Cedars and ferns would = damp, if these are lady ferns. If you are in a low area, out away from the continuous influence of Puget Sound (Sunset 4), you will have different choices than if in closer (Sunset 5). In the milder part there are various broadleaf evergreen trees you could try, these being more cheerful (having the appearance of reflecting light instead of absorbing it) than conifers it would be advantageous to replace the cedars with at least some of these, if possible.

re stumps - in the woodland area, I wouldn't be in a big hurry to get rid of them, other than to cut them down as low as possible. It can get very dry in woodland conditions. Rotting wood will hold a lot of moisture so planting new things next to a rotting stump or log can really help with survival when planting in an area where you might not be able to get to with a hose. We had a dead pine and a sick pussy willow taken down last fall. When we planted a new 'Wolf Eyes' dogwood to replace the one that died last winter, we planted it next to the pine stump to give the dogwood a source of moisture and nutrients. We put some logs from the dead pine on a dry bank at the back fence so the logs can hold moisture for the things we try to grow in that area. We moved our 'Empress Wu' hosta to beside the willow stump for the same reason. There are other logs, a dead apple tree trunk, and a few dead branches scattered through the woodland beds as moisture and nutrient sources for the plants. So I'd only grind out or otherwise remove stumps from areas where you want to grow lawn but definitely leave them in the woodland area - and maybe even in 'garden' areas too depending on what you want to grow there and whether it would be useful to have a natural moisture sponge and nutrient source for them. There used to be a big old white spruce where our big front bed is. When we had the tree taken down the stump was left, cut off at ground level. It's rotted away completely now and the soil in that area is better than in the rest of the bed!

i grew up on a street with mature sycamores ... fast forward 50 years ... and half the homes had to have their old clay tile sewer pipes dug up and replaced.. due to the invasive roots ...find out what type of pipe is used for this house ... i would like to see the tree leafed out ... it might be dying.. in tree time .. due to all the brick work .. but all that means.. is that it might die in the next couple decades ... and your idea to do more more brick work .. may not help that ... you need the onsite inspection by a CERTIFIED isa expert ... add your city to the search line https://duckduckgo.com/?q=CERTIFIED+isa+expert&t=ffcm&ia=web ken https://duckduckgo.com/?q=old+clay+tile+sewer+pipe+roots&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

Almost assuredly, your steps could stand to be widened to the full opening between the center posts, and a spacious landing built at their base. We can't see it because of the distance of the camera, but likely, the walk also needs widened and could stand to be pulled farther away from the porch, so that the beds are actually big enough to hold shrubs and annuals. Rather than being at the center of the house, a new tree would do more for the house if it were off to the left, toward the lot line.