Thanks for your questions. The concrete is poured in place and "broom finished" so it's got some tooth to it for slip-resistance. We just used natural concrete without a colorant, but there are admixtures available if you want. One of the more common ones is to add a little "lamp black" to the mix to make it a little darker. As for whether it will work in MI, that's outside my area of expertise since I've never worked in an area with hard freezes before. My guess is it will probably work if you prepare the ground under it properly. You may want to consult your local builder on that one.