"The cost and installation of real stone was about the same as faux stone - not a hard decision to go with real stone." Most people (who have an interest in their homes) would prefer real stone, real metal, real shutters, real wood siding, authentic beautiful materials... It's usually a cost or maintenance consideration. So, what is the advantage to using a faux stone? If it's not a financial or a structural consideration due to weight, why are you considering it? You do have to be careful a structure can handle the weight of real stone, even with a stone tile floor. It's weight also makes it more difficult to move and work with. Cutting would be another issue. These things usually entail higher labor charges. I would think specialized labor and equipment would be involved. Those were things I was told when I was looking at products. Be sure to get the full picture at the outset, not just a material cost comparison, to avoid surprises. Some of the faux stones are more real looking than others. The craftsmanship of the installer will also affect how "real" or good it looks. Then again, some real stone doesn't look so hot either! If what you pick isn't indigenous to the region, it could look off. Or it can be installed without a lot of artisan skill. I've seen some real stones that just look ugly to me. If this is a big box product, beware of quality, and it probably does not look that much like real stone. "but I was actually looking for opinions on the "look." The inspiration picture in the kitchen that you posted (and the others shown) look very heavy and out of place. They don't work well, imo. If you want to bring some stone indoors, maybe a fireplace or fireplace wall would be another option to consider.

Phoggie- It all sounds wonderful! Just remember to keep everything easy for you to take care of, which includes watering plants. My mom tried hanging baskets for a while, but they dried out quickly in our summers and were heavy to hang back up, after watering. Can you post a picture of your front porch and yard? My favorite garden style is a mixture of flowers in a cottage garden style. Maybe a few old fashioned shrub roses that are easy to take care of and beautiful when they bloom in the early summer...and have a lovely fragrance! :)

Hi again.. Thank you for your comments... natesgram..The screen door I have is at least 20 yrs old..It is bent and tweaked so it needs to be replaced...so I'm leaning towards a black screen door. If it was in good shape I would try painting it black..that's a really good suggestion that maybe someone else will benefit from. meowzer..I really like having a screen door to let a breeze in. I live in Southern Calif. and it's pretty warm all year round...so eliminating the screen door is not an option for me. (Sigh) I really love a pretty front door and I think the screen isn't very attractive, but it's all about function here. Coco and RM...Thank you for posting pictures of your doors..Absolutely LOVE the look of both! I think that seals it for me. gilly...thanks for the vote of confidence. As to the suggestions of purple...I think my 84 year old neighbor would call City Hall on me for sure. She's the neighborhood police, if you know what I mean. KA:)

b, if you choose a variety that will get tall enough to have a decent trunk, the canopy will happily rise above your walkway. If you get something that matures with a small stature, then the canopy will slap people in the face unless you keep it pruned into a homely shrub. Something too small will block your vision from the windows, too, but perhaps that's what you're wanting. When choosing a crape myrtle, I select for color first, then expected mature size. Depending upon the location, I would select a sturdy single-trunked specimen or one with a nice multi-stemmed trunk. Don't forget to research fall color, too, some are brilliant in the fall. Most of the National Arboretum introductions are very powdery mildew resistant and some even resistant to that pesky crape myrtle aphid. In your situation, my choice would be a colorful (not a fan of white crapes), single-trunked specimen of a variety expected to reach 25'. And leave it alone other than keeping the side shoots pruned off. I think that the architecture of your home calls for a real tree in the front yard, even if a small one. By small, I mean 20-30 feet.