You've taken 4 good photos, but I am not getting a good idea of what is where with the landscape.
Photo 1. The style today is to plant the same shrub in a row in a planter like this. Choose a shrub that will not grow too tall and plant 5 of them. Gardenia, azalea or box wood ( or ask at nursery for your area). The shaped tree is cute where it is. Have the wood door & surround refinished. Leave the walk and door area plain & uncluttered. A 4 season wreath would be nice. photo:

Photo 2. Again choose 7-9 low growing shrubs for the planter. All the same, but different from the other planter. I'd place weed cloth at the base of both shaped trees and cover weed cloth with Japanese-style black smooth stones (sometimes sold as Mexican river rock stones). I'd like to see a better photo of the aqua urn area. I'd remove the high bricks by urn and leave the low bricks. The short retaining wall circling the large tree is nice. I'd fill with some 3-5 shrubs. All the same, but different from the others and they can be taller (India Hawthorne or ?). Seasonal flowers to fill in or ground cover (pachysandra) or more Japanese-style black rock might be nice there, too. What is clutter in front yard?
Photo 3 & 4.Better photo of 3 area? Is 4 the side yard?

I think your little patio could use a visual cover of some sort or a small gazebo http://www.outdoorlivingtoday.com/oltss/storefront/products.php?category=gazebos The lawn on the side of the house without windows looks like it does not want to grow, why not put some patio pavers and a Cedar pergola Kit. I like your front door, some sort of grasses in the planter on the side, (may be paint the brick planter) - pressure wash the floor and use a stronger paint colour for the door - will look wonderful! http://www.outdoorlivingtoday.com/oltss/storefront/products.php?category=pergolas ...good luck and I look forward to seeing what you have decided to do!