To me, the back row looks like schip laurel and the front row boxwood. I find the layered look of a hedge in front of a hedge in front of a hedge, unappealing, thinking it looks pointlessly redundant. I think a hedge or shrub at the back (which is a form of "wall") and just a groundcover (a "floor") in front of it is more than enough.

Agree with YardvaarK, Prunus laurocerasus cultivar (Otto Luyken is one possibility) and Buxus aka Box. I can't see any Gardenias. Some sort of pale annual in picture 2.

The Laurels are young and would need regular pruning to keep them from overpowering the box balls. Which, of course, would need even more frequent maintenance.

What I see is that maybe? you don't have the depth to pull it off. You will need to measure it (the frontage) to get a sense of what will work there. Also your windows on the first floor are very small, I think I'd maybe be inclined to put something with more density there. Boxwood, here (where we get freezes) is imo a very unsatisfying shrub as it has so little to offer, looks ratty and collects trash but it does have those associations people always seem to go for (estate homes etc.). You will have to like to prune as well, I don't know about how it will look on a slope, but certainly, you can borrow elements and use the pic as inspiration. If you take away the red in the planters on the steps what your left with is bland bland bland.

As you have discovered, a 6' deep bed is too small to do the three-layer look. You might be able to do the two-layer look if you choose your plants wisely.

You sound a bit OCD, like me - nothing wrong with that! My OCD-ness runs toward color. No orange or pink in my gardens. At all. Whites, blues, greens, yellows. And a bit of red. :)

The laurels in the first picture are definitely 'Otto Luyken'. In my part of USDA 8 the prunus shot hole that is often seen affecting cherry laurels in general appears to particularly bad with this cultivar.

Otherwise this selection is genetically programmed to grow a lot bigger in time than its common usage in schemes such as the one shown here allows for. For instance a comparatively old planting at the Seattle arboretum is maybe something like 12 ft. tall. And unlike a small-leaved plant such as box, Japanese holly or yew cherry laurel cannot be sheared into geometric shapes without leaving it with quite visibly fragmented leaves.

Maybe you should just hire somebody to come and view the site, discuss your ideas and then draw something up for you to work off of.

Start by getting rid of the retaining wall. It doesn't add anything, and is getting in the way.

If you are willing to do the necessary trimming, you can definitely have the same plants on either side of the door. The ones on the right (as we see the house) will simply be taller. Since the house wings aren't symmetrical, I wouldn't plant those symmetrically anyway.

One way to deal with a problem like this is to change the axis of symmetry.

Design consultations are typically only verbal.......a plan or drawing will always cost more as it requires a lot more time to prepare. That you were emailed a plant list is a bonus!!

Online feedback can be very mixed and sometimes not all that helpful. Much is not coming with any landscape design training or background but just the personal opinions of other gardeners/homeowners. Onsite, personalized input from a design professional is always preferred as they can see for themselves the specifics of the area being discussed and evaluate soil and light conditions firsthand. And know how plants behave in your particular location.

6' is the minimum depth for a foundation bed.....8-10' is much better and you could go even deeper with a two story home. Can't see the retaining wall clearly enough to be able to offer any advice but maybe consider removing entirely......doesn't look like it is retaining much of anything and all you are really dealing with is a raised bed:-)

Can you post clearer and closer photos? And what is that planting of what appears to be hydrangeas right in the middle of the steps? Is that part of the stoop or is it at more of a distance from the steps? Very hard to see clearly.......

Consider using Chuck Hayes Gardenia in place of the Otto Luyken Laurels.

I don't know enough about blue cascade distylium to make a recommendation. Some articles I read say it is a bit tender toward cold in zone 7. Aside from that, the designer has mentioned some really nice plants for your area.