Any plant suggestions for our zone 6/7? We get really cold here. I do have pachasandrya in the front beds for ground cover, would that work back here as well? Tree suggestion?

A tree could be something like lilac, burning bush (even dwarf,) PG Hydrangea, some of the medium sized Viburnums, a large deciduous Azalea, etc. (It can't be a shrub that suckers badly.)

Pachysandra would work AFTER some protective shade developed from the tree. You might use something else -- even annuals -- that will tolerate the light conditions, on a temporary basis.

For the tree look into a multistemmed sweet bay magnolia--Magnolia virginiana--lovely small true and fully hardy in your zone. Fully hardy in mine. Another possibilitly==Viburnum prunifolium- Black Haw, naturally a tree shape and lovely in all seasons.

While it may be possible to keep sweetbay magolia at 12' ht. (optimum here) I would look for something smaller in order to minimize the height trimming.

Yes, this is very close to my house and not that big of a bed...I would like something flowering though for color if possible. I have also considered adding some sort of pots to this space or a water feature. But, for now this may be a simple fix to do a small tree with ground cover.

If you want color, that's what annuals are for. However, all low plants will do nothing for the wall blankness. Your photo doesn't show it, but the roof blankness needs to be mitigated as well. Sounds like a small tree's job to me. Color? Flowers? A lilac is delicious by the back door.

what about hanging some art on that wall? Even just a group of cheap canvases from the hobby store painted bright colors?

Thank you again, this is very helpful. I have a lilac in front that I believe is "beauty of Moscow" Would that be the best choice here? So many varieties of lilacs and I do love them!

And yes, up to this point, I have done all low plants and herbs and each year I am not satisfied with the results.

Nothing wrong with art on a wall, but it won't give a sense of shelter/protection that a small tree offers. I'm trying (again) to convey that that's necessary.

I think that the lilac is perfect...advice on which one would be the best as there are way too many choices, dwarf tree? Bush? I like the multistem look though, the single tree look doesn't seem as interesting to me.

Single trunk will do nothing for alleviating wall blankness. There is no "best". Shop for any common lilac capable of getting 12' ht. ....so not a dwarf intended to be kept as a shrub.