I completely love the twirly bits, and the window trim. It's unique, special and shows the family within has a sort of fun spirit. If you would be more comfortable with a cottage that looks more "regular", then take it off. But please don't! For some color and inspiration, google French provencal fabric images. I can completely see a little black metal bistro table and wood slat back chairs on your porch with a cloth of one of those fabrics. I would paint it a light dusky blue, with white trim and mid-charcoal accents around the windows and the corner pieces on the front porch. Although the yellow with the blue would be quite right too! The front walk looks to be in good condition. You can do a stone overlay on that, letting a small portion of the stones hang over the straight edge, to give it a little more rustic look. It looks like you have a good collection of Queen of the Nile lilies (guessing here). Were they blue on blooming? You can create some slightly larger and curving beds in the front, and transplant some within it. I would add lavender and rosemary in a mix with those. For some grey and texture, put some lambs ears (a perennial) along the outside edge. Check your local growing zone to see what will thrive in your area! Lucky you. What a find!

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It depends on the trees really and how much root disturbance they will suffer while building. Certainly plant trees that are away from the house now. perhaps if you want fruit trees plan an orchard away from the house site and plant it now as it can take 5 years before you get some fruit. You could have faster trees closer to the house and plant later. But you can buy advanced trees. Perhaps start by integrating the landscape design into the house design phase and see what you come up with? Depends what trees you like. I think designing the garden and house together can really help you figure out these sorts of things and decide what to do when. I have planted birch trees that grow fast from bare root saplings that I mail ordered. I payed $5 each, they are now less than a year later the size that would have cost $100 each. so it also depends on budget and savings. I have also planted garden around the house that is... shall we say temporary, that is they can handle being uprooted and moved later. things like bulbs and tropicals like ginger and tumeric and canna. even the jasmine. some plants can handle being cut back and trashed and will just come back, we demolished a set of stairs on top of the garden and its all come back. I have a lot of foliage plants grown from cutting, stuff that spreads and divides. they don't mind being disturbed and in fact thrive being occasionally dug up and divided. As the reno unfolds the garden can evolve. I have a lot of bromeliads and shallow rooted plants like frangipani that can be moved too. You can also bury trees in large grow bags or pots so they are flush with the ground but can be moved as needed.