What a nice yard! Not sure if these are recent photos with plants just taking off. Consider area between porch and tree to create a big square using some nice herbs. Enjoy!

If hostas grow well there - and they appear to - then sun loving and dry garden herbs will not be happy!!

Yes, not really getting the herb vibe here—this sounds like dry shade but not complete shade and maybe root competition — so was great for hostas.
I’m not really addressing the design aspect of where to hardscape so maybe you’ll get some other suggestions. Except to say, if you have some idea about where your best soil and light are, think about trying to save some of that for the plants. I mean, if there are various options for path etc.
Doesn’t seem like great area for black eyed Susans, but maybe.
Could be great for those plants that are shade but tolerate some sun and vice versa. And bulbs.
You might make a list of plants & small shrubs you DO like and when you like to see bloom, how much evergreen you like to have going on. How much leaf fall?
If I didn’t have a deer problem I’d have way more hostas , because I have tons of leaves and the accommodating hostas die back to allow some winter cleanup.
Hardy ferns. Hellebores. Lots of stuff.

HU etc. makes some valid comments. I'd heed their advice, especially when it comes to plant selection :-)

As to the pathway, if you intend to remove the small remaining portion of lawn alongside the driveway, then I would start my path by the bottom step where the hosta appears in the last photo. Curve it through the planted area to the middle by the tree and place your bench there. And maybe grow something taller between the tree and the street to afford some privacy when sitting on the bench. And arc it around to alongside your neighbors as well. Think gentle curves :-)

What is the tree?

Thank you all for your responses.

@jackowskib I have some garden beds in the backyard so wont be using the front yard for herbs.

@HU-457756048 The area gets around 4-5 hours of morning and afternoon sun till about 2:30pm as it's facing NE. Some of the soil is dry, particularly behind the tree. The only evergreen plant there is a creeping juniper that's on the right side of the tree. I'm thinking maybe tall grasses? Like the giant chinese silver grass behind and right of the tree for some privacy. Would that be a good idea? The tree is spruce and no leaf fall except cones and needles. Which tall plants would you recommend for part shade and sun, and privacy?

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) that sounds like a good idea for the path. :)

@woodyoak the reason for the path is to make the area a little cozy and cottage-like. You're right about the concrete path meeting the stone path which leads into the front yard. That was my plan. There is a slope in the grass that meets the concrete path and I'm in the process of digging the grass out to plant some flowers there.

@partim It's a spruce.

@RG Thanks for having a short handle! I like your pretty space. I'd want to sit there. And I think, as with a living room, it would be good to figure out where the seating goes and then place everything else accordingly. Instead of a bench, would you consider a pair of Adirondack chairs? To me that looks so inviting, even if I never sit in them, but I do! I like to sit with hubby and watch the critters and the neighbors and say Hi! Also, I think the Adirondack chairs provide the heft needed to keep the yard from looking cluttered. I have my chairs on a bed of thick wood chip mulch just inside the bed. You might like the mulch part but maybe put the seating a little closer to your house so you can have your back to your house and not your neighbors or the street. Thoughts?

@RG so far the plant seem all one height. Is that right? I think when you get to the plant arrangement we should think about having some height variation. What do you think?

Tulips, alliums and Black Eyed Susans will all want full sun, tulips especially want it hot and dry.

And I'd certainly remove the small strip of grass to the right of the path. Must be a real PITA to mow. Just plant it with more shade lovers.

@RG what do you think about a bird bath or a bird feeder? That may be too much; I don't know. Much nicer to plant things birds love. I was amazed at how much the goldfinches loved my catnip under my shady maple tree

It seems to me that the problem is the area lacks a focal point. I see a lot of short plants with smaller leaves and stones scattered about and the whole thing is sort of confusing. I think you need a shrub in there that's roughly 3 ft high or as someone suggested, a bird bath. That could do it, but a decent sized one. Add a few plants of intermediate size with larger leaves.  Reorganize existing plants in relation to the focal point, with varying heights in the groups.

What about how it looks in the winter? Some evergreen interest would be good, depending on how much sun you get up near the house.. Rhododendron PJM comes to mind (common but tough and easy to keep to a smaller size), yews, etc. Possibly boxwood if there's more sun than I'm guessing.

Hydrangea arborescens might be nice too - they'd give you early summer blooms and hold the dry blooms for winter interest.