I sometimes walk around my neighborhood to see what others are doing in similar situations. (and to get an idea of what plants grown well here).

If it is your desire to sod the entire area, remove all the wood chips down to real dirt and bring the ground back down closer to level. You should have no problem, hopefully, of growing grass right up to the collar of the tree trunk. If it was ground below soil level even better. Cover it with some soil and you can probably grow grass on top though it may dry out faster and need a drink more often.

Otherwise you may have a stump to hide or decorate.

Any chance they can treat the stump so that you could plant a new smaller tree in a year or two?

Yeah, what acm said. There is stuff that you can get a the big box stores to speed up decay. Drill holes in the stump, pour in the stuff and wait. It'll take a couple of years, but it's safe and easy. In the meantime, plant perennials around it and sod.

When you can, plant a nice ornamental tree that doesn't grow so big--a flowering, cherry is a great way to welcome spring, and a real show stopper as they get larger.

Before any specific recommendations we'd need to know the geographical location and, preferably, soil type. Z7 isn't sufficient information for really useful suggestions.

Your question about what to plant is asked in a void of knowledge. Based on the site's position within the yard and proximity to the house, it's most likely that you could benefit from the addition of a SMALL tree (maybe one with colorful foliage or that blooms with showy flowers) with a lawn or groundcover below it. However, we can't see the surrounds and backdrop which is what one would need to understand before they proceeded with designing a landscape. The idea of some colorful perennials (or whatever) in an isolated bed in the area shown, seems like it has a better chance to become an eyesore rather than a permanent solution. It's not going to help give the house a sense of being protected or "knit" into its surroundings

If there is a part of the house to be painted, other than the trim, we can't see it. I like the white trim as a good contrast to the brick. The garage doors are the most prominent feature of the house front and they are boring, uninteresting. I would see about having their top panels replaced by ones with a bank of windows. Possibly some decorative hardware can be added also.

Please refer to a local garden center for ideas for trees that will do well in your climate and gardening zone. Based on your photo, a small tree looks to be appropriate.

I would construct a low berm in this area, add a couple of landscape boulders (properly embedded into the berm), and then add a dwarf conifer or small Japanese maple for a centerpiece, surrounded by some other low growing shrubs, perennials or groundcovers.

Thanks. I have no idea about soil type. I am in the Atlanta area. I was thinking in line with gardengal. Ideally, sodding the entire area would be great, but there are a lot of utility lines and they did not grind down far at all so there are lots of stumps. I have considered drilling and using the stuff to help it decay but would like to have grass planted by at least the end of the summer, so that would give it 6 months. We plan to use zoysia since that is what is in the neighborhood.

I also was concerned that a "perennial bed" would look too out of place as well, but am not really sure that the sod is going to work. Worse case, I may try that and if there are too many roots then we can regroup later.

As for the colors, we are limited being in an HOA. The HOA choses colors and I cannot change my garage doors. I had hoped to have a hand in picking the next colors and really would like them to hire someone to professionally do so, but that may not happen. I had hoped a lighter trim color and lighter grays/greiges. (The houses literally look at the same, lighter beige and darker beige)