The size of the tree was fine. It was just planted too close to the house. Kick it out 10 ft, and the planting works.

The tree was much too close to the house, and yes, too mature to move. I struggled with this because I hate taking down trees :(

Gardengal, I'm so happy you think 'Gracilis' would work in that spot! I was worried that without the big tree there the house would look 'naked' but I actually think it looks statelier, which convinces me even more that 'Gracilis' with its open form would work well.

If you want a tree, don't put it in the planting bed! You have a big front yard, plenty of space for trees. I think a flowering tree, like a weeping cherry looks fantastic, but if you want something bigger, tulip trees, magnolias (I have one, I'm in zone 5).

If you put if farther from your house, you get to see it from inside.

You want a shrub to the right of the door. Hydrangeas are classic.

Sigrid, I LOVE weeping cherries, magnolia, tulip trees, etc. I really want a smoke tree somewhere on the property, too! I'm on a corner lot (second picture in above comment is taken from the corner of the road) so there are visibility issues to contend with. Your suggestion does bring to mind that I could probably put something out in front of the planting bed that would not obstruct line-of-sight for vehicles, so I'm going to think about that!

I'm planning to transplant the hosta from the flower beds and rip out the pokeweed, and then plant with a nice mix of evergreens (maybe inkberry, japanese holly) and perennials. If I put a deciduous tree out in the front of the flower bed instead of in the corner, what might be a nice choice for the corner? Just aesthetically speaking I feel like I want something taller than the other front plantings in that spot, and I probably want it to be an evergreen to decorate with lights during the holidays, and to provide some privacy from passing vehicles.

I'm definitely going to put a shrub of some kind on the other side of the door. I love Annabelle hydrangeas, so that's a possibility. I also may go with an evergreen again, so it won't be bare in the winter.

The square window back on the ell is my kitchen window, and it would be really nice to have some nice views of flowers or trees while I'm at the sink.

The false door on the ell could also use some landscaping, but still not sure what I want to do there.

What type of magnolia do you have, if you know?

"If you want a tree, don't put it in the planting bed!"

Not sure I understand the logic behind that statement. It doesn't come under the purview of any common landscape design principles........

And beware of weeping cherries......one of the most insect and disease prone of any common ornamental trees and subject to late frost damage in colder zones. Not a great choice.

Thanks gardengal, noted. I've only ever had a purple leaf sandcherry, myself.

@Gardengal48, not putting the tree in the planting bed isn't standard landscape advice. It's specific to that bed that is too close to the house to have anything larger than a shrub. Perhaps a dwarf lilac would do, but really she is better off thinking outside the box, literally.

I like weeping cherries, but have never had one myself. Dogwoods are pretty, too.

Per the tree in the bed, I think one must just enlarge the bed in order to connect these two elements. It must be enlarged sufficiently to have the tree appear as if it fits well. The bed must accommodate the size of tree and its placement. Normally, I would be using smaller trees closer to the house. They must be proportioned to the house & roof line.