Question
Hi Marc,
We have a 2-storey house which sits on a lot which is 50 feet wide. the distance from the curb to the front of the house is 30 feet. Both the driveway and the front lawn are flat. Despite a nicely shaped garden with shrubs and bushes that range from 3 to 10 feet in height,the house appears as a monolith when viewed from the street.Have you any suggestions for softening the appearance?
Thanks, Rick

Answer
You could certainly add some earth berms inside the planters, but I think the problem may not be the landcape but the building facade, itself.  Is is pretty symmetrical (Door in the middle, matching windows on both sides)?  

A 10-foot height shrub is pretty large, and if that cannot "break up" the look, then you may consider breaking up the building face.  Can you add a porch/stoop, or prehaps a dash of rock veneer?  Something - maybe add a low wall from one corner of the house and creat an entry courtyard - anything to intorduce assymetry.

If your home has a stucco exterior, this courtyard can look pretty sharp.  If it is more of a clapboard type structure, you can still do a courtyard, but the material won't look like an extension of the house exterior - you'll have to use a low rock wall or some such.

On the upper floor, maybe add a false balcony, using iron work...

Just some thoughts.  (& Thanks for you patience in the response, as I was away this weekend)  ~M