Confused about trees!

Gardening is all new to me and I want to put a small tree in my front garden but am not sure what to buy can anyone give some advice?  The tree must not grow taller than  3/4 metres and must have flowers or colour of some sort.  My garden is west facing so can be windy at times and the soil is quite dry and stoney.  I was thinking of a japanese maple, flowering crab tree (japanese), pea tree (really hard to get hold of I think) or a Hawthorn.  Would these be any good?  Any advice is welcome.