Regarding the driveway/half-circle, there is a huge price difference between pavers and blacktop. Besides the cost of labor and the pavers themselves, they also require a lot of base prep. Blacktop will require base prep but not with the precision pavers need. If you're enjoying the semi-privacy of the the shrubs and want to keep cost down, you could leave them and work with what you have. First talk to a nursery about how much they can be trimmed (without killing them), tear out the short concrete walkway, plant more grass and leave it as it is.........or you could set a bench to the right or left of where the walkway was. Ideally, I'd tear them out and put in new landscaping, but I suggested leaving them since you state you don't have extra time to spend in the yard. My guess is the gravel driveway was an afterthought with the previous owners and someone removed a portion of the walkway when they put in the gravel. I would do a slightly raised bed along the front of the house, and I would make it deeper than it is now.....bringing it out close the edge of the porch landing. I also wouldn't hesitate to add some soft curves to it! Since you have the vents to worry about (I also have them) the beds can rise from the grass area, then slope back down toward the house. IOW's, don't want to raise the level of soil against your house. As others mentioned, I definitely talk to your local nurseries since they usually have someone on staff that can help with basic layouts and will also be able to recommend the plants that work best in your area.

Landscaping, and more landscaping. You need some curb appeal. Also looks like maybe a wooden sidewalk??? Whatever it is, clean out the grass in between it, and around it, and maybe stain it up a bit. Its a very nice house, and looks to be in great condition, just very boring curb appeal.

My Dad took this pic of the fires across the lake from his cabin last week. The area is mostly evacuated now. There are so many fires burning. We took the kids and stayed in West Edmonton mall for six days to escape the smoke and it was even Smokey there. I feel so bad for all those whom have had to leave their homes :(

If you can get yourself down to two choices, paint a section of the siding white, then put up samples again, leaving some white space in between. Otherwise you're influenced by the adjacent color when trying to evaluate the samples. I love Stonington Gray, so for what it's worth, I would choose the one closest to that. Also since it is in your inspiration picture it would make sense to use that one.