My wife had me searching all over the place on how to make 2 fake rocks: One to hide our water well and the other to cover the septic tank in our yard. First I tried to make one out of concrete with a liquid polymer added to it to prevent cracking. Maybe I didn't use enough polymer because it cracked after about a month. It looked to smooth and obviously fake anyways. I then tried to make one out of foam. I was able to make a foam shell with a rock like texture. Then I painted it grey and brownish. It looked OK but when i hollowed it out and went to put it on the septic riser i had made it too small! Be sure to over estimate when you figure the sizing on these things. Some sites have charts to use to figure the interior dimensions of store bought models. You could use these as blueprints in making your own. I'll try to link to one below - not sure if it will work or not. In the long run I ended up just buying some for my wife for xmas! Very romantic, I know! Hahaha! She likes them though. I may try to make some more in the spring now that I have these plastic ones to use as design references. Here is a link that might be useful: Site I found to learn more about fake rocks sizing

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.

When you say modernize are speaking of style or more of updating the look? That can send you in 2 different directions. If you are looking for a more modern style, I love the warmth of mixing in wood stained elements with stone and steel. Maybe do an interesting wood trim around the garage doors - wide enough to mount new fixtures on and then carry that over to the posts and make those arches straight. I actually like the rock but I feel like it needs an anchor - the wood stained trim might do that. I don't know if it is possible but I would also consider changing the grout color in the rock to something a little darker. I would also want to change the walkway and maybe do an interesting steel railing between the posts. Good luck - take your time and just do one thing at a time - sometimes the simplest changes can make the biggest difference

yes, like Katie mentioned, Romabio. Classico. they have different shades of white and beige you could use. you could even mix the colors. it's all natural. same type of stone and it was done on this fireplace. in the white. looks really good. you'd make sure you got the mortar joints to lighten those up along w/the rock. All of the stone and brick were done in the same white romabio color, and light gray for an accent. super easy Only takes 1-2 coats. AND< if you don't like it, it washes off within the first 72 hours would look something like this I'd prob lime wash the stone in a nice white, do a nice white stucco, and then do the fascia in trim in a contrasting color like Iron Ore or Peppercorn. Then I'd do the garage door in a medium gray or the dark Iron ore shade. You'd end up w/something like this: (minus the spiders) want the grays? try these: I love this color palette. Do the white or cream, and bring in the Iron Ore for all of the trim and garage door. try and add some cedar or redwood somewhere If you don't want the white, you can get the Romabio masonry paint and have it tinted to any color. Then you could do this warm gray palette and use the rust color for the door