Would suggest widening the path, and keep it straight BUT halfway along widen it to create an area .say 8'x8' and put large pots planted with shrubs in around the sides, so the eye is diverted from the straight line, but you can still walk the shortest route. Plant an interesting small tree to either side, in the lawn, say Liquidamber, Witch Hazel, maple, Magnolia ... something with seasonal interest/foliage/flowers. Put a large attractive lamp at end of path.

I am currently involved in a project where we have buried the offending structure partially in a raised timber bed and planted a range of groundcover shrubs around the access - including: Pachysandra terminalis, Cotoneaster dammeri, Cornus canadensis to name a few. Good Luck!

Your garden has many possibilities. The most important thing to create a Mediterranean garden is to create order. Remember, always "less is more". I think you make a mix with plants appropriate to your region and the Mediterranean concept is the most successful. Succulent plants normally do not like the cold and heavy clay soil. We work a lot in the Mediterranean area and there are plants for each space. You must think about the benefits of the garden and no complications that you may bring in the future. With few elements it is easier to maintain and will always be beautiful. The photo below is of a garden we did in Malaga - Spain.

Nice job on the house. Looks very smart:) Personally I prefer to see a hedge in a front garden but with a low wall in front to prevent soil/debris from spilling out on the pavement. Griselinia littoralis has beautiful evergreen apple green foliage that would look lovely against the house, fast growing and can kept trimmed to about eyelevel and 2ft thick. Plus there are many other plants that can be used as hedging depending on your requirements. Yew and privet are also good choices as these can be kept neat and tidy, although privet requires more regular trimming. Your cheapest option however is probably going to be fencing as this will require less ground work. A low wall approx 1ft high will not need much foundation work so also reducing cost. Hedges will need a certain amount of soil preparation but this is something that can easily be done by yourself. I’d ask a few local landscape gardeners to give you a few rough ideas on cost.