Maisie (6b)'s idea to check for utility locations is a good one...call "Dig Safe". If you think you have any space for trees, I recommend you start your project with trees. They are the backbone of your landscaping. They say "the best time to plant a tree is yesterday. The second best is today". A small bare root tree you plant now will cost a fraction of a large Balled & Burlapped tree you buy in five years...and have a better root system. (Thus being more resistant to drought and wind). The little things can be planted whenever, and you will likely change them several times over the years. Spring is one of the best times to plant trees. See if your County Soil Conservation District has a Spring seedling sale. Generally deciduous trees go to the south (To provide summer shade but not block winter sun). Evergreens go to the north to block winter north winds, between you and the neighbor with the ugliest house, and between you and the nosiest neighbor. I'd visit a local arboretum to get a sense of what trees you like and what options you have. Also look at what grows well in the neighbor's yards...and most importantly, what doesn't. All gardening is local...you will find lots of regionally inappropriate advice online. How many feet from the road to your house? Are there above ground power lines? How far from the street is your oak? Do your neighbor's have a row of street trees you can continue? What is your USDA zone? You could put a small tree in the corner where your walkway meets your driveway. (Really small...think serviceberry or maybe Winter King Hawthorn). Foundation plantings are generally overused...but you have the kind of foundation that calls for them. I always like holly for it's winter interest and Rhododendron for it's huge flowers. Both are easy if you have acidic soil, and I think both tend to look better in irregular shapes then boxwood or yew would. Boxwood, privet and yew look formal, tend to look lousy unless maintained meticulously, and can look "dated". Really an aesthetic choice....to do you prefer the sharp-angled "formal" look or a splash of color in the right seasons? How meticulous do you think you will be about trimming? The other alternative is to pick something that can be cut to the ground and grow back for ease of maintenance. (ie Diablo Ninebark). Those sorts of plants tend to be deciduous and thus not as interesting in the winter. You don't have room for much between your walkway and your house...but you could stick some easy bulbs (eg Daffodils, liatris, nodding onion) there. Or you could turn that strip of grass into a much bed and put perennials there...although that would be more work. If you are willing to put in more work and money, I might put in a hedge (possibly holly) or a picket fence with climbing vines. (Roses or grapes) along your border between you and the pale yellow house.

Dennis - Unless I missed it, you didn't say what direction the front of your house faces, and how much sun it got, that is, if it's sun is obstruction by tall buildings on the other side of the street. The other very, very important thing for you to think about, of which other Houzzers might not be aware is that Southern California goes through extreme water shortages pretty much every single year, and many areas are told to not water their lawn or do it only minimally for parts of the year. That should really inform how you think about landscaping. Admittedly, I do understand if you despise cacti and other succulents. But you might want to seriously think about eschewing live grass in favor of artificial turf. There are marvelous artificial turfs now that would fool anyone, certainly from standing height, and you obviously don't need to water it and think of all the $$ you save in gardener's fees, and none of those those pesky varmints rolling up the sod, either.! You can can still have specifically carved out flower beds, and trees and bushes with planned irrigation for those specific areas. Your area abounds with very experienced landscape architects. You want someone who has an artistic eye, and who knows hardscape and who is very familiar with the plants that do well in your area, and is familiar with the exigencies of life in SoCal and in your microclimate and can speak frankly with you about what you want to get out of your garden and how much work you are willing to put in to it. Do you sit outdoors in the front or the back? Do you want fragrant flowers on a trellis where you sit there or will a fragrance annoy the heck out of you? Will you sit outside in the morning or night, so do you need flowers that bloom in the am or bloom in the evening with colors that will be seen sell in twilight and at night? Do you want an herb garden for cooking? Do you want vegetables? Do you want several rose bushes so you can fill your house with roses, or other flowers so you can always have bouquets? Of course Dig Doug's designs look fantabulous as always, but note that his designs show significant hardscape changes to the front of the house. You might want to think about saving up some money for the hardscape work. If you get rid of the grass and put in artificial turf, you will end up saving a fortune of money on your water bill that you can put toward hardscape. If you have never owned a house before, you would not believe how much the water bill will be, and when you add in watering the lawn, holy moly!

Are there examples of landscapes you like? Did grandma have a favorite plant that would make you smile every time you saw it? Do you like lots of color with perennials and swaying ornamental grasses. Do you want the lowest maintenance arrangement possible? Is there a season you'd like to highlight. What would you like to create? My genius zone is creating from your heart and soul. Use this as a chance to express yourself. What do you want to say, what do you want it to feel like? Do you want a lush shade garden that is warm and welcoming? Do you want to celebrate a loved one or pet that has passed? Do you want the outside of your house to be a reflection of you the way the inside of your house is a reflection of you? Once you find an idea or concept that makes your soul sing this will be a complete joy to create. If you want more ideas on that let me know. Good luck and show us pictures once you're done.

There are some wonky architectural details that about which nothing can be done. Others can be painted to minimize that a simple has been subdivided into multiple parts, making the overall picture look busy. I'm using Microsoft Paint, which sucks at changing house colors, but here's an attempt to show the upper trim (near roofs) consolidated as a single trim color (white.) The lower, horizontal trim band, and everything below it, I'd try to make disappear by painting either the body color or something very close to it. Beyond that, the house needs the landing and walk expanded. Get rid of the planting bed at the inside corner of where the walk meets the drive. Plant a standard foundation planting. And it always helps to add windows to a garage door.