I like sweetshrub if that is native to your area: Calycanthus floridus. Viburnums are good - Viburnum acerifolium is more shade tolerant than others. Native azaleas are good. Red sprite holly needs about 6 hours of sun - how sunny is the area? I like to group at least two of the same together; groups of 3 is the design standard, I guess.

Plant what you'd like in spots you can see from the house. Fill in the other areas as you acquire plants.

Drifts are random groups aren't they? That's how I plant. I try to balance evergreens with deciduous plants because I want year round interest out my windows.

With some dappled sun all day and direct sun mid day I've been able to mix it up and add some great blooming beauties for color.

July photos of a bed we planted last year in front of the chicken and duck coops. One side we kept the native plants and divided up the bed with a dry creek bed made of rocks we found in the soil. Wood chip paths were a great addition to the yard and I enjoy walking it to take care of the animals. You can't see everything in these photos, but it shows you how a woodland bed can be interesting.
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We're working on our area between the woods & our back lawn after the January ice storm's damage.

I attend plant swaps and haven't purchased anything for filling it back in with shrubs and trees. I would suggest you find a swap in your area and learn how to propagate shrubs as many root very easily this time of year. We did some hardwood cuttings in January before the storm and I wasn't sure where they'd all go, but now I know.

I have been given evergreen huckleberry and variegated elderberry to plant that will give us edible fruits, plus an interesting screen with fall color.

beautiful photos. i have been propagating and trying to create the transition. it's coming along. thanks