The stone is from YDL Stone called Kalala Shan. I wanted caesarstone calacatta nuvo but that would have broken the bank! This one still has that marble look I wanted but it's actually a warm base more off white, goes well with wood and the trouble I am having is which grey to put it with in the bathrooms! I was thinking light grey with off white...where did you get your tile from?

I would either go a dark grey/stone look or very pale. We have some massive pale ones against our existing red bricks with large agaves in them and they're a nice feature either side of the garage.

I suggest the colour of your gutters & window frames (if they are the same colour?) i.e. a darker colour. Light colours, especially Surfmist, tend to stand out and block the depth of view. The viewer will look "at" it. Dark colours recede and you tend to look "into" them and they are more inviting, They also add warmth. Keep in mind any colour significantly different from the render colour will stand out and become a dominant feature of the total house appearance. Hence why custom doors are gaining popularity as the styles can be one colour and the infill panels can be a myriad of colours and textures. Having trouble choosing from the standard Colorbond range of colours? Consider getting a Dulux powdercoated colour. They cost a fraction more but deliver a whole range of colours. They also offer better fade & corrosion protection especially if near coastal areas. You can also get the tracks on the inside powdercoated in black which looks neat. Custom spray painted colours or a vinyl/rubber "wrap" similar to the trend used on changing the colours of cars is emerging as an alternative. Don't get an embossed pattern on the panels that is either rectangles or squares. They are dated designs. Also, a smooth finish will show up an imperfection in the metal. The Cosmopolitan or Wide-Line styles (www.asapgaragedoors.com.au) suit rendered house finishes. Solid wood doors are a lot of upkeep (to stop fading and weathering if not sealed properly), are very heavy, and require a stronger motor. Colorbond colors Caoba and Cedar wood-look metal doors like all colours fade over time and can look daggy especially the Cedar. Custom doors are expensive. Be aware that many of the polycarbonate infill door panels (see-through & opaque) can get condensation in the hollow inners which eventually becomes mouldy. Sectional (panel) doors have many moving parts which need to be regularly serviced i.e annually.

You are on the right track with the Monument garage door, and possibly changing the glazing. I wouldn't tack on anything to the brickwork as it will always looked tacked on, and won't go with the rest of the house. Nothing worse than making a "feature'" when trying to conceal something - it just draws attention to it. Continue to make your porch and entry the feature which draws your eye, rather than distracting it with a feature garage wall. Where do you start and where do you stop when applying a cladding over brickwork? The rear garage wall can probably be seen form the neighbours front yard, so how far around the corner will you need cladding? It will need to be carefully resolved and detailed around the window sills and reveals. A better bet would be spending the money that has been earmarked for cladding on landscaping instead to the front of the garage with some dense, ever-green shrubbery. At least it will look natural and not draw attention to the garage wall and away from your front entry. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls