You are definitely going for the right look for a foundation planting, namely a layered series of different textures with evergreen at the back. But I agree that a total of 5 feet from foundation out is not enough width to get that job done. You have enough sun to work with and you have a vision, so why not do it up right: expand the bed 3-4 feet, move the roses out a few feet, and then put in some spreading yew or a globe arborvitae-type thing about 2-3 feet out from the house. You'll have to trim the yew or whatever you put there, but it will give you the look you want. Yews are incredibly overplanted on the foundation, but for the back row of a layered planting, I think they work just fine. Put a low layer in front of the roses, maybe some Blue Star Juniper, then you can keep the layered thing going on during the winter. The Blue Star is fairly slow growing, (especially living on the east side), so don't expect it to fill in quickly. Instead, cough up the cash and plant several. If you think widening the bed is daunting, just lay down wet cardboard on the turf and cover with lots of mulch. Then cut out wide holes for your plantings. The grass will be long gone in a year. Boxwood could work against the foundation too, but it grows like molasses. Just my thoughts, based on having been in a similar situation. Get what you want the first time around, so you don't have to do it again later.

Once again, a trip to a good local nursery should provide you with many choices, specially at this time of year when many of these places feature fall planting sales. You could consider a collection of dwarf conifers, which offer a wide array of shapes, sizes and foliage color. Broadleaf evergreens I particularly value for extremely low maintenance and all around good looks are Viburnum tinus 'Spring Bouquet', 'Newport Dwarf' escallonia, various nandinas, Cotoneaster glaucophylla, Euonymus japonicus var. microphylla (boxleaf euonymus - assorted variegated forms to chose from) and hebes, but there are scores of others. And there are many deciduous shrubs that offer stunning fall color or late season blooms. Most of these will not offer too much interest during winter but twig dogwoods are standouts and oakleaf hydrangeas generally hold their richly colored fall foliage well into winter.

Portuguese laurel has reddish petioles and terminal twigs, which I just don't see here. And in the OP's photo, even though it's far away and blurry, the new growth buds are pointed -- like in oak. But again, a closeup would really help! Here's a closeup of Prunus lusitanica -- note the reddish petioles and terminal twigs. Terminal dormant buds are not as prominant as in an oak. I would also think Prunus lusitanica would be really close to blooming about now in Portland? Here are the prominant swelling new buds and lt. green to yellowish petioles of Q. myrsinifolia in Spring:

I know you say that, Gardengal, but I grew up in a zone 5 midwestern town and saw many years worth of established Hick's yews blasting out upward growth every Spring. Later, throughout the summer would come more, and all this easily added up to a decent foot of growth. Where you are, 4" to 6" may be all you get, but it's not what is typical of Hick's in the upper Midwest. Here's a picture I snatched off of Google and you can see that there is easily more than 6" of new growth. It is not fully expanded and will become even taller. It is merely one flush of growth whereas there would be 2 more lesser ones coming before the summer growing season is finished. It adds up. It really doesn't matter what "reputable conifer sources" say when one can see endless examples to the contrary right in front of their eyes.