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?

What style is your home and what do you like? Matt Blatt has some impressive pendants: http://www.mattblatt.com.au/Lighting.aspx?s83#p=3&ipp=28&f=v83-pv71-nLighting-t71-c0__v108-pv83-nPendants-t71-c178&o=Default But, it's hard to make any suggestions without knowing your style (i.e. traditional vs. modern vs. minimalist vs. art deco vs. whatever).

Pop into the photo section here on house (or even the product section) and search "exterior pendant". I just did in photos and there are some lovely ones. Once you've chosen a style, post the link/pic here and we can help with suppliers and opinions.

It's difficult to say without context. It sounds as if you plan to render eventually? If it's a possible future change, might be worth thinking about how it might look, whether it will enhance the house taking into account proportions. I've seen beautifully updated rendered houses and I've seen houses that look just, rendered because it's the thing to do to update, but they still look old. It doesn't always work, sometimes for all the expense and effort it still just looks like a cheap upgrade, and not easily reversible. If it's worth doing I'd try to work on the entry with that in mind, so those changes are not something to change again. Are the rest of the windows matching and is it all visible, I mean if you paint the door will it look like a modernised bit that doesn't go with the rest of the facade? If it's obscured by the gardens and you plan to do more to the facade in the future it might be okay. I'm just thinking of the possibility it could look like a stuck-on difference. I personally liked the idea of a new wider door best, but is that within budget? Those bigger doors are heavier and need suitable frames. Is there suffcient space for a wider swinging door inside? Do you need a source of natural light inside? It's the sort of 'one thing leads to another' idea. I like it though, and there are some nice modern styles of door which include glazing if you don't want to lose the natural light inside the entry. The other thing I'd change is the light. Julie Herbert's large boxy one would look great I think. It also crossed my mind, could a sort of colour blocking work? Render the wall with the door. Maybe that could lighten up the dark area and enhance the brickwork and look interesting with the angles of the house? Difficult to say without a bigger overview but I wondered.