The pics on your other thread are too small. Please post original pictures directly here. There is a "Choose File" button (where you create the follow-up post) enabling you to search for the picture on your computer. You can upload one picture per follow-up post.

Those small pics are clickable to the larger/normal version. But yea...Derrr....IDK how I didn't see that upload portion.

Any chance of a square on pic centered with front door that shows from curb on back and some space at each side of the house?

Which direction does the house face?

Are there any beds or trees in front of the house (in lawn or parking strip) which we can't see?

And what exactly is an "atomic ranch"?

It depends on your climate, but stark-ish and architectural is one path to follow

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:28378}}

No islands/beds/trees in front. Here's a square pic.

The house faces EAST.

Here's another house on the street - I like what they did on the left hand side. IDK if I could do the kidney bean shape, but I like the left hand curve. Not sure if the curve would be to the neighbors driveway and just fill the side of the house with mulch/dirt or keep some grass by their driveway and the side of th ehouse.

Does anyone know what kind of shrubs and trees those are on the left side?

Atomic ranch: post wwII "modern" buildings like Eichler homes.

Looks like your neighbor has some boxwoods, a little blue spruce, not sure what the trees are. Don't plant a tree that will get as big as your neighbour's that close to the house.

My preference with ranches is kinda like what your neighbor did with defined evergreens (pruned, not left to grow willy nilly), dwarf conifers, and neat bunches of long lived perennials.

Neat rows of evergreens:

{{gwi:28382}}

[Modern Exterior[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2105) by Kansas City Design-Build Firms Hufft Projects

In my area the MCM ranches often have a nice sculptural hardy Japanese Maple in the middle of the front lawn (not sure how they do where you are)

{{gwi:28383}}

[Midcentury Exterior[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/midcentury-modern-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2115) by Denver Design-Build Firms Design Platform

Sculptural grasses

{{gwi:28384}}

[Modern Exterior[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2105) by Dallas Architects & Designers David Benners Architecture

My idea would basically the opposite of a free-flowing cottage garden. More like a defined area - maybe straight lines, maybe curves, with stuff chosen more for shapeliness than blooms.

Actually, to take it away from the pruning idea, I was just thinking a vase shaped evergreen would look kinda cool with your canted house shape!

{{gwi:28385}}

Interesting house face. Another "take" tossed into the ring...