We don't care for how the previous owners cut the Holly's. They are now bigger than the picture shows and have been rounded and the bottom removed. What would look good in place of these? Also I was interested in a miniature japanese maple and wanted to get advice where to plant.

Omg I love it! Ok I can see how you might want some variety. But you should totally keep one.

I'd get some red balls on a wire and fix them into the foliage so it'd look like an apple tree drawn by a child.

Maybe put a Japanese maple a bit away from the house because it'll lose some impact against red brick.

What else to plant depends on your preference. Decide on things like foliage, bloom times, scents, maintenance, what you've always wanted, etc.

I would hesistate to remove such mature shrubs just because you don't like the way they've been pruned. How about leaving them to their natural shape for a couple of years? Also Japanese maples are much harder to grow and keep looking good.

Hi
Lovely house lovely garden.
I would leave at least four of the holly lollipops, they have mature trunks
That bring character and also their colour tones down the the lovely brickwork.
So you have six lollipops, my advice is to take out only two.
From left to right in the photo, number three, and number six. the (end one one the right)
The reduce the size of the balls, ( practice on the two your taking out)
To introduce a miniature acer.. your front door is central to the house
Your steps lead to a path going of to the right, to the left you have a bed
so if you extend that bed two slabs to to the left of your path, that's where
Your miniature acer can go (leaving the path intact of course!!)
Try and source a really nice sized one, and choose green.
If you would like a larger Japanese maple then place it further out in the lawn area, check out the views from your front window and place the maple where you can enjoy it most.
And for choice the lawn maple, for me would be, the variety Osakasuki.
Kind regards
John