Bluestem, linked below, has a wonderful website with many pictures of mass plantings of grasses. In addition they have tons of good information on growing grasses in cool climates.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bluestem Grass-Scapes

Thanks Donn, I really appreciate your help.

Hey fluffygrrrl, I live in auburn hills and have mass plantings of carl forrester several groupings of misscanthis some bamboo groves all togather 50 different varietys of grasses all on about 2.5 acres of land. you ar so much welcome to come and check it out late spring or early summer. Randy (tootall)

If you want a truly maintenance free garden I would suggest that you choose grasses that are REALLY drought tolerent or ..... plant all together groups of those that might require additional water. Miscanthus & Calamagrostis are not the happiest grasses when grown on really sandy soil in really dry years. Once established, pennisetums should do fairly well. Panicums, Little Blue Stem & a few others will actually excel in a location like you describe! Lavender would definitely be a good companion plant. You might also consider Perovskia and any of the Amsonias.
I LOVE the kind of landscaping that you are contemplating - for ideas & pictures you should try & find a book called Bold & Romantic Gardens by American landscapers, Ohme & VanSweden. They do some fantastic things with grasses & mass planting. Another garden to look at is the John W. Nason Garden at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania (the picture is from thier web site.)
In the attached link check out the Darien garden & the Kendale Farm garden.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ohme & vanSweden Garden Design