Understanding how brick and stone influence the rest of your fixed exterior elements is important for any new build or renovation project. And, I see so many houses where they got it wrong. Here are my best tips for coordinating stone for a pretty exterior you’ll love for years to come.
Around this time of year, we get a lot of questions about exterior stone and brick in our eDesign department. If you are building a new house or renovating your exterior, you may be wondering which stone is right for your home.
There are so many decisions to be made in a new build or exterior renovation that it’s easy to get overwhelmed… and ultimately leave some decisions up to your builder.
But remember, just because an architect/builder/designer specified it, doesn’t mean it’s automatically going to be fabulous.
Every selection is a colour decision first. And colour may not be their area of expertise.
All you need to do is drive through any neighbourhood where the HOA requires brick and/or stone and you will see many, many more examples of how it can go wrong than what examples of how to get it right.
How to choose stone for your exterior
The first question should be: is stone even necessary on your home’s exterior?
It’s easy to assume stone adds value and beauty to any and every exterior, as many builders do, but that is NOT the case. I have saved many clients oodles of budget space by releasing them from the need to add stone to their exterior.
You can absolutely create a beautiful, fresh and even stately look with simple stucco or siding
But if you DO want or need to incorporate it, choosing your stone is a BIG deal. Not only is it expensive, but if you choose anything but the most timeless stone for your exterior, it will take your colour palette into much murkier territory than you intended.
And then there is placement. Unless you are planning to clad the entire facade (or most of it) in stone, alternating stone with siding or stucco too often looks awkward, adding to the feel that the stone was just slapped on as an embellishment, creating a choppy look.
This is SUCH a big decision for any exterior, so I’ve curated my best colour advice for exterior stone to help you make the right decisions for a pretty exterior you’ll love for years to come.
A Roundup of my Best Posts about Coordinating Brick & Stone
From combining brick and stone to choosing the right window colour, here are links to my most helpful posts related to exterior stone.
7 Steps to Choosing Brick and Stone for your Exterior
If your brick and stone combination didn’t work out the way you envisioned, paint your brick… and other useful considerations for brick and stone.
Traditional Exterior by Atlanta Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Land Plus Associates, Ltd
The Best Window Colour for Stone and Brick
Earthy stone will dictate a creamier window and earthier colour scheme than you might have had in mind. How your choice of stone or brick influences your window colour options. An important consideration since stone and window colours are the first and most expensive colour selections you will make for your exterior.
A New Build Conversation About Exterior Stone
How to test your stone sample to determine the neutral undertones that will relate best.
The Best Way to Choose Exterior Stone (Ugly is on Sale)
Don’t be pushed into choosing an ugly stone because of seemingly limited choices. Know what to ask for, and be prepared to upgrade to get it. This is the most important selection for your exterior.
Image via Sotheby’s
Which Siding Colour Looks Best with Stone?
Why the brochures displaying “coordinating” exterior colour palettes in the paint store is a dated and ineffective way to choose colour for your exterior. And what to do instead.
To learn even more about choosing the right colour to coordinate with the stone on your house, get my Masterclass for Exterior Colour Selection here.
Related posts:
Create Gorgeous Curb Appeal with Front Door Colour Ideas
Miriam, All the homes in my community are required to use a red brick. Our development is mature with a great deal of established landscaping material and trees. Does red brick work with nature’s colors?
A red brick home can be timeless as long as the design is good. Hope that helps, Maria
Thanks for your honesty in your own choices. It really helps me not to feel so bad at times!
Anne