So...now that I finished those concrete steps, a question...

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Just a thought here....

a row of short spreading evergreen shrubs along the top of the cement walls would drape nicely over the "bare" of the walk walls, and if you repeated the same type of short spreading drap-y palntings into the dirt bed to the left of the walkway below the tree.....the contrast in color, texture would soften the cement and add interest to the walk to the door.
That might be an alternative to brick or an addition to the brick effect.
Other perennials could be interspersed among the line of plans, too.

I am a 'soft scape' kind of person..