Guessing what to plant?

Tomorrow, I must give my landscape contractor a list of bushes that we'd like to see grow around our home. I hate to do this; it's a job that is always tedious, shrouded with uncertainty and questions.

We shouldn't get to many shrubs but not to few, have enough diversity,

colors, flowers and, hopefully, a high survival rate! So many questions, so many choices and, as always, not enough time...