We are currently installing Dutch Stone and so far are very happy with it. We were expecting to use El Dorado but the stone supplier in our area (who handles both brands) was very adamant about preferring the Dutch Stone so we took their advice. The mason usually works with natural stone and he has been impressed by the product too. I'm on my iPad right now and don't have easy access to pics but there are plenty on the blog and also a few in the 'it's February, how is your build' thread. We are using their Ledgestone in the Natural Blend color and are mixing in about 10% Fieldstone (larger more rounded). Will be using the slightly more squared WeatherLedge on the interior fireplace wall. Here is a link that might be useful: Blog about moving to VA: Newsfromthehill.com

Cindy, I forgot to tell you how pretty your house is:) I have seen vines being trained on a string....you just attach it to the house where you want it to go. I saw the most beautiful pic somewhere of ivy being trained on a big brick wall in a harlequin pattern. Another thought I had....you window above the door - could you paint the trim around the window the same color as your door? All of your other windows have stone trim(darker). You could also maybe paint the arch trim around the door. I am thinking this would give it a more cohesive look to your house - 2 big urns with plants & your done. I also really like that plum color that Lindy last posted, too. Smiles:)

I think I've figured out that the red tile is your floor? And the gray stone is a SS? If so, I'm a little confused... you said those were things you've ordered. Are you using SS somewhere, or is that just what you would use if you could? It's beautiful; I love any SS but didn't use it for the same reason. I have heard here that leathered engineered quartz is difficult to maintain. Leathered granite, OTOH... For a long time I really thought we'd be going with quartz, but once I started looking at some of the granites, I knew that's what would work best for us. By that time I had also decided that I didn't like the polished look and wanted honed or leathered or whatever. We ended up with Impala Black leathered, which was about the same as the quote we got for Hanstone. Silestone was more, and Cambria probably would have been even more. It doesn't have any cream, just dark gray overall effect, probably in the same color family as a gray SS or JM, though I never saw that in person. If you take away the cream color of your 1st Cambria pic, that's about what you would have. It has been mistaken for SS in a photo. Overall it has been a breeze to keep looking nice (about two months). We did crack it this weekend by running the crock pot directly on it (fabricator didn't give us any hints about what to do and not to do, but they will fix it and bring us some trivets to put the crock pot on in the future). Otherwise, it seems pretty hardy, and definitely does not show stains from those things you listed. Not sure if that helps or if you are looking for suggestions of stones with some cream along with gray, but from what you said, it might fit.

First - thank you all for your responses. The variety in opinion here highlights my dilemma. :) I have the rust drapes (from previous house) and could demo them up, but the green ones have to be ordered. I have purchased 3 fabric samples of the green and it's such a nice color. A bit more brown than the pic, deep earthy green. Yum! The rust is my "signature" color (ironically I am a redhead, too, but abhor true red colors) so I definitely have plenty of accessories that feature it, and plenty of reddish brown wood pieces. To answer your questions... pps7 - eventually, yes. Our hardwood guy asked us to wait 45 days before putting any coverings on the wood, so it will be several more weeks. Most likely a round jute rug in the dining area (our table is round), and an area rug in the great room. (We have a 2 y/o, so have to consider spills a given!) xantippe - the wall color is SW "Camelback." I really like it, and it changes so much depending on light. I didn't want to overwhelm, but I can add a bit more info: I currently have this pegged to go over the mantel. It has been sitting there for about 2 weeks now, and seems to fit nicely: The FDR is visible from the great room, but not the kitchen. The walls in there are SW San Antonio Sage: I have been thinking about keeping the green in the kitchen/great area, and using the rust drapes in the FDR. I would probably hang this in there (it is more creamy, less yellow): In our last house that picture of the buildings was over the mantel, and the trees were over my sideboard. But now that the mantel is stone, those rectangular buildings completely disappear into the rectangular stones. This move has gotten me all mixed up! And here is the floorplan for that level, showing the relationship between the rooms. Our island is smaller than originally drawn, I scaled it back to clear the traffic path from the drop zone... and the open pocket office has been closed off to the dining (as pictured, I was playing with the idea of converting it into a small butler's pantry, but didn't):