Also, as you can see my stamped concrete may not match my target color palette. Any ideas? I'm thinking I could darken the stamped concrete to dark red/brown. Open to ideas! Thanks

Not every house is suited to that type of stonework. I’m not sure I’m seeing a good spot to use it. Your inspiration house has traditional divided light windows and multiple chimneys, giving it a distinctive style.

do you have an architect you are working with on your build who can advise you on these things?

copying paint and trim colors is ok, but it may not have the same effect as on the other house.

maybe some of the other posters onhere will have some better ideas for you, good luck with your project.

possible ideas:

Amit, if you're going to use stone veneer and have it be convincing (look like real stone,) you cannot use it like tile, such as shown in Digdoug's example on the 2nd floor. (On account of obstructions we can't see details of the first floor install.) Instead, it must wrap the building corners and extend down the side walls for some degree, even if it's only a couple of feet. It will look best if it is proportioned to look like it creates at least an entire room. When the house is only partially clad in stone veneer, be careful about using stone above the first floor. It would not be convincing to have siding at the first floor level and stone directly above it, since this physically would not work with real stone.

In regard to paint colors, I can't say the scheme in your 'inspiration' photo (2nd picture) inspires me. The dark trim seems gloomy and the wrong color for the body paint. (Since you've already committed to black shutters, I can't second-guess your scheme.) I would suggest a darker body color, that is neutral and looks like it comes from the family of colors that would be inspired by natural stone, which is a huge family of colors. You might start by searching Google Images for "_____ house with white trim," The blank could be: grey, taupe, putty, mushroom, limestone, etc. In the search, you only need to find a better one in order to forget about the present one ... and then keep searching with the same method until you are gung-ho sure about a scheme. Then, be sure to get and apply samples of a scheme and appraise them from a distance in order to BE SURE it works. .

If & how you use stone is up to you. If you use stone on the second floor, it needs to look like a continuation of the first floor stone. In the rendition shown it would appear as a quoin (corner column).

Thanks for all the commentary! Much appreciated. We are a little lost (and dont have much time) with this color/style/stone selection. Assuming the stamped comcrete is staying...what colors/stones etc would you recommend? Ideally looking for a few ideas to help(loved dig dougs virtual designs!). If it helps were not a fan of a dark main color...

"If & how you use stone is up to you." While one can legally do as they please with their property, I think that is misleading because there are ways to use stone or faux stone that look cheap and tacky, and other ways that look classy and luxurious. A person inexperienced with using stone may not have a clue about the differences.

Since you have reddish/orangey/brownish looking flatwork already, you would not want to use stone & colors that are in the same vein. It could not only be a bad clash, but too much of same/similar. I'd avoid anything reddish/orange/brown/yellow/beige & the like. Go with something in the grey/taupe range. I'd suggest medium body color with white trim. Look at the Google images for house with particular colors and with stone. it will move you forward much more than talk alone.

My comments assume you will choose a competent contractor experienced in high end design.

Thanks Yardvaark. White trim seems the way to go. We are going to be grey a lot inside, so wifey would prefer something different on the outside. Looking at taupe shades...and where stonework may work

Thanks Dig Doug. Our contractor has been helping. If we assume the stamped concrete isnt going to change, any other color/stone 'visions' that you could show me? They are super helpful to try and narrow down options. Cheers!

some options on stone:

Thank you! I agree & want to be careful where we put stonework. On the other hand, just having plain stucco seems a bit too 'boring'. A compromise may be stonework just around the entryway columns. Hmmm decisions, decisions....

It looks like you only have one column in the entryway. I would skip the stone If it were my house. I think it looks cheap. But it’s your house.