I like @kelly's idea of picking a lovely fresh color of paint for the door. You can then bring it down onto the stair risers. Either a solid color to match the front door, or go wild and add some decorative elements to the risers with stencils. Or think of staining the door a great color and coordinate the stair railings and risers. I have an idea book put together for just such project that might spark some ideas for you. http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16700983/thumbs/Kathryn-Delany-s-Decorative-Stair-Risers

All the suggestions above are perfectly good. However, when you have a house that is entirely painted, the options are so endless that it's easy to get stuck. I'd advise either finding photos of comparable homes in colors that you really love, and reproducing a similar palette on your home… or upload a picture of your house to a colorizing site, and play around with various combos. Sherwin Williams has a Color Visualizer that is decent. I don't mind a white house, but feel that the black trim is a bit harsh. On the railing especially- it feels like it is outlining itself too much. Reduce the contrast between the body and the rail and it will enhance the house rather than overwhelm it. You have a lot of choices, so just experiment and go with what resonates with you.

I once saw a gorgeous grey house with a chartreuse door and lots of purple plants in the front of the house. Wouldn't work my (horrible) salmon pink house (one day it will be painted) but since you have the grey might be worth considering?

I desperately in need of advice as I cannot make a decission.... sorry, pics are in comments as I could not attach them here, new to this.... 1. I am unsure which colour to paint the front door, the wooden has an ugly stained brownish colour, happy to sand or to paint, but mental block about colour - grey/black or white? 2. Thinking about recladding the bricks with horizontal wooden slates as per last pic.Is that a good idea? Not suited? Friends say too expansive here in NZ but i am happy to pay if it will suit the house. 3.Shall we put a deck in front of the french door connecting the entrance, which I would then cover with wood as well to get rid of the concrete. Too much wood? And what about the planters, leave the bricks, cover as well, I prefer to cover them.Input much appriciate as my dear partner would leave it as is:) House specs: 1951 house, render, with the bit of fake brick in the front. The entrance face the front garden, it is visible from the street through trees.I love the good size garden, obviously the deck will take a bit away, hence I would not choose a big deck. My thought deck and then one step down to sit on as well, if that makes sense.Thanks for everybodies input - i am in the brainstorming phase. We are in the South Island New Zealand. Sorry, struggling with uploading pics. I will keep trying to get the photo of the whole house up.Screen just turns white when i try to upload