Hi Terrapots, I'm not an expert but because I've been researching and working with sealers quite a bit these last few months (I'm doing sample pieces now for our deck project), I would suggest trying an enhancing sealer. If the faux stone is at all porous, it will accept it. Enhancers darken color and seal at the same time. I just did several hundred SF of copper quartzite, which, left natural is very blah. Enhancing it does wonders! If the faux stone isn't porous, it won't accept stain and your only option, I think, would be to paint it. Try a few samples in hidden areas. Brands I've used for sealing/enhancing are StoneTech, 511 Miracle, AquaMix and I'm currently sampling Aldon's Same Day Sealer and UltraPel from White Mountain (for my precast concrete but they'll work on any stone) For your flagstone, if you want to keep the natural look use an impregnating sealer (not an enhancer) (all above mentioned make them) Epoxies and Polyurethanes will coat the surface and can cause problems down the road with flaking and peeling. You can also choose a sealer that will give you the wet look. Try a local stone supply but stay away from big box brands. My experiences with those products haven't been good. You do get what you pay for :)

Have you already hired house painters? If so, does their company have a decorative finisher? (a lot either have one on staff or have someone they contract out to when needed). If not, depending on which finish you decide to go with it can be easy or slightly more complicated. Correctly applying a german smear takes more skill/talent than the internet would have you believe lol. I’d recommend finding a reputable decorative (faux) finisher in your area thats done an exterior in the past & has good references showing they know which materials to use and how to properly prep the surface. A white wash can be done a few ways: *Using regular house paint thats “watered down” using specialty glaze‘s which prevent the type of finish failure that using actual water would cause. *Distemper wash is both easy to apply & can be modified as the finish is worked on to achieve the look desired (either more or less color). Its made of natural slaked lime & has been used for centuries on exteriors throughout europe. The benefit of using a natural lime product are too many to list but the biggest are -permeability which allows the surface to breath (taking in & releasing moisture) -Limes has a high pH which prevents mold & mildew which is an important consideration for an exterior skirting.

Shutters are OK but they won't fix a design or warm up a white house. Traditionally shutters on paired windows are bi-fold so they cover both windows. I have a photo of bi fold shutters on my house when it was new in 1891. Here's a photo of bi fold shutters on 3 windows. Originally shutters were functional rather than decorative; they were closed at night for privacy but louvered for ventilation. It helps to think about what these things really are not just as props. There's no such thing as a faux shutter only functional and non functional shutters.

" She advised the German schmear (but probably didn’t know who was doing it) lol. I haven’t updated her yet 😬😬😬" Well. Everyone sees things differently. Just above, Beth posted a couple of stand alone fireplaces, schmeared. The pics with the accent chairs tucked near the hearth. The fire is alone. Flanked by windows in one pic, by wall and a sconce in the other. You say okay, big deal so what? But it IS a big deal. Alone.......IS very different than what you have done ( flank w/built in ) Everything exists in a context. Even schmeared to the MAX ? You have ( jmho ) married a horse to a chicken. You spent a lot on a built in, planked the back of the built in. You will add books, or display treasures, photo's .......etc. Yes? It's still going to feel wrong, Me? I'd say oh well, let's quit while we are ahead. Put the horse with a suitable pony, instead of a chicken, at least. That's why drywall, and minimal amount of brick exposed would be better. Better Yet? Drywall, and a new solid surface, or tile area to meet code and address the raised hearth. ( best case would have been to remove it and infill with a solid surface flush.) You've quite accidentally made two focal points, and neither can dominate . They are fighting one another for attention. .............and that is exactly what is bothering you. Best case is drywall and some new solid surface. Second best drywall and paint . Third best is forget the schmear effort, and get a couple of gallons of white paint: ) You need opacity. Yup........opacity. (Apologies to the very talented/wise Beth up there !! ) Remember........just because you can find it on the internet...........? Doesn't make it great. Like below : ( Imagine instead, lovely window views right to the floor. in this pic.. That fire begs for no competition whatsoever, let alone cabinetry, books, photo's and doo dads Design always begs one to edit ideas or you wind up with "odd couples".