Hi Jason. Whatever gets talked about or recommended via a picture still needs to be worked out in plan view. So you'll either need to draw a plan or maybe you already have a plot plan of the yard that you can use in order to create a "to scale" drawing (map) of your walk and drive. It's the only way that you'll know that everything fits properly and it'll serve as the instructions when the time comes to build. Depending on where you live and what is required by your applicable building department, it may be useful for permitting. You'll need to check with them. It looks like your drive will be straightforward and without any unusual quirks. You'd want to add a backup turnaround space at the left side since you'll always be turning around and never backing down to the street. Because the grade falls off there, you'll need to bring it up for the turnaround space, accounting for drainage so that you don't end up blocking any route of escaping water. You'd want to make the space large enough to get in and out of the car and also blend the flanking space into the grade fairly gently. You don't want a sudden drop-off at the edge of the turnaround space. You may want to make it large enough for two cars if it must also do duty as a parking space while simultaneously being used as a turnaround.

A chronic, ongoing problem created by builders is in making the walkway to the front entrance too narrow. If too narrow it cheapens the look of the whole house and feels unpleasant to use, especially if there is more than one person approaching the door at a time. I would call 4' the absolute minimum in all cases. 5' or 6' may be fine. Once one arrives at the front door/porch vicinity the walk should expand into a landing that fits the set-up of the porch and the steps. Steps also need to be fairly wide. How wide depends on porch.

Another chronic, ongoing problem with the walk created by builders is placing it too close to the house, consequently killing the possibilities for nice landscape plantings and pinching what plants can exist so they look like they are desperately and distortedly trying to escape. For the health of the plants and the house, plants should not be jammed onto the foundation wall. Shrub centers should be set at least 30" away. Larger shrubs or small tree forms would be set even farther away. In my world a bed should be minimum 6' depth from front to back. If push comes to shove, I would concede to 5' but not like it as much. 6' of bed plus 4' of walk is 10' away from the house as a minimum. It looks like you could do that without running into trouble with the hill. In the real world there are constraints that sometimes force one into making concessions so we do them when we have to and avoid them when we can. Fortunately, the porch projects outward from the house (since the front door is hidden from the drive) helping to make the destination obvious to a guest. You'll want the entrance to the walk to be obvious as well.

The house looks a little exposed. A couple of small or medium trees at the right side would help it look integrated into the surroundings.

The hill looks like a b to mow. I'd consider converting it at some point to some type of farm friendly, rough and tumble groundcover. Some flowering or fall color trees on the hill (not blocking the view of house from below) could be a great seasonal thrill show.

Thanks for the reply. I will get working on a layout. I was thinking of putting a willow in the corner where the driveway turns towards the house. And maybe a couple dogwoods and oaks.

I would forget about plants at the beginning. The drive and walk should be worked out first and and then start thinking about & working on plants. It would be good for you to give some feedback -- whether you agree or disagree -- about the ideas and suggestions I gave you.

Willow is pretty at a distance, but not a good tree where you will see it close up. I wouldn't use it close to the driveway. It's very messy.