Alturas Homes | Blog

Our Favorite Exterior Stone and Color Schemes

Written by Ryan Mitchell | Aug 3, 2021 9:46:33 PM

One of our favorite steps of building a home is making it a space someone truly loves. Often we will do this by adding exterior features and accents that are just as amazing as they are memorable. Particularly, we like to add stone and pair it with a complementing exterior color to make it stand out.


2020 Boise Spring Parade of Homes: The Smyth

When we designed the Smyth, we selected Sherwin Williams Iron Ore on the exterior because of its bold nature and it turned out to be so stunning! It really brought a sense of confidence with it. This was the first time we went with such a bold choice, but it certainly won't be the last. Inspired from Pacific Northwest farmhouse design, this 3800 square foot home really stands out because it captures natural light not only on the windows but also on the exterior of the home. It truly shines inside and out.

2021 Boise Spring Parade of Homes: An Exterior Fireplace

Our Spring parade home this year was nothing short of breathtaking. Our designer pulled inspiration from some dreamy Southern architecture, and we were all for it. One of the marquee features of the Grayton was the exterior stone fireplace that showcased very well on the front patio. Here we used a Craft Orchard Limestone Timberwolf stone to capture a refined vibe, perfect for inviting some friends over and kicking it back with a glass of ice-cold sweet tea. The reason why this stone looks so good is that it pulls color from the exterior walls, gas lanterns, and stone walkway. Truly a masterpiece, if we do say so ourselves. You can read here about more inspiration that helped us design The Grayton.

2021 Boise Spring Parade of Homes: Grayton Exterior

We don't shy away from bold accents in our home. Our Sherwin Williams Iron Ore exterior paint on the Grayton was a fan favorite, and it is easy to see why. The bold color draws attention to itself in a memorable way. In fact, we used the same color on last year's 2020 Spring parade home, The Smyth. Maybe we're onto a pattern? Either way, a bold exterior paint color like this is something that easily captures attention and makes a statement about your home. If you're curious to learn more about this stunning home, you can read this blog.

The Greyhawk with Bonus: A New Floor Plan

Ok, we think you get it now; dark colors work really well with stone. But don't think that just because we used Iron Ore in the past means it is the only thing that stands out. Here we used a Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze to make the Hebron Route 66 pop in a unique way, letting it stand out by itself. You can accent a brick wall by reflecting colors in surrounding points or let it stand alone, and both options look amazing. You can read more about The Greyhawk with Bonus here.

2019 Boise Spring Parade of Homes: The Hayden

The nice thing about this home was how the exterior selections flowed together. The Sherwin Williams Shoji White body coupled well with the General Shale English Pub Think Brick on the pillars and chimney, giving the feel of a summer cottage on the exterior while still filled with modern design on the inside. This Cartwright Ranch beauty is one we still dream about.

2018 Boise Spring Parade of Homes: The Emerald

The cotton candy skies really make the contrasting colors on this body and fascia pop. The great thing about this Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain main body exterior is how the dark color feeds well into the brick, creating a cascade of color and style. Placing brick on the bottom half across the span of the house is fun to look at and really gives a solid look, while not distracting too much from the rest of the home. This is why a nice selection of brick with a complementing exterior body color can go a long way.

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