Hi....I would do a walkway from the front door to the sidewalk, using stepping stones with grass in between, and low voltage lights. Around the tree used bender board to create a circle, fill with top soil to even out, but not close to the base of the tree. Plant with perennials, and an up light to highlight the tree. It looks like you have a porch, is there room for some butterfly chairs and small table?

buy a sorround for your large tree and fill it with red mulch or a light-medium colored gravel you can add plants if you want but don't need to if you do it elsewhere . You can also plant some annuals with a pop of bright color (purple/hot pink/red) bordering the walk way they cost about $1-3 each at Home Depot- buy them small (cheaper) they will grow in a months time and space them out at least 8 to 12 inches from one another. For about $40 you could probably also find yourself 3 colorful hanging plants to hang over your porch. What I proposed here will probably cost you about $100 or less including the gloves and hand shovel to make your holes.

Inspirational Ideas:

[houzz=]
[houzz=]

[houzz=]

Take the tree out. It blocks the view from the house to the street and blocks the view from the street to the house.

Thank you all for your helpful ideas. Newman, the tree does block the view but removing it sounds like an expensive project. I will start with adding some butterfly chairs an a small table, some hanging plants on the porch and adding a border to the trees and walk way. I will update you with the results.

Changing the color of the siding and garage door would help bring a wow factor. The one window I can see in the front could have shutters added. Putting a short white picket fence would help detract from the tree with some colorful flowers. The tree would probably cost about $1000.00.

You might add shutters to those two windows. Just be sure to do them right. Here are tips for that. http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

I wonder, too, if you might paint the house a different color so the railings will stand out? Maybe a gray or beige tone from the stone; you could paint the garage doors the same color.
I love the stepstone idea, but for me a tree surround might bring more focus to its scale. A patio to the left of the door is something to consider, too.