ornamental tree suggestions please!

Robmarston

I will be moving house soon, and there is a lovely spot at the front of the house that is crying out for a specimen tree.  It will also help obscure the neighbouring house but it will stand alone.  As the house we are buying is a lodge house, the tree needs to make an impact.  
I have been doing some research and have read Alan Titchmarsh's book 'small trees' so I have some ideas but I'm getting confused.  I originally wanted a cherry blossom but I'm thinking that might be a bit obvious and I should look around at something else and use the space for something quite special.  I have been considering acers, prunus, pyrus, cornus, malus, lilac, amelanchier, among others, even the indian bean tree.  
What I need now is some input from the clever people on this forum on their preferences and experiences.  What would you choose and why? 
I'm planning to buy the tree mature, so that it has instant effect. The tree would need to reach about 15ft high, and have a spreading canopy of about 10ft.  I would like all year round interest, but prefer a deciduous to an evergreen.  I would like a standard, with a long trunk so that I can plant under.  Our soil is slightly acidic and the tree would be in an open position, but on the East side of the house. 
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.  I'm still open to a cherry blossom too, so any suggestions there are still good. 

Alchemist

Acers? I particularly like sango kaku for year round interest and upright habitat in its growth stages.  Have you considered crab apples? They flower quite well carry apples in winter and some have great autumn colours. If you have cherry, planting a  climber might be a good idea as I find mine flowers for a month and is fairly benign for rest of the season. 

Valley Gardener

Google Weeping Cotoneaster,they are evergreen,grow into a lovely shaped canopy,have white blossom and masses of red berries later.The Blackbirds love them.No pruning to speak of,just odd thin branches now and then.

Liriodendron

I'd second Alchemist's suggestion of Acer 'Sango-kaku'.  Beautiful all the year round; fab pink stems in winter, pale salmon leaf buds just opening now into bright green divided leaves, and gorgeous golden yellow, long-lasting autumn colour.  It does well in acid soil, too.




This is mine last October.  

Blue Onion

One of the purple leafed crab apples?  Or one of the shorter varites of a Rowan tree?  

Robmarston

Thanks for all of the suggestions.  I like them all, and that's the problem!  I like the idea of adding a clematis up a tree, whatever I choose. I'm still nowhere near making a decision though.  Gonna have to keep reading and viewing.  Wish I had a huge garden and could have them all!!

a1154

I had similar dilemma, though it was for a short avenue, and I thought (pink) cherry a bit obvious too. I finally decided on white cherry prunus tai haku, which is fab blossom, but also has a lovely spreading shape. What decided me though was it’s story. I think you are probably looking for something like that, and you’ll know when you find it. There are lots of lovely trees though, enjoy choosing. 

josusa47

Ginkgo?

clairegreenlow

I'm a big fan of our Pyrus 'Chanticleer', an ornamental pear. It has the most dazzling white blossom, crisp green summer foliage, and extremely vivid autumn reds and purples. Will miss it when we move