haha believe it or not, my garage door is still covered up in alucobond cover, so i haven't actually seen the colour yet and i don't want to peel it off just yet incase it gets damaged...Will wait til all the tradies have finished. Here is a photo of a section of my garden jocelyn lawry designs & colour - Not bland anymore??? :))

I suggest the colour of your gutters & window frames (if they are the same colour?) i.e. a darker colour. Light colours, especially Surfmist, tend to stand out and block the depth of view. The viewer will look "at" it. Dark colours recede and you tend to look "into" them and they are more inviting, They also add warmth. Keep in mind any colour significantly different from the render colour will stand out and become a dominant feature of the total house appearance. Hence why custom doors are gaining popularity as the styles can be one colour and the infill panels can be a myriad of colours and textures. Having trouble choosing from the standard Colorbond range of colours? Consider getting a Dulux powdercoated colour. They cost a fraction more but deliver a whole range of colours. They also offer better fade & corrosion protection especially if near coastal areas. You can also get the tracks on the inside powdercoated in black which looks neat. Custom spray painted colours or a vinyl/rubber "wrap" similar to the trend used on changing the colours of cars is emerging as an alternative. Don't get an embossed pattern on the panels that is either rectangles or squares. They are dated designs. Also, a smooth finish will show up an imperfection in the metal. The Cosmopolitan or Wide-Line styles (www.asapgaragedoors.com.au) suit rendered house finishes. Solid wood doors are a lot of upkeep (to stop fading and weathering if not sealed properly), are very heavy, and require a stronger motor. Colorbond colors Caoba and Cedar wood-look metal doors like all colours fade over time and can look daggy especially the Cedar. Custom doors are expensive. Be aware that many of the polycarbonate infill door panels (see-through & opaque) can get condensation in the hollow inners which eventually becomes mouldy. Sectional (panel) doors have many moving parts which need to be regularly serviced i.e annually.

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.

Personally I would go a lighter grey than monument and leave the posts and garage a light colour to contrast given the grey driveway. Wallaby or basalt maybe.