Why not keep your front door as is (paint with another colour if you wish) and if the budget allows, add wrought iron gates over the existing doors in a glossy dark grey (black maybe?) This would pick up on the wrought iron you already have at the top of the steps. You could also maybe think bout adding glass panels to your doors?

Have a look at Chippendale Restorations but there are several leadlight specialists in NSW. Your home will be beautiful when it's complete. Good luck.

Hi Kate, do you have any floor plans or pictures which will help us visualise the areas?

External doors should be solid not hollow core. Beyond that it is as Tribbletrouble44152k7 Trek said, depends on budget and other priorities, and I'll add the house because the nicest most expensive door will look wrong if it looks out of place with the style/colours of the house. From everything I have been told a timber finish needs redoing more often than a painted finish. Edited to add, I thought to check what exactly the standard Hume XS45 1200 door is and for clarification the question is about the same style but the choice between the standard maple finish and the merbau finish? I therefore assume you intend to use a timber finish and amend my reply to ask whether the merbau is a better match for the other colours in your facade?