They are both too close to the roof and stone color. Monochromatic looks can work when you are trying to deemphasize an unattractive feature. Using all the same color blends everything together so you don't notice any one element. You have such nice elements going on here that they should be emphasized by using a more contrasting color in your stucco. Something not grey. Pick a color out of your stone other than grey and use that. Maybe a light warm beige, with a bit of grey in it. Take a couple of the stones to a paint store and have them color match them in samples and maybe a shade lighter also. Your home is too nice to have the details just fade into the background!

7 shovels of sand to 1 shovel of portland cement. It is easiest to mix this in a paddle mixer which may be available to rent at a local equipment rental location. It is possible to mix 2 or 3 batches of "sand-cement" mix at a time. The consistency of the mix should be such that when formed into a ball, then squeezed in your hand will not squeeze between your fingers and when you open your hand it does not fall apart.Water will have to be added to get this consistency. Hope this helps

If you haven't actually been in a pebble pool, you should probably try to find one to get in. Regular pebble is well, pebbley. Mini pebble is not supposed to be as bad. My girls and I play hard in the pool and we struggle with plaster tearing up our feet. When we have been in pebble pools we have had bloody feet. Maybe not an issue for you, but it was for me and I went back with plaster, knowing that I will have to do it again. If you don't mind spending a lot of money the bead tech seems to be the most smooth pebble option out there IMHO. I really liked it, but it was spendy... oh so spendy.

Treasuretheday--what a gorgeous shower! You've convinced me to do the panel plus door! Incidentally, a couple of people have asked me about the tile I used. It's a ceramic called Skabos made by Cenit (a Spanish company--usually readily available at most tile showrooms). Economical but great quality and it looks just like travertine--it is even tumbled, though you can get a glossy version. It comes in 3 by 6 (which I have) and also a larger, long vertical size. The pattern was the suggestion of the manager of the tile store I use. I'll post another pic when it's complete. Thanks, everybody for your help!