Endless ideas, but I'm probably a little out of your zone.....so here are a few...... I'm assuming you want something between the ceanothus and aster that blooms in mid summer. What about some lilies or large daylilies, or to change up the leaf color what about some variegated grass (calamagrotis 'eldorado')or perennial like 'loraine sunshine' heliopsis, or a lovely red leafed perennial would look great as well. With the cape fuschia, is there room for oriental poppies which die down shortly after? Let us know what you decide to go with and good luck.

Steve, I realize the hosta varieties I already have are on the small side. They're not ones I was planning on putting on that slope. They're in the backyard bed under some pin oaks, and they're all very new and VERY small. I only mentioned them because I probably won't be buying those same varieties for the slope. I can add divisions from them to that area someday, but it will be years before they're large enough for that. Your suggestions for larger hosta varieties are very helpful, especially since you mentioned the coloring for each one. What I'm really needing help with is some input on how much to put in that space. I obviously want to take away the bare look, but it's not a terribly convenient area to have dense growth. It's not even a safe slope to walk on unless you can clearly see where you're putting your feet (hence the staircase) and I'll still need to be able to climb out there and give everything a buzzcut at the beginning of every winter, if nothing else. I'd like there to be a nice balance between big hosta and smaller varieties as well as any companion plants, but I'm a little lost as to WHAT that balance is exactly.

I tend to agree. Open space is not only good too, but absolutely necessary sometimes. Try the pic above your sofa to the left of the door to the kitchen, if it fits. It will give that area a focal point. And then get a bigger pic for above the sofa and hang it lower.

First, take down all the photos, put "L" brackets on the bases of them and move them to table tops throughout your home. Place the bookcase on the wall left of the hall door and angle the purple chair and floor lamp out in front of it for a reading corner. Be sure it is full of hard cover books with something pretty sitting on top. Move the faux plant into its place in the right side corner of the fireplace and hang a piece of art centered 5' above the floor there. Add a mated piece on the left side at the same height. Adjust the sofa and end tables to be centered with the window if they aren't already. Pull the tables forward so they align with the fronts of the sofa arms and can be useful. I would get rid of the brown chair. Try a mirror and floating shelf on the wall beside the entry door.