some ideas

Thanks, I am just looking at the front garden for now, but had planned on putting a tree up front where a maple used to stand ... your choice much prettier. What kind of tree did you put in the left corner?

weeping cherry

Can you take a photo standing straight out from the front door showing the entire front of the house to the property lines? Right now I can tell there is a tree over near the drive, but I cannot tell how it relates to the house or it’s size. The redesign of the front bed needs to at least consider the other spaces seen from the same perspective.

From the current photo, to my eye the biggest issue is that nothing grounds the house since all the plantings are relatively low. So I would most likely start with trees placed at a diagonal off the two front house corners. I would also repaint the front entry a light color so that it isn’t the darkest area to give it a more welcoming feel. I would plant the front bed so that the plants were just less than the height of the lower edge of the window at maturity, with lower plants toward the front of the bed and closer to the entryway. And bring the right side of the bed out to encompass the tree I am suggesting you add off the corner. All these things will make the house feel nestled into the landscape instead of the house and garden feeling plopped onto the lawn.

Also, think about how you want the overall front of the house to look and be used. With a recessed door, you want open sight lines to it so that it doesn’t seem hidden, so no tall plants in front of the door. Do you want property line separation from neighbors? Would you like trees out by the road to give the classic New England look? Are your kids likely to play ball in the front yard so need a large open space?

Lots of great input, Thank you. I will take a better shot tomorrow. I am not concerned with property line separation as we have that with some established trees, large backyard so no concerns with play out front, and do not want trees/shrubs by road ... would not blend in with the neighborhood where most homes have only a few plants by the mailbox.

In addition to Yardvaark ‘s sketch, I would add a similar tree on th left side of the house.

I agree. It needs tree at left side, too.