• Exterior stone details add elegance and value to a home.stone entry image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
  
  When considering materials for the exterior of your home, consider stone, or even stone veneer, as a versatile, unexpected building material that adds character and resale value to the home. Whether your aesthetic is rustic, modern or elegant, elements of stone incorporated into your home's exterior are classic options for renovating the exterior of your home.
  
  

Stone Siding

• If your aesthetic is rustic, classical or contemporary, stone siding is a good option. Covering the entirety of your home's exterior in stone is a dramatic design choice that adds character and value. Stone siding if especially effective for two-story homes with architectural detailing such as a turret or multi-peaked facade. For a rustic country atmosphere, choose small gray stones to create the sense of a woodland cottage. Homes that are more classical are better suited for larger, lightly colored stones that maintain asymmetrical edges to offer softness in an otherwise-rigid exterior. Contemporary homes maintain the aesthetic of clean, simple lines with long, thin stones in a darker slate gray. Stone exteriors are incredibly durable and offer low maintenance requirements and cost, though the initial cost of stone siding is usually one of the most expensive exterior siding options. If stone is out of your price range, consider a stone veneer, which is designed to look and feel like stone without the large initial investment.
  
  

Stone Entryway

• If stone siding is out of your budget or simply too dramatic for your tastes, consider a stone entryway to welcome guests into your home. Stone surrounds for front doors are most effective in two-story homes in which the stone frame extends from the door all the way to the edge of the roof. You can add a bit of romance and elegance to your front door by first framing it in a covered arch or peaked gable. Lay warm, sand-colored stones for a Tuscan aesthetic, or large, asymmetrical gray stones for a rustic atmosphere. For even more visual impact, consider a creative door option instead of a standard front door. For example, a solid, six-panel double door creates a classic French design, while a heavy door made from unfinished wood beams evokes Spanish colonial styles.
  
  

Stone Details

• Even small additions of stone add charm and elegance to a home's exterior at a small fraction of the cost of stone siding. Identify suitable architectural details in your home's exterior that may be suitable applications for stone. For example, substitute stone for your outdated brick chimney to give your home an immediate update. Instead of wood paneling, frame the bottom of your porch with flat stone slabs, or support your covered porch with stone pillars made from rounded stones rather than traditional wooden beams. Like a front door, a bay window becomes a visual centerpiece of an exterior when it's framed with large gray stones. If your home lacks any suitable details for stone work, consider incorporating stones into your landscaping through walkways or stacked-stone front steps.