Zaxzirr, what part of the country are you in? If zone 6 or warmer i bet there are a dozen versions of Acer palmatum, Japanese maple, which will work. Acer grisium, Paperbark maple, (if I spelled that right) is a winner in the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Thanks for your response Tornado. We are in zone 7. Should have mentioned that, sorry. Also should have said that the wife wants a shade maple tree. She grew up with a maple and wants something similar now that we are of a greater vintage. I worry that the space is just too small for a shade tree and if we do plant one there it will dominate the yard and distract from perennial beds etc. I will have a look at the palmatum, grisium and paperbark.

I have always loved paperbark trees so that would be a winner if it suits us. Google hear I come.

A bit of advice based on experience.I live on a small lot in an old neighborhood. When we moved in there were two trees in the front yard: a maple and a very old over-grown cherry tree. Our front lot is about 25' by 35'. The cherry tree grew into the crown of the maple and was breaking the fence because it was planted too close. We took out the cherry tree hoping the maple would fill out. It never did. We had a very lop-sided maple that was not very attractive. The maple roots began to tear up the walkway leaving crooked concrete as a tripping hazard and invaded our sewage pipes. Rooter Rooter about twice a year. We took that one out as well. My point is, based on my experience, research how big the tree will get before you plant it. Think about the root system. Will it break any paved paths or patios in the future? Is it too big for the space provided? Living in an old neighborhood, I can really see the mistakes people made when planting trees 20 years ago. I've taken out three on our lot. When I plant a tree now, I research it thoroughly. Especially the root system. We have relandscaped our yard with pavers and I don't want tree roots tearing up the patio 20 years from now. It is expensive and a little sad to have to take out a tree. There is a Colorado Blue spruce in our backyard which I know I will have to deal with one day. I would never have planted such a large tree on such a small lot. One idea is to walk around an older neighborhood in your area and look at what people have planted in their yards. I get lots of ideas doing that. The most recent tree I planted is a Norway weeping spruce and a weeping cherry. I just bought a weeping white pine as well. I'm researching deciduous trees that will only get about 20 feet for a open space in the back yard. Still looking for that. Good luck!