My first thought on reading your question was that you'd precluded the one thing I immediately thought of, which was to remove the camellia near the door. It unfortunately does not appear to be the dying plant you have your eye on. So I had to think about this one a bit. This forum is a little different from Home Dec, and some of the differences cause us to move a little slower! Obviously the front of your house had the same effect on me as on Rhodium. I've included a link to a question recently posted here with similar problems although the house style is very different. You may be able to appreciate the effect of a blocking plant and a dark door if you see something similar on someone else's house. You may still decide not to change it, of course! The palm by the driveway gives a little character in what seems to be a cookie cutter neighbourhood, so more power to you for keeping it. Given that you don't have much time, the prime part of the look you're after - manicured - may be best achievable just by pruning those boxwoods. But for the colour objective, you either have the wrong plants in, or not enough plants. To add plants you pretty much have to add beds, which means adding work. You see again how your parameters have somewhat precluded helping you get what you want :-) So I'm going to go around your parameters to make suggestions, and let you sort out which ones you do want to flex on if any. I would take out the camellia and put your decorative pot under your house number, not in the doorway. I would also paint the front door a brighter colour. Then I'd use the area next to the front door for your colour bed; it's small, but I think you'd enjoy it coming and going. Prune the boxwoods as well as the bushes to the left which are getting a bit shapeless, and maybe replace those grassy things in front of them with annuals or perennials that you like. Light coloured hostas would work in my zone and provide longer term interest than plants that have only flower interest. If you really want more planting beds, I would add them out further in the yard, something like an island bed out toward the left corner. KarinL Here is a link that might be useful: wanting a welcoming entry

The number one issue is the overgrown shrub on the right. Trim it way, way back. Then post a picture so we can actually see the house. The other thing that jumps out at me is the jumble of stuff at the right-hand side of the driveway. I can't really tell what's there - a hose caddy, a small pot, some pieces of lumber, a few rocks? Clear all of it away and then place ONE BIG pot there with a green plant/plants in it. It doesn't have to be a round pot; you could do a square or rectangle one if you think it would fit better.

While there have been a lot of good suggestions, the first thing I would work on is the right side of the house (Picture right). The way your bushes are currently cut, they emphasizes the slope. I would replace or significantly cut back the bush to the right of the steps (middle of the porch) I would let the one on the end grow to a greater height or replace it with something that grows taller ie Lilac, Rose of Sharon, or Spirea While some have mentioned limb up the tree, The tree as is, blanks out the slab wall of the house next door so I would keep it so I could mow under it. (to me that wall visually detracts from your house. ) It looks like it is close enough to the, that as you drive past your house you would never see the slab wall. The above could be done for less than $50. When you decide to spend more I would work on the front steps. However instead of making them square, I may consider making it half round out of bricks. In this way you would have the functionally egress you currently have, but the open welcoming presentation of the suggested square steps. Eventually I may add a landscape wall out toward the right (picture) ending in a large flowering bush like Lilac, rose of Sharon, or Spirea. I would plant flowers in the planter that was created such as roses or perennial.

You have a lot going on with all the different roof lines and windows and columns. I think what's throwing me off is the two-tone white and brown. I think if all the white and brown was just one colour it might simplify your house visually and bring out the beautiful architecture. At first I thought to paint it all white but then I thought maybe a darker tone of your roof colour. Not sure. As for the ivy, yes, remove it. It covers your red brick and makes the bottom part of your house look squat. Remove it and the bottom red brick will visually be in more proportion. You have a lovely house, the roof line is really cool! Good luck!