I think what you're mostly lacking is scale. Unfortunately scale takes either time or money. :-) If you want any trees in front, I'd do that first - well, this fall, anyway. Shrubs would be a main consideration, too. Though do check and see how big they get and plant for their mature size! It'll take a few years for your plants to mature, but it's worth the wait. If it were me, I'd put something tall at that corner to soften that edge; maybe a juniper? Though that close to the house, I'd check and make sure their roots won't become a problem. Other than that a twining vine on a trellis might be a good choice.

What makes you think the roses are gonners? Maybe i can't see from the pictures but what i do see is they are not doing as well as the other big one but they dont look dead to me...they have nice green foliage on them and appear healthy, but maybe they just appear that way in the photo. It seems where the large one is there are not alot of flowers around it, but the two that are not doing well seem to have alot of flowers around it and maybe it is not getting what it needs with all that is in there. I don't know i am a far cry from a expert, guess i just hate to see a rose bush bite the dust...my husband would have a million if we could he loves them! I am probably gonna catch three kinds of hades, but i think i would remove everything but the rose bushes in that particular bed, you can plant elsewhere or give them away if your not gonna use them. Then i would plant a perennial toward the front in between the first and second and the second and third roses...one that has a nice circular uniform shape and maintains it...you said virtually maintenance free right? If it were me i would plant a few hosta's there but when i have suggested that in the past there have been people that said they can't imagine them growing in the same area...but i do mine and my hosta's are huge and my roses flourish...i am in indiana though and it may make a huge difference as to where you are.

Let's forget that I mentioned the possibility of moving the crab. I suffer from over exuberance based on what I might personally do if I was the one dealing with these issues. In re-appraising it's size, it's going to be beyond your capabilities and not worth paying for. That said, now that we know it's a crab, it's not going to be useful to you along the side of the house because of its ultimate size, which will be quite large. Better to get rid of it now and forget about it. When I said place trees there, I'm not implying size, but form ... a woody plant that is limbed up with a clear trunk, or trunks, below. The available space determines what size the plant should ultimately be, and here I'd say a 10' to 12' height at mature size is about right. A plant I would consider to be about right for that is beauty bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis.) Another possibility would be dwarf burning bush. But many woody plants capable of achieving that size (and little or no more) are generally thought of as "shrubs," but here they are limbed up to expose the trunks. (Beauty bush craves to do that on its own.) Common lilac is another possibility. The primary objective of the drawing is to suggest a rough layout. Given that you have "cottage garden" and as an objective, I can't really help with how you might further subdivide the space into a multitude of plants, or what they might be. My offering ends at suggesting mass, size, arrangement and that sort of thing. Keep in mind that the "busier" you make it, the greater the likelihood that the overall artistic statement is weakened and the greater are the chances of increasing the upkeep maintenance. Simpler is easier on all counts. While some think it's more boring, I think it generally has greater visual strength. I'm sure you can find your proper balance. While some plants like butterfly bush are magnets for butterflies, I find that if there are blooming things at all, butterflies will be there. I wouldn't become too obsessed about having plants if they don't fit well. Things that do fit can do the job. Keep in mind that the space is quite small, so you'll probably not be able to fit all of the plants you dream of into the scheme.

Ignore the last photo, if you guys could help me apply a basic layout formula to this building, we can then work the rocks in, even if it is only to add groundcover to softer the sides. Should the 2 building be viewed as one? larger trees on outer corners? welcoming entry in the middle? Welcoming entry to the front and center emergency doors feels wrong and confusing. The center tree needs a few more limbs off... Thank you everyone here for all the help you provide. I was clueless, now I see that there is so much to know that my head is spinning. Thank you April