How on earth did this happen? I think the only way around it would be to lower the first step to ground level, adding an additional step to pickup the incline, I realize this will mean reducing the tread depth, but perhaps over the four it will be minimal. Regardless, having these wonderful deep treads are pointless if you can't get up on them. I would definitely create lush architectural looking foliage beneath those stairs, and continue to spill out into orgsni shaped beds either side. Things like strappy leaves, variegated varieties, ginger pants, strelizias, birds nest ferns etc. Use boulders around your foundation line to help ground the house and marry it to the landscape. The entrance is a real statement, make it lush and dramatic, incorporate lighting both undemounted to the foliage and top lit to the stairs. To define your boundary with the council land, you could creTe a rock river bed lined with similar plantings of grasses etc. It would help draw your eye upward and create platforms in your yard.

It is unfortunate that Ficus Hillii hybrids are being pushed by landscapers. The root system of all ornamental figs is bad. The Flash variety is just a smaller version of Ficus microcarpa which is a massive tree. They ALL have roots that cause severe structural damage to homes, pools, driveways, walls etc. As a very experienced garden designer, I have seen too many instances of considerable structural problems caused by this plant family. Beware.

Id do a pergola with clean lines with retractable blinds/shade in the roof part. There are some DIY blinds on Pintrest. For your windows I think external blinds that stop the heat hitting the glass are your best option.

I love Irene's photos and the suggestion to build a wall inside the boundary to square off the front angle, with plantings in front of it. This would be a brave move (I would probably get a landscape designer in for this if you go this way). Otherwise (I haven't read the previous comments, apologies in case I repeat or contradict), I would plant a fuller medium sized tree in the front right side (the deepest part), though centred, not in the point itself! Something like a full Manchurian Pear (though be committed to pruning it to keep it from growing too large, they don't grow too fast, it should be manageable - otherwise try a pretty Snow Pear (my favourite!) or a Bradford for a more compact but pretty shape - you can even pleach (ie take off the lower branches to keep the first metre of trunk nice and bare for a more sculptural look), or if you want something that will keep more compact without too much trouble, a beautiful crepe myrtle (Ilove the white Natchez variety) makes a lovely sculptural feature tree. You can underplant this with a square garden bed with star jasmine (just keep it trimmed to shape) and they look amazing with some under lighting at night (easy DIY kits available these days). Then along the right fence line I would add plantings to keep it private and looking lovely, again I would go Chanticleer ornamental pear (or Capital are even more narrow but I don't love them, though they're very popular). Again you can underplant with hardy, quick growing and low maintenance star jasmine. Then along the driveway on the right side, plant something lower and along the left side (if you have soil here), plant Sweet Viburnum (I love this, we've planted the Dense Fence variety), again, quick growing, beautiful foliage and low maintenance.