The yellow things are clumps of daylilies that my software had in the library, but you can use whatever you like. Keep in mind that most perennials have a fairly short bloom season, so you will only be relying on them for seasonal bursts of color. You don't give any information about how much sun the area gets, or what the condition of the soil is, so it's hard to recommend a specific plant. The Perennials forum is a good source of suggestions for plants. I'd limit the number of different kinds to two or three, and be sure to plant them in groups, not singly. Repeat each group in several places, more or less evenly distributed across the whole planting area, to visually connect the different parts and keep it from looking spotty, but not symmetrically. In other words, two smallish clumps on one side can be balance by one larger clump on the other. If you choose plants that bloom at different times, you'll have something going on most of the time. Add some spring bulbs for early color, maybe daffodils positioned so the fading foliage is hidden by emerging perennial foliage, or crocus or snowdrops near the door. Keep the annuals in back yard, unless you want to add a container of them at the entry to add a bright spot and emphasize the door. If plant selection makes you nuts, a good local nursery should be able to direct you to plants with the characteristics you're seeking, such as low-growing horizontal evergreens, or rounded shrub that gets 6 feet tall, etc. They'll know your local growing conditions, too. English Boxwood does have an aroma, some love it, some hate it. When I lived in NC a few years ago, there was boxwood around the front door, and not being familiar with it, I though neighborhood cats were anointing my doorstep. I grow it where I live now, but not next to the door.

Every time I've moved into a new house, I've had to watch my pennies, so I am assuming that you need to work with what you have as much as possible. I can definitely see the red siding. I love red houses. I think shutters would also help the look. Maybe in yellow or green? I know they are not "accurate" but it would break up the expanses and give it a little flair I think. You can also buy window inserts that give the windows the look of window panes. The white or cream trim you're thinking of would be nice. Can you have the trim around the windows enlarged when they side it? Also, in your inspiration photo, the corners of the house have the white trim boards going down vertically in the corners, and I think that would add a little something. It's the right side of the house that is really out of balance to me. Maybe you could have a different style siding on that side going up about 3/4 of the way to break that expanse up. Or use the different style above the 3/4 mark......just something to break the big blankness on that side. I can also see some big fan-shaped trellises on that side painted in your trim color. Tall as possible, and then some vines or roses growing up on them. How about some big Annabelle Hydrangeas below to fill in the landscape on that side? Then you could do a large country garden on the left side in a big swooping shape, not lined up in a straight line, maybe even coming out as far as those trees and incorporating them in the big garden. You could mulch with the red or medium tan color to make it a big feature and get some curved lines going. I've used exterior stains to change the color of bricks and it works. I used several colors to get the variations from brick to brick and it was not a hard project. Maybe some darker colors, or maybe yellows and golds and light browns? That window above the door does say 70s, but I think if you put a lace curtain in the window and go big and fabulous on the gardens, it won't take the focus and will look ok. Good luck. I think you can get the look you're going for without breaking the bank.

we are going to tear down that ugly retaining wall and dig out so entire front of house will be exposed... want to add stone entry steps with porch or ? portico. Want to have large mossy and beautiful boulders to look natural and act as retaining wall. How do we get to front door with new plan? I wish we had never bought this place. It's so discouraging. The inside is ok and remodeled but the outside. it does sit on 40 acres but it's just such a hideous exterior.

Pretty room, Congratulations! Will there be a TV in the room? Where the bracket already is Or somewhere else? A floor plan would help in furniture placement. I’m not a fan or chaise sectionals. A quality sofa, a couple coordinating club chairs and ottomans can function well in a space like yours.