I can appreciate what you were trying to accomplish with this. :-) Part of the problem -- at least for me -- is that the bricks aren't stacked in a natural/logical orientation. If they were laid horizontally, so that they gave the appearance of being structural, I think my brain would have an easier time understanding the column (it would appear solid and less like a veneer). The corners/edges would also have been easier to integrate.

We need to know your location - state, nearest big city, to offer specific landcsape suggestions. But, regardless, I think adding deep, curved planting beds to each side of porch will get the biggest bang for your $$. Fill them with combo of low evergreen shrubs for year round foundation & some flowering shrubs. Maybe add a VERY small tree to corner of one side to give some height interest & balance house. Your local nurseries should be able to offer design help or point you to a landscape designer. Pay for the design & DIY the plantings. perfect fall project . Looks like edge of porch on left has broken but the planting bed will hide that if not repairable or hide a couple of cement pavers added to even edge out. No to porch railings - too cluttered, will close in porch & not needed in this case. I’d think about cladding or replacing porch supports to beef them up to a bit more substantial looking. Cleaning walkway yes, but I’d figure out a way to also widen it to the width of raised entry part of porch. Maybe pavers, flagstone or brick. I think the curb at street could be cut to match but if you don’t want to do that I’d still widen the walkway. A couple of white chairs & side table on the left side of porch which is plainer than right side, would be a welcoming feature.

There are freezes, then there are hard freezes. Most hardy plants can survive a freeze with little to no damage. They start having issues at lower temperatures. For example, my bay tree starts having issues below 10F. The usual temperature guideline for hardy roses is about 28F, though I think early spring growth can go a bit lower. I don't know Colorado weather. Our last frost date is also May 30, but we usually start planting out hardy plants in early May. Since the current forecast goes into May, and there isn't any freezing weather in it, I'd definitely recommend that someone local to me get the rose in the ground.

You make a space brighter by turn in on the lights. Black countertops don’t accumulate any more dust than any other color countertops. I wipe my black granite down daily, it takes 20 seconds, and they are shiny and bounce light. What makes the space look small is the clutter - you have stuff sitting out on every surface. I like your style and the shelves are lovely, but you need to clear out all the stuff on the countertops and on top of the fridge, and nothing on the fridge door or sides.