I agree with the house color fighting it. However, since I hate the orange stone, that's what I want to change.

Also, those shutters are actually a faded hunter green

Paint the shutters a vivid color and the rock will be upstaged.

Y'all, thanks for the siding/shutter/etc advice, but the only thing on the table here is the rock. I can't have orange rocks, no matter what else is going on. Can't afford new siding, not painting the siding, just want to fix those ugly rocks. LOL

And really, it's so much more orange than it looks on my computer screen........

The rocks are fine.

I've never seen anyone successfully stain their stone veneer. Doesn't mean it can't be done, but... you may be blazing a trail.

I agree, that may be difficult unless you stucco it. I also agree about the color of the siding being wrong for the color of the stone.

Or you could try to embrace the golden stone! Haha

Took another look at your photos…at least what I am seeing, it seems the vinyl shutters were attached first to the siding and then the stone veneer was applied. Shutters look recessed, not overlaid. Odd, so I wonder what is underneath..do you think the veneer could be removed?

You could leave the chimney…that’s not so bad.

Y'all, thanks for the siding/shutter/etc advice, but the only thing on the table here is the rock.

Paint it. BioDomus from Romabio. It's a potassium silica product that's been used in Europe for more than 100 years. So it's not like typical house paint. They have a nice selection of colors in their own fandeck but they also color match to SW and BenM all the time.

The result is a more natural, stained look rather than a straight up "painted" look that you get with acrylic architectural coatings.

Wow, thank you Lori A. Sawaya. I will look into that!

The stone veneer was definitely built into the home, JudyGDesigns--it appears to have been a building option in the neighborhood at the time. The are a lot of homes built with Ozark rock in MO, so it was probably "cool" in the 80's

Lori, do you paint just the stones? Or do you also paint the mortar between the stones?

80's Contemporaries are again being valued highly. Their signature is the use of stone and wood in natural tones. Original details like that stone add to their value. Be very careful of obliterating too much of your home's identity for a temporary style diversion into the bland world of cool grays. That is not an attractive look for a home based on a connection with Nature.

The stone is original, beautiful, and attractive. Pull back and reassess your long term plan for the home.

Well......I agree with Cook, I'd recommend you consider whether you can live with the stone. But since you've stated you can't, then I'd recommend something like this: https://www.masonrycosmetics.com/brick-dye-stain-tinting Works for natural stone too. I'd just say, please step carefully....whatever you do as to tinting, staining, or painting, it's a one-way trip and irreversible. Do a test patch first and be prepared for variable results.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/paint-over-exterior-rock-facade-house-32396.html

Maybe this could help you...

Really don't know anything about staining stone which would be a permanent solution but as I mentioned above would a stucco finish be an option? This could obviously be reversed if ever desired.

Lori, do you paint just the stones? Or do you also paint the mortar between the stones?

Either. I'd BioDomus it all the same color as the siding. Shutters in SW Black Bean or Tricorn Black. A fun color on the front door. Black hardware, coach lights, etc.

Omg that orange rock! Definitely get rid of it one way or another! Like orange or red stained decks. Yikes....

If you still want a natural stone look, then each individual stone needs to be stained/painted/whitewashed separately and differently, so that it doesn't look painted over. It's the same way that an artist would use different colors to paint a picture of natural stone. Except it's being painted on your stone, not a canvas. It won't be inexpensive. I've seen people do fireplaces like this by whitewashing and then stippling/washing other colors over it. fireplace stone refresh

Hello I know this post is 3 years old but I am thinking about doing the same to my orange rocks. What did you end up doing and do you have an after pic?

The "orange rock" houses that yall are talking about are call ozark giraffes. They are made of sandstone and limestone "slabs". The style wasnt started in the 80's but in the 1910 and blew up in the 20's a 30's. There was something else going on in the 20's and 30's that caused the boom of the style, with the Ozarks being hard hit .. i personally love my wee stone house

Did you ever post an after photo?

I like the stones, if everyone else is painting theirs, yours looks different. It’s your home, if you really hate them it will drive you crazy, so follow your gut, but I really don’t mind them. Paint your shutters, front door, add some curb appeal at your entrance with a nice display, or up the ante on your landscape. Detract from the stone! Good luck

I would love to know what you decided to do. I am facing the same challenges! Orangy Sandstone Rock... The inside space was so perfect for us that I forgot about my hatred of the rock.... OOPS

Here's what somebody else did with theirs, and there's a lot more of the stone! This is one of the most popular houses on Houzz. Walkway, landscaping, trim echo the stone in a beautiful way, IMO.

Your house paint colors don't work with the stone--rest needs to be more neutral--less contrast.

Suggestion: It's helpful for Commentors to see the entire house in a wider setting to take into account roof, landscaping, hardscaping, houses next door. Good design is about dealing with a holistic space, not just a problem. Many a Houzz problem gets solved in innovative ways that the OP hasn't thought of.

Front elevation · More Info

Oh, good grief. Just noticed this thread was started three years ago! Over and out! (I would be curious about what OP did.)

No I'm glad you responded because I was looking for information. My home as my rock than that one.... But I do love that one.

Paint your siding section warm creamy ivory and your front door an orange/red. Whatever color you choose for any paint needs to harmonize with your, wide visible reddish brown roof.

Spend your $$$ on gorgeous landscaping with some yellow rock features in front garden beds to link with the house. If you come into $$$ create a yellow stone patio in the back right up against the house to link the patio to the house. Right now the cement patio is just an island out on the lawn.

Here's how beautiful yellow stone can look--patio, hardscaping. Your blue shutters and odd Tudor timbers are the wrong notes, not the stone.

Very good post. I am doing a renovation for a client and also deciding if I should stain the exterior stone .
What are the recommended stain brands?

This is a 4 year old thread. After many years of gray, gray, gray there are signs that warm tones are becoming more popular. It's inevitable - just a question of how fast. For example, SW's 2022 colour of the year Evergreen Fog is shown in all the pictures with warm wood tones and not the grayed brown wood tones of a few years past. The saddle-brown leather sofas in the SW's inspiration pictures are the exact "orange" colour of the stones. You don't want to remove the warm tones from the house just as they are coming back into style.

I would not do something based on current fads. I design by classic elegant design principles becuase they remain elegant always. ie, Channel has not gone out of style! The color of the stones should match their environment and the style of the house. A modern house would never do with orange stones. a woody, midcentry modern house might. not orange- ever- but natural stones that are warmer- tans, etc. If one is selling a house this year, and doesn’t care about the long term design quality of the house, I can see going with what is popular but...I still wouldn’t choose something just becuase its the latest fad.

I have a girraff wall that was popular at the time, but does not at all go with a grey victorian house, nor does it reflect the local color of the rocks. its horrible. if i had had more money, it would have put me off buying this house becuase replacing the retaining walls is too expensive a project for me now. but I have to look away when I pass them.

Exact Match Masonry Staining, I found them when I was looking to change the color of my travertine backsplash but in a natural way. I'm also looking into lime wash paint. I haven't started the project, but I may post when I do. Also, I know this post is older but I noticed there have been more recent posts asking about information. So here it is!

What color/brand of lime wash did you use for the above picture?