Lauren, My opinion is as a garage door supplier in Perth. In the B&D range, the CLASSIC range of Statesman (squares), Grange (rectangles) and Federation (squares) are (IMO) dated and suit faux-Federation look homes not modern homes. The ridges collect dust & grime. Their MODERN Nullabor comes in a woodgrain finish and a smooth finish. AVOID the smooth finish as it shows up any imperfections in the Colorbond steel. The Nullabor with the woodgrain effect is most suited to rendered homes. If you want a bit of detail in your garage door the B&D Seville (4 slats/panel) is what I usually recommend for rendered homes and brick or limestone fronted homes. The slat look designs are supposed to emulate a course of bricks however I have seen installs which cast shadows between the panels. AVOID plastic window inserts in the top panel unless you want to compromise security as they can be punched out. If you want light inside your garage, install a skylight or motion activated light. Another point to note in choosing the colour... standard Colorbond or Dulux powdercoat colours are easily matched should a door panel be accidental damaged by a vehicle. Also, dark colours fade faster than lighter colours. AVOID the B&D "Timber Coat" wood colours as they are a painted finish that can't be replicated if you need to replace a damaged panel. Their new "Knotwood" range of wood colours despite the premium price are powdercoated and baked on and can be replaced if damaged. The Colorbond Caoba and Classic Cedar colours can be replaced if damaged. If you live near the coast, consider the extra cost of having your door and tracks powdercoated to stop corrosion and rust.

Gee Jen, you make it hard without a photo! Without a photo I will have to rely on my psychic abilities to imagine your house... I would go with the same colour as hopefully somebody at some time considered how it looked with the rest of your house and hopefully it was a good decision at the same time. Sometimes the wood grain look cedar colours look too orange and really stand out. You don't want to make a feature of a faux finish as it is such a large area of the front of your house. But then again I am just relying on my psychic abilities - if the rest of your house is clad in wood-grain look, cedar colour metal panelling then your new garage door should match! Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

I'd go Monument or similar for the gutters , the barge boards around the roof , the timber above the front door , AND the fence to the left ( okay , charcoal stain for that , but most people would guess that ) . I guess I should say that yes , I'd do the roof in surfmist or a light silvery grey -- well , I wouldn't , but I'm guessing you wouldn't like my choice of terracota , so I'll assume you are going surfmist . That existing garage door colour is roughly halfway between surfmist and monument , and I actually think it suits , so I'd keep that , but do the 3 window sills across the front in it as well . The windows I assume are powdercoated ali , and look to have a greenish tinge -- I'd keep that , or is they are easily paintable , maybe go the 'garage door' tone for the part that is recessed . I'd do big street numbers in stainless on the letterbox , maybe even get a signwriter to do a 'shadow' in the 'garage door colour' behind the stainless -- you could try and do it yourself , but I'm a bit OCD haha , and prefer to pay a professional $150 or so and get the lines really tight and accurate , but maybe thats just me . That leaves just one thing -- the entrance door . Me , I'd go Sunshine Yellow , but I guess most people would go an apricot , a mid red , even a light spearmint green if leaving the windows as they are . Add something that ISN'T any way related to grey .

If you stand inside the garage and look up at the door , you'll see why you can't really add a veneer -- the roller is designed to be 4 or 5 layers with minimal gaps , when its rolled up ( door open ) . Add a veneer and its likely to jam , get crushed , get knocked off , etc . Plus glue doesn't handle the curvature , while bolts or rivets add even more thickness , plus the likelihood of leaking . Without seeing the fences etc , how about painting over the khaki green with a charcoal , especially if the fences are charcoal . Now that will be dark , but add some plants near the fence that are lushious green , brown , red leaves , yellow , even cactus or bamboo -- basically , move the darker background well and truly into the background , but its still there as a boundary , and still has modern tones . Other than that , either paint the door a sunny colour and make it a feature , or replace with cedar or a light knotty timber or whatever you prefer . That present colour and style reminds me of a utility shed on the side of the school grounds -- make it a feature !