Nice yard.

I like both colors.

But, I would probably go for the black. It would accent the black ironwork in the yard & visually blend in more to keep the focus on the beautiful yard & flowers.

As time goes on, my black outside furniture showed age. No problem, black spray paint to the rescue. Looks new again every time.

As for the neutral, lighy pergola, that's a winner. Light color top will offer nice shade.

Hope that helps

Ditto - Black

Agree with going with black. I would think the gray would not look as good with the brown tones in your stone.

I'd choose the dark. Just nicer looking and will anchor the space well.

I also would choose the black but I can’t see 14 people ever sitting in that space. I personally like bright colored patio furniture but if those are the only 2 choices then the black is it.

"The iron work on the building is a blue grey" even so, the darker appears black from a distance, especially in the shade.

Agreed that black looks better but depending on where you live, and depending on the metal type, black metal can get really hot to the touch and also show dusty dirt more. I used to live in central California where it never rained and everything got super dusty and dirty. And with water restrictions, no washing it off.

I am the lone dissenter, preferring the lighter tone set.

I too like the light one. To me it will not look so cluttered in that space. Also I have dark furniture and it really shows the dust.

First off, I think the lighter color looks happier. It's less "severe." (Like I would rather see pink lipstick than black lipstick.) As a functional object that will get rubbed on and scraped against (over time) and is outdoors (grunge), a mid-tone (grey/taupe) will show the rubs, scrapes and grunge less than an extreme tone (black or white). In general, I'm not "into" everything matching so much as I am "into" compatibility, which I think the grey/taupe is totally fine with the surroundings. Too much matching gets a little dull. Of course, this is a balancing act. I don't think either set would quality as "wrong." It's just about preference, and the lighter sings sweeter to me.

White painted wood.

Show your building.

I'd recommend pergola in some shade of taupe or some light color that will not conflict with the stone, but will hold its one against that rugged stonework. White will look like it belongs in a climate different to what you've described, like it belongs in a colonial-revival garden, and might even look ditsy or fussy. Look into stains too, as they may endure longer in your hot dry climate, and they reveal a bit of the grain, but still look finished and intentional. There are some very nice soft warm taupe-ish stains. Good luck finding something that brings it all together.

There are treated woods. And there is metal, which is more expensive, but no other reason not to use it. I can't call out a style in a word, but it really needs to be compatible with building, which we can't see, as much or more than the patio floor.

The light grey wont show the dust as much

Just lovely, good choice on lighter metal. Agree on lighter wood. A stain close the the color of the stone is my choice, make it blend in. the space is terrific but small, don't break it up too much, make it all blend.