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Juniper Problem

I have a juniper that is as tall as the house, planted on the north
side. I have had it trimmed and, although it looks ok now, I know its
days are numbered and, as a foundation plant, it will have to go to the
'great compost bin in the sky' some day soon.

But for now, it is there and I have to deal with it.  There used to be a
spreading juniper at its base, but it was mostly dead this spring, a
direct result, I believe, of our new inground watering system which was
installed last spring (birthday gift from hubby).  A whole summer of
extra water and it succumbed, being used to drought conditions prior to
that!  

So I am left with the tall, old juniper that is bare at the base.  This
spring, after I hauled out the spreader, I planted a cute little nest
blue spruce and, in front of that, put in my usual ring of impatiens
(facing north, I had not yet gotten creative with this little patch of
ground).  When I pulled the impatiens out last week, I was shocked to
find my little nest spruce buried in a sea of juniper needles!  It looks
pretty brown, and I think it's dead.  Ho hum.

So...what does the gang suggest I do?  I was considering hostas, but we
have TONS of slugs around here.  Would the juniper needles deter the
slugs?  Alternatively, astibles and bleeding hearts...the usual shade
garden.

If you suggest I remove the juniper and start fresh, what would you
suggest I replace it with?  The house brick is grey/white, and I would
love something with burgundy leaves, but I also want evergreen.  I guess
there is no such thing as ever-burgundy?  If only berberis were allowed
here....sigh.

I am toying with the idea of a tri-colour beech.  Just loved the one I
saw on a garden tour this summer, but not sure whether it would suit
being up close to the house?  Also not ever-burgundy, being deciduous.  

Ideas?

Heather in Markham, Ontario, Canada
USDA Zone 5 / Cda Zone 6
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