How to Make Your Stone House Feel at Home in the Landscape
The right gate, walkway, garden furniture and, of course, plantings can help make the connection
Jay Sifford
February 13, 2022
Stone is one of the predominant materials used for house exteriors today. Whether your home’s style is colonial, traditional or contemporary, stone lends a timelessness and an organic connection to the earth. But stone homes in the U.S. have historically had an austere look, sitting atop the landscape with little or no connection to their foundation plantings, let alone their gardens. Let’s look at ways to make your stone home feel at home in your landscape.
Consider How to Create a Purposeful Landscape
While foundation plantings of green boxwood and hollies may be the norm in some areas, what works for your neighbor’s home may not work for yours. To make your house feel truly at home in your landscape, begin by taking an objective look at its style, siding, coloration and textures.
This house, covered in gray stone and brick in tones of pink and orange, appears to be happily nestled on its lot because careful attention was paid to color and texture. The blue and purple tones of the lyme grass (Leymus arenarius, USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone), Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, zones 5 to 9) and purple salvia pull from the stone; their verticality speaks to the height of the home. The pink coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) pull from and brighten the tones in the brick, while the texture introduced by the blue atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’, zones 6 to 9) visually reinforces the texture of the stone.
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While foundation plantings of green boxwood and hollies may be the norm in some areas, what works for your neighbor’s home may not work for yours. To make your house feel truly at home in your landscape, begin by taking an objective look at its style, siding, coloration and textures.
This house, covered in gray stone and brick in tones of pink and orange, appears to be happily nestled on its lot because careful attention was paid to color and texture. The blue and purple tones of the lyme grass (Leymus arenarius, USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone), Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, zones 5 to 9) and purple salvia pull from the stone; their verticality speaks to the height of the home. The pink coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) pull from and brighten the tones in the brick, while the texture introduced by the blue atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’, zones 6 to 9) visually reinforces the texture of the stone.
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Add Boulders
It may at first seem counterintuitive to add more stone to a landscape that surrounds a house of stone, but doing so can ground the home in a meaningful way by visually pulling it forward into the space. Make sure to match the scale of the boulders to the scale of the house. Undersize boulders can look like an afterthought, or worse yet, a weekend DIY project gone awry.
It may at first seem counterintuitive to add more stone to a landscape that surrounds a house of stone, but doing so can ground the home in a meaningful way by visually pulling it forward into the space. Make sure to match the scale of the boulders to the scale of the house. Undersize boulders can look like an afterthought, or worse yet, a weekend DIY project gone awry.
Consider an Entry Gate or Fence
What better place to set the tone for your home than at its entrance? By doing so thoughtfully, you can pull your home’s color, texture and style forward in smaller doses to encourage curiosity, exploration and the sense that your home is a special place. I realize that not all of us have the space or homeowners association approval to do such things, but if possible, make that connection by adding an appropriate gate or fence using the same stone.
What to Know About Adding a New Gate
What better place to set the tone for your home than at its entrance? By doing so thoughtfully, you can pull your home’s color, texture and style forward in smaller doses to encourage curiosity, exploration and the sense that your home is a special place. I realize that not all of us have the space or homeowners association approval to do such things, but if possible, make that connection by adding an appropriate gate or fence using the same stone.
What to Know About Adding a New Gate
Rethink Your Walkways
As unimaginative as they are, concrete sidewalks seem to be the norm in many neighborhoods. A unique walkway, however, can give your entry a sense of anticipation and a homogenous feeling. This granite walkway, laid out in a naturalistic zigzag pattern, pulls the color and texture of the home forward and into the landscape, making a meaningful connection.
Regardless of your stone’s coloration, a trip to a good local stone yard will yield several types of paver stone that will work for your home and landscape. Perhaps your walkway can easily be resurfaced with an appropriate stone.
How to Use Local Stone in Your Landscape Design
As unimaginative as they are, concrete sidewalks seem to be the norm in many neighborhoods. A unique walkway, however, can give your entry a sense of anticipation and a homogenous feeling. This granite walkway, laid out in a naturalistic zigzag pattern, pulls the color and texture of the home forward and into the landscape, making a meaningful connection.
Regardless of your stone’s coloration, a trip to a good local stone yard will yield several types of paver stone that will work for your home and landscape. Perhaps your walkway can easily be resurfaced with an appropriate stone.
How to Use Local Stone in Your Landscape Design
Consider Garden Sculpture
Thoughtfully placed garden sculpture can create a sense of journey and anticipation when visitors arrive. Several pieces used in conjunction can create rhythm to further build anticipation.
Notice how the piece shown here connects with the house, pulling the color and texture of the siding into the landscape.
Thoughtfully placed garden sculpture can create a sense of journey and anticipation when visitors arrive. Several pieces used in conjunction can create rhythm to further build anticipation.
Notice how the piece shown here connects with the house, pulling the color and texture of the siding into the landscape.
Purchase New Patio Furniture
Perhaps that old metal mesh patio table and chairs worked with your previous house, but now they look tired and out of place at your current home. It may be time to recycle and upgrade.
Notice how these contemporary gray cubes pull this home’s color and texture down onto the deck while speaking to the clean lines of the home. Would they work with a traditional home? No, but they sure pull their weight here, and they do so with style.
Shop for patio furniture
Perhaps that old metal mesh patio table and chairs worked with your previous house, but now they look tired and out of place at your current home. It may be time to recycle and upgrade.
Notice how these contemporary gray cubes pull this home’s color and texture down onto the deck while speaking to the clean lines of the home. Would they work with a traditional home? No, but they sure pull their weight here, and they do so with style.
Shop for patio furniture
This set of furniture complements this stone home perfectly. Notice how the chairs contain both the light gray and charcoal tones of the stone house exterior. Additionally, the shape of the chairs mimics the shape of the siding.
Add Planters and Pottery
Terra-cotta and ceramic pots come in a variety of colors and textures, and you can certainly find one to complement the stone on your home. Notice how this pottery pulls the orange tones from the stone as well as repeats the texture of the home’s exterior.
Browse outdoor pots and planters
Terra-cotta and ceramic pots come in a variety of colors and textures, and you can certainly find one to complement the stone on your home. Notice how this pottery pulls the orange tones from the stone as well as repeats the texture of the home’s exterior.
Browse outdoor pots and planters
Don’t Neglect Seasonal Interest
Gardeners are a special breed of people who have learned to embrace seasonal change. Why not capitalize on those changes by purposefully connecting them to your home?
This garden is a case in point. Notice how the lake reflects the home, politely taking possession of it and grounding it. Then notice how the boulder in the foreground repeats the texture of the home’s stone siding. Finally, the seasonal orange coloration of the grasses pulls the orange tones of the stone into the landscape for a perfect seasonal composition.
Gardeners are a special breed of people who have learned to embrace seasonal change. Why not capitalize on those changes by purposefully connecting them to your home?
This garden is a case in point. Notice how the lake reflects the home, politely taking possession of it and grounding it. Then notice how the boulder in the foreground repeats the texture of the home’s stone siding. Finally, the seasonal orange coloration of the grasses pulls the orange tones of the stone into the landscape for a perfect seasonal composition.
How to Get Started
Let’s work with this gray stone wall. Near-blacks, blues, burgundy and bright pink would pair well with it.
Well-suited companion plants for this type of stone include ‘Grace’ smoke tree (Cotinus ‘Grace’, zones 5 to 9), Ever Red fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense ‘Chang Nian Hong’, zones 7 to 9), purple sage (Salvia nemorosa cvs., zones 5 to 9), Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, zones 5 to 9), ‘Crimson Queen’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’, zones 5 to 8), ‘Dallas Blues’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Dallas Blues’, zones 4 to 9), ‘Blue Star’ juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, zones 4 to 8), ‘Black Negligee’ snakeroot (Actaea simplex ‘Black Negligee’, zones 3 to 9), cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’, zones 3 to 9) and burgundy coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides cvs., Zone 11).
Accent colors for ceramic pottery and accessories would be in tones of blue and bright pink. If your aesthetic leans more toward terra-cotta, look for pottery that includes more pink than orange tones. Stainless steel sculpture would be at home with this stone too.
Let’s work with this gray stone wall. Near-blacks, blues, burgundy and bright pink would pair well with it.
Well-suited companion plants for this type of stone include ‘Grace’ smoke tree (Cotinus ‘Grace’, zones 5 to 9), Ever Red fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense ‘Chang Nian Hong’, zones 7 to 9), purple sage (Salvia nemorosa cvs., zones 5 to 9), Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, zones 5 to 9), ‘Crimson Queen’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’, zones 5 to 8), ‘Dallas Blues’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Dallas Blues’, zones 4 to 9), ‘Blue Star’ juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, zones 4 to 8), ‘Black Negligee’ snakeroot (Actaea simplex ‘Black Negligee’, zones 3 to 9), cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’, zones 3 to 9) and burgundy coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides cvs., Zone 11).
Accent colors for ceramic pottery and accessories would be in tones of blue and bright pink. If your aesthetic leans more toward terra-cotta, look for pottery that includes more pink than orange tones. Stainless steel sculpture would be at home with this stone too.
This cultured stone is a fabricated product that includes tones of gray and orange with plum accents.
Companion plants for this type of product include Wine & Roses weigela (Weigela florida ‘Alexandra’, zones 4 to 8), Coppertina ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Mindia’, zones 3 to 8), ‘Apache Sunset’ threadleaf giant hyssop (Agastache rupestris ‘Apache Sunset’, zones 5 to 10), Crimson Fire fringe flower (Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum ‘PIILC-I’, zones 7 to 9), and ‘Orangeola’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Orangeola’, zones 5 to 8), in addition to ‘Blue Star’ juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, zones 4 to 8) and cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’, zones 3 to 9).
Accent colors for ceramic pottery and accessories would be in tones of blue and orange. If you prefer terra-cotta, look for pieces that lean more toward orange than pink. Either stainless steel or rusted steel sculpture would be appropriate for this stone.
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Companion plants for this type of product include Wine & Roses weigela (Weigela florida ‘Alexandra’, zones 4 to 8), Coppertina ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Mindia’, zones 3 to 8), ‘Apache Sunset’ threadleaf giant hyssop (Agastache rupestris ‘Apache Sunset’, zones 5 to 10), Crimson Fire fringe flower (Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum ‘PIILC-I’, zones 7 to 9), and ‘Orangeola’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Orangeola’, zones 5 to 8), in addition to ‘Blue Star’ juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, zones 4 to 8) and cheddar pinks (Dianthus gratianopolitanus ‘Firewitch’, zones 3 to 9).
Accent colors for ceramic pottery and accessories would be in tones of blue and orange. If you prefer terra-cotta, look for pieces that lean more toward orange than pink. Either stainless steel or rusted steel sculpture would be appropriate for this stone.
More on Houzz
Read more remodeling guides
Browse thousands of exterior photos
Find a pro for your home project
Shop for your home
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