The first picture is a vast improvement over the "before" pictures. Consider that even a small tree needs to be in some acceptable proportion relative to the house. And it needs a bed that looks large enough to support the tree, where the tree is located reasonably near the center of its bed. In your case I think the circular potion of the bed is too small for a tree that would work with your house, so I would expand this. In the illustration below is the basic, simple scheme I'd shoot for. If it's too simple for you, you could subdivide and add low growing plants to what would be the groundcover portion of the bed (as opposed to changing the tree or shrub location.)

Because it's so symmetrical I think garden layouts will be easier. It looks like, as Yardvark said, you could rip out the overgrown bushes flanking the doorway, replace with something smaller, and trim/shape the rest to see how it looks as a start. There are some healthy ilex or something in the middle which could be attractive. Do you know what is on the left? Oakleaf hydrangea? Your local garden center could suggest plants and shrubs that will do well in your climate. Is there room to add a larger tree as a focal point in the yard off the right corner? Either a full-sized shade tree or a 25-30 foot flowering tree? I know some people hate the idea of painted brick, but this seems like a good candidate for the white brick-black trim look. It's stylish now, but I think it will also stand the test of time. There are some new products for painting brick that don't peel. Here are some similar houses: https://www.architecturaldesigns.com/house-plans/stately-southern-design-with-wrap-around-porch-59463nd https://www.theplancollection.com/house-plans/home-plan-18316 Here is some painted brick: https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2019/9/24/how-to-determine-whether-or-not-to-paint-your-brick-house-xwlzh https://www.instagram.com/p/BYhoTcgB3yi/

Low growing (3’ high at maturity) evergreens in the background on both sides will give your foundation planting some structure year round, will not obstruct the windows, and will provide some privacy and a boundary for the porch area. Japanese maple should be more centered in the bed on the right, so it gets rain and more sunlight. Fill in with several groups of perennials that contrast in color, texture, and seasonal interest. Not sure what is to the left of the house, but the landscaping should continue around the left side of the house, with something taller on the corner, perhaps a dogwood or magnolia. Don’t plant tall deciduous trees next to your house...you’ll be cleaning out gutters every fall season. Choose the right plant for the area...one that will fit the space at maturity, a sun loving plant if the area is facing south/west, a shade loving plant if the area is facing north or east.

Wow! I didn’t expect such comprehensive replies, thank you all! To answer the questions: —I live in Charlotte, NC —I’m considering something like a Windmill Palm, but I’m open to other varieties of cold tolerant palms —I like to garden, but this house will eventually be turned into a rental when I build my next home, probably about 3 years from now. So I would prefer the landscaping be low to medium maintenance - Rose bushes are pretty, but I would probably need to do some research on how to care for them. —I do plan on starting as many flowers as I can indoors from seeds to save $, I have an indoor greenhouse with grow lights and such. —The river idea was a bit too much for me in the front, and yes the color of the mulch was terrible. I’ve removed a good deal of it, and will be sowing grass in the areas where it’s gone. I’ll be putting down quality soil in the sandy areas so grass will grow. —No stone circles, got it :-) —JoJo - I love the picture for inspiration, ideally I can do something like this, but maybe a couple of flowering beds that aren’t too much to take care of. —Mulch: I know black mulch can retain heat and tends to lose color quickly - what about rock? I like the look of River rock the best something like this maybe? : https://contentgrid.homedepot-static.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOMNEW/Articles/decorative-stones-types-of-landscaping-rocks-section-8.jpg —Landscape fabric: there isn’t fabric around the tree’s, but it is under the mulch in the beds —House painting: I’ll be painting the house this spring, so I will plan accordingly. Thanks for the tip! --On the hill/slope in the back, I’m thinking about putting a layer of pine needles down, watering it so it compacts, and then placing another “pretty” layer on top, that was the guidance I found on another post for mulching a slope. Thoughts? --Local consultant: thanks for the advice, but that’s the point of Houzz. My budget isn’t tiny, but I’d rather do the work myself so I can invest more in the plants and landscape vs paying someone to do the design.