This is really becoming very interesting Linda, maybe things are different here too. Take for example when I called people to quote on my bathroom renovation - the first two guys I called were loosely described as builders in that they had served apprenticeships and were qualified carpenters (or chippies as we call them). They would take on any structural work in a home, even do extensions and build completely new homes. They do all the basic structural work and then, in our case, call in licenced plumbers, electricians and qualified tilers. If new walls are necessary, as was the case in our ensuite, they will call in qualifed plasterers to do this work. The third guy and the one we used described himself as a bathroom renovator as he was a qualified tiler but he had years of experience to do basic building work as well and then called in other trades. He even used a specialist demolisher to gut the bathrooms as they had all the tools to do the work cleanly and quickly in one day. All the tradespeople have done courses and apprenticeships and are licenced and if you have any sense you don't use anyone without checking their licence first. For this reason, I would consider anyone, like Sir David and Kutchie and even yourself with your vast experience to be able to advise on structural issues that are pretty much black and white and things that have to be done for correct and safe building practices. On the other hand, designers or decorators, no matter what their qualifications are only giving an opinion on furniture style, colour schemes, furniture placement, etc, things that aren't black and white but are a personal preference thing. I note many of them come on strong with colour schemes having absolutely no idea of the climate or lighting or aspect in a room that can make a huge difference to the finished result and it really surprises me that as professionals, they always miss this. When dilemmas are on structural or building issues, I never comment simply because it is something the average person would know nothing about - the only time I have commented is when I have had a similar problem and I can state how it was handled and the result, successful or otherwise. Decorating, on the other hand is something anyone with an eye for detail can join in on and these are the dilemmas where I feel the Pro could be intimidating. It is bad enough when they come back with the "I'm a pro so I'm right" without having a "Read my Title" attitude as well. As far as I am concerned there are no REAL rights and wrongs in decorating anyway where building practices are another thing completely. I'm glad you got a Pro anyway, we certainly value you here.

With the style of the house, I would leave the door as it is or paint it white. If you'd love a pop of colour, maybe you can put a couple of white chairs with bright-coloured cushions. Or if you still want to paint the door, I would go with aqua or bright red as melf99 had suggested.

:o) and that looks beautiful too. I love the combo of your tiles, the charcoal and red. It makes me smile that we all take an interest in each others projects. I wonder if it is a combo between wanting to help each other because we know how stressful renos can be, plus loving beautiful design, plus the "dream" factor...in that we think about what we would do in a similar situation.....Seeing the whole look now.....the colour I suggested wouldn't have worked anywhere near as well as what you decided on....Hehehe.

Hi - we had the same beer bottle glass look in exactly the same layout/space at our front door & also again above it on the 2nd story in our tiny walk in robe. We replaced the beer bottled glass with frosted glass to still allow light and privacy. As for the door - a dark grey colour like monument or ironstone (similar to colour to what's in your brick) might work? Or if you can afford to, consider replacing both the door/window panel to a large timber door to make your entrance stand out :)