Thanks Josh for posting your images.
Of the two images, I think the fiirst has the most potential. As the images stands, for me the image as is is very ho- hum.It doesn't really do anything for me, but I had a thought about taking the colour away so that texture and shape were the main elements of the image. I know all too often if an image doesn't seem to work, giving it the old black and white makeover seems to always be suggested, and in this instant, for me, this may be an interesting option.
I am travelling using an uncalibrated screen, so I won't offer an example, but I had a quick experiment, and the different texture of the flowers and foliage against the horizontal tonings of the steps, and the geometric shapes of the window on the left, is far more interesting to me in black and white than in colour.
Julie