thet makes a huge difference, coastal vs inland.

Southern CA

What is a growing zone?
I live in southern CA.

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov

If the link works, you can enter your zip code and that's a good place to start. If you live in, say, a zone 10, then you can google plants you like to see if they're a good fit for where you are.

Let us know what zone you're in. But if it's SoCal, you are in a great place for Mediterranean plants, most likely.

Thank you! It says my growing zone is 10a.

I really enjoy the look of the following plants:
small fruitless olive tree
lily of the Nile
dwarf Karo
iceberg white roses
Boxwood

I would also love to add to add plants in various Terra cotta or clay pots.

Those sound great (but I'm not a pro). My zone is similar, and I often recommend rosemary. It smells heavenly, has gorgeous purple-y blue flowers, it is wonderful for cooking, is super hardy (can't kill it), and comes in so very many varieties: from groundcovers to big shrubs. It is wonderful, and will look spectacular with your iceberg roses. I have a ton of those, too.

I have a hedge of white flower coastal rosemary (it has a dusky slightly muted tone I think is kinda special) that grew so fast. I also love my pale pink rock roses, lavender plants, silver carpet dymondia around my concrete paver pathway in front, and bougainvillea, and tea tree plants are easy to grow as well. I also have success with blue oat grass. There is so much you can do.

I haven't checked this lately, but our landscape designer had professional software through Monrovia, where she and I could log in and interactively add and subtract plants. In this way, she could add some which allowed me to visualize them, read about what their growth habits and space and water requirements are, and I could either ok or say no to each plant.

I still think you may need help, or a great gardener to set up your comprehensive irrigation system. The whole thing really needs to have a plan, when you're starting from scratch. I do recommend having help, especially if this is your first time.

@kris fisher… I have two homes in So California, one in Newport & another in La Quinta, vastly different climates,

Bougainvillea would be gorgeous against a white house.