The "shrubs" are fine, they just need to be lowered enough to expose the bottom of the windows. You are fortunate that they have been properly clipped - so many are "bare" at the bottom.

Georgia is at the most a zone 8b climate so there is a limit to how much of a tropical look you can manage. But there are some very cold hardy shrubs and plants you could try that will emulate a tropical look. You can try reviewing some of the posts from the Tropicalesque Gardens forum for some possibilities. Generally, anything with very large foliage will provide that effect - Fatsia japonica, aucuba, edible figs, hardy bananas, perennials like alocasia or acanthus, And there are also a number of cold hardy palms you can try.

I might keep some of the hedged shrubs, especially those close to the entry. They provide an nice evergreen backdrop against to display the less tame looking tropicals. You can always reduce the height as necessary.

The path looks skinny. Is an upgrade possible?

If you are bent on going tropicalesque, remove the hedge. It takes up too much space that could be filled with more tropical looking plants.

It is certainly possible to grow palms in your climate -- I know people with tropical-looking gardens in the Netherlands and Washington state, not usually thought of as subtropical climates. In the NL garden he uses delicate magnolias and mixes in Agapanthus, Brugmansia, and Fritillaries to make a spectacular springtime show. I have seen photos of his palms covered in snow; it's amazing.

Canna and fernPassionflower

Tropical is usually very lush greenery, particularly with big leaves, big flowers and some ferns or palm-like stuff. I'd go with Canna for the big leaves and big flowers. I'd run a passionflower on a wide trellis covering most of the wall to the right of the door. Then, I'd get a some ferns. Christmas fern is native for you. You want to pay attention to the size of the plants and the sun/shade requirements.

You can transplant your shrubs to make a hedge, if you need one. When we put our generator in, the contractor grubbed out 3 yews. We moved them and 2 are thriving and I believe the 3rd will take hold this year.

Instead of the passionflower, you could espalier a fig on that wall.

I would do something architectural; combine built form with plant material to create a courtyard - playing off of the sidewall of the garage.

I live in Florida. Just wanted to remind you to be very careful putting any palms too near your house. Im not sure exactly where you live but palms are very bendy and can snap during storms. If you really want palms there are lots that grow very slowly and tend to be shorter. Take a look at the sago palm