From what I can make out, it seems you are doing what is commonly called "overplanting" meaning putting too many plants in too small of a space. When you are starting out fresh this seems like a good idea because the new plants are small and the area looks good, not sparse. But the small plants quickly outgrow the space and then you have problems--it looks messy, you have to constantly prune, you can't get around the plants to maintain them, weeds hide underneath and around them, and they hold moisture against the house which can cause wear and tear. It is very important that you read and follow the plant labels and space your plants allowing for the mature size of the plants. If the label doesn't tell you the species of plant and mature size, don't buy it, find a more reputable nursery to buy from. As for barberry, I don't much care for it even discounting the invasive part. I spend a great deal of time pulling it out of the native woodlands adjacent to my planted spaces, so I really think it is a mistake. Good alternatives are dwarf fothergilla, Pieris japonica if you have deer problems in your zone, (is that what "Japanese Dorothy" is?). Lowbush blueberries, winterberry holly, magic carpet spirea, dwarf weigela, dwarf sweetshrub, dwarf clethra, golden globe arborvitae, shrubby cinquefoil . . . all good alternatives to barberry.

I would extend the concrete landing all the way to the edge of the left window and then have the step going the full length of that facing front. Then run the railing down the left side of the landing and steps. In order to meet building code, your landing should be a minimum of 36x36.

Missing still are large chunks of the view that are important to the yard. You are not capturing the problem with steps in the photos. (They look like some kind of stained, textured concrete.) I would not have necessarily added them like that. But they are there so I wouldn't necessarily remove them. If your drive is too steep to walk on comfortably, the steps are probably actually useful. If they need a handrail is better judged on site, as photos can be very misleading about grade. It looks like the grass could stand being fertilized, watered and mowed regularly.

If you can't afford tile, get cement pavers in a brickish color. Another option is larger square cement pavers with a row of brick between them. I'd vote for one, wide step that curves around. Something like this, except with a row of brick instead of the gravel.