If the driveway and sidewalks have yet to be installed and you have control over what materials and shape are installed, then you have a great opportunity to enhance curb appeal. Consider the shape of your driveway and how to make it interesting. It will be wide because of the 2-car garage so some type of brick edging or brick lines will break up the expanse. Also consider concrete or pavers to stay with a masonry theme.

You do have alot of shade. Well you can research what would grow best in shade but these come to mind right away: hostas, camellias, hydrangeas, azaleas. I think the long narrow bed is too narrow, not deep enough. The porch is so pretty and the white trim really looks good with the shady setting. What I am going to suggest that you consider is widening that bed and maybe even including some of the trees into the bed. Make it curvy and grab a tree into the bed if it is close enough. I also like what is called island beds. And I have some where you make a big bed around a tree (don't go too deep with soil becoz of the tree roots) or connect two trees into one larger island. The National Wildlife Federation says that wildlife (like birds) like and feel safe in these islands. What about a brick path down the yard, I couldn't see where there was an entry onto the patio but a path would really connect the porch, long bed, and yard. I think you have a lovely setting there, if you're like me your only real problem is money!

I think some gray or taupe from your stones would work

Step one in my book would be to remove the landscape fabric, unless of course it is just there to kill off the grass. It will be an ongoing annoyance, a soil sourer and weed habitat. Step two would be to remove the shutters since they could not cover the windows, even if they were real. Flower boxes can look great but if you mean a box attached to the wall you’d need to consider how it would be fixed, considering the weight, how it would be prevented from staining the house wall when watering and how much time you can devote to maintenance. They need frequent watering, dead heading and feeding and displays usually need changing seasonally. Flowers in the ground below the windows would be a much less labour intensive option. Repeat plants to avoid a blobby appearance. The hosta looks happy so I’d add four or five more of the same variey. Then fill in with multiples of other plants. People will need to know your location to suggest climate appropriate species.