What tree should I plant in my front yard?

I'd like it to be unique and beautiful, graceful, maybe a bit delicate but not a weeping willow. Something with a branching shape, not too vertical. I'd like it to let dappled light through, and be no more than 25 feet when mature. It can be deciduous. I live in Southern California in an old 1920's mediteranean but not spanish-style house. The garden faces south/east with not much shade. It is ecletic, with white wisteria behind a black magic colocasia, some david austin 'heritage' roses, white heliotrope, pink jasmine, purplish red abutilon, canterbury bells, oreganum 'kent beauty', coreopsis 'limerock pion'. Things like that. I love japanese maples and I plan to use them soon, but this tree needs to be more of a focal point, close to the entryway, and it will be there to greet whoever comes to the door. Is there a maple tree that will be right? Or something entirely different? I just planted a halesia snowdrop tree farther down the garden.