You could also consider laser cut aluminium screens which are powder coated in a Corten look finish. We used them in our new house. Screens by Decopanel in Brisbane. We have a real letterbox made of real corten, but were worried about rust staining our floors so used the aluminium for the breezeway screens. Photos below

Lisa, it depends on how clever the person is who designs, details and installs the door, and what elements in the photo appeal to you. Judging from the adjacent doors it doesn't look like it is much bigger than a standard size door. If I was engaged to design it I would consider using one of the engineered flooring timbers, such as the ones made by Mafi, as a way to keep things lighter, cheaper and more stable, on a steel frame. http://www.mafi.com.au/domino-larch-vulcano-sanded-natural-oil/ Somebody else may use conventional planks of wood that have been planed then sanded smooth. Both ways are bespoke, so will cost big dollars, and probably not a job that would be covered by your standard carpenter. It would be a matter of working closely with a clever craftsman to get the best value. Do you like the door due to the height of the entry hall, or the character from the mismatched timbers? Is your entry hall as tall as the one in the photo? Is it the other elements in the photo, such as the amount of light flooding in from the sidelight and highlight windows that contribute to how you feel about it? At the end of the day the design and installation is a really important element to the entry of your home, so it is often worthwhile to spend a bit extra to get something special. Best of luck withh your new home, Regards Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

I guess it depends on your budget . I'd tend to initially keep it 'simple' , and do the retaining posts in charcoal , or even a silvery grey . The trim I initially thought charcoal too , but your windows look like they may be white frames , or aluminium , so in that case stick with the white theme too , although the existing garage door/gates in mostly white is then too much white IMO , but you want to change that anyway . Because of the shape , the door is going to be custom -- I'd do a cedar panel type door , or possibly a single piece tilt door may close flush , but I suspect it won't . So clean lines , a clean look to the house , with a darker contrast in the retaining wall . If that doesn't look right , and/or you have a bigger budget , then a new retaining wall in concrete or blocks , with an off-white render , will look classy , but its mixing up eras and styles a bit too much for my liking -- next thing you'll want to square off the garage and all thge windows , and render the whole house . That would work , cost a lot , and look good -- but why ? Apart from the yellow , theres not too much wrong , so embrace it !

Hi Laura, I also love your inspiration photo. I think you're on the right track for what you want. It looks like an early summer image due to the jacaranda flowering so I would try and get a bit more colour in the planting and spread your flowering season to be as long as you can by choosing winter, spring and summer flowering plants. It appears that you have the ability to build one side of the garden up as you have a foudation below the fence. You shouldn't build it up in front of the actual fence as it will eventually rust out. If you do build it up in part, you could build seating into this to make two uses out of the retaining. You could intersperse this with the cortens to reduce the cost as that wont work so well for seating. Recycled timber could do the job and maybe mix with some gabions, which you can do on the cheap yourself if you have a source of rubble or stones. C.