Lovin what is happening with the thick posts. Adding a railing is also a very doable option. I particularly love how the posts thicken up at the bottom. Very grounding! And that's the thing with foundation planting - it really grounds the house. (I have to figure that out at my own house now that my house has new siding, doors, windows.) It's really fine that you don't know how to do that. GW has some great forums with folks who would be more than glad to help you figure out some low maintenance, substantial scrubs/plantings for around the foundation. You can also just look around your neighborhood/town at what people have done. Pay attention to their choice in shrubs and make sure you are seeing mature plants so you can figure out placement. It makes a TON of difference. And, for the second time in 5 minutes, I'm with pfmastin. I still really prefer the current paint color and brick. I like it light. It's really just such a good, fresh look! That being said, I know you were disappointed from the beginning with it and taste is taste. Would you consider just going with a creme with an undertone that takes you from the yellow if that is what is bothering you? Be careful with tans and beiges, or you can end up with a bandaid/pinky tone. IMHO, neutral and earthy, grayed out tones are good for the bones of a house. Punches of color can be added in porch furniture, front doors, plantings, pots, shutters, etc...

Emmarene, you asked about some of the plants, so I thought you may like to know what they are. The plant circled in orange is a Graham Blandy Boxwood. I picked it partly because of its full size, but it may end up being a problem anyway. The tree between the windows is the same and it was absolutely destroyed this winter. Apparently the branches can’t handle the snow and wind, which is unavoidable in this area. I’m going to try twine this winter and cross my fingers. The perennials you marked in black are Helen von Stein Lamb’s Ear. They are really easy to care for, so I will consider getting more and planting them all the way across like you suggested. They love the full sun. The hydrangea tree on the left is a limelight and the ones in front of the window are Incrediball. The incrediball looked great until the rain came and they fell over. I would stake them next year if they stay, which I’m not sure about. The other shrub is azalea (which looks so beautiful for a week and then becomes (in my opinion) way too messy as the flowers die off - so those will definitely be leaving).

Put a groundcover under that tree, not hardscape. Pachysandra is the classic choice, there's a native one. Vinca will take over. Epimediums bloom in the spring and do well in dry shade. Asarum is a shady groundcover that might work. Asarum Canadensis is native to NE US (and possibly other parts, too, but I know more about what's native to the NE.). Hostas are also classic under trees. Mine do well (too well) everywhere. They are indestructible. Solomon Seal is another shady spreader. It's more likely to be native. It's possible that your lawn was seeded with grass seed that does better in sun and shady seed will work better. My experience is that you can dig up and move shrubs (and lots of other plants) and most will do fine. If you like the red shrubs, but want them elsewhere, move them. I dug up a Winterberry last year and butchered its wildly spreading roots. It looks like it's going to take. From the angle of the picture, the red shrubs are blocking the entrance. It's not clear to me that they would be a problem from a different angle. If you like them, keep them.

I would expand the walk as far as the side of the window nearest the door and replace the scalloped edging with a flush masonry mowing strip, brick to match the house if possible. Notice in Yardvaark’s sketch that the plants in front of the porch are low. On the porch I would want a bench, a couple of chairs with a little table or a rectangular planter under the window. To match the tree framing the house on the left side I would add a similarly sized one to the right Of the garage. Plantings in the front bed should be a combo of flowering plants and evergreens so there is something of interest year round.. Some plants can fill both roles. Right now your house has white, brick, blue-green and creamy yellow, which to my eye is too many different colors, some of which don’t work well together. I would likely remove all the shutters or at least the downstairs ones, replacing the uppers with shutters that are half the width of the windows. For the long term, plan on painting the garage doors a midtone brown that you pull from the brick so they don’t stand out so much. Start saving to repaint the house a color that works better with the brick, either the same brown as the garage doors or a sage green. I would also look into getting a wrap that makes the porch pillar look more substantial. When you decide on the color of the house and garage door, then replace the lights and repaint the front door in colors that will work with the new paint scheme such as a bronze finish. You have a cute house, it just needs a bit of tweaking to bring out its best.