Our house has lots of concrete too. In some spots we’ve planted above it so it trails down over the concrete but you don’t have that option here. You could get planters and then add plants that have height and stay green. You could paint the concrete but when we looked into this we opted not to as it seems to not last well.

Yes, we have considered the faux windows and shutters and siding so I appreciate that suggestion. I forget why we opted against it. The rest of the house will be like painted brick (romobios limewash masonry flat in shoji white) with a couple gables in front that our stucco. I think we will add some large wall art like this and some container plants. if we cant figure out how to do the texture right then we will may revisit siding option if you think that will look better

You can paint it to match the deck. If you need some texture add the texture to the paint, but personally I would not bother to try and skim coat concrete and then expect it to not pop next to the water.

The deck is Urbane Bronze. i winder if it would be too dark? the underdecking ceiling is white and only about 8 ft. maybe we could do the wall 50 or 75% urbane bronze? thank you for your help. I do fear stucoo will be around $4000 and how much better will it really look?

I kind of think you need a layered approach. Changing the colour will help as will something in front of it and adding plants etc.

A stone veneer would look good but it would be pricy. I would add some decorative storage like an armoire of fence slat or old exterior doors. Paint wall to match siding and add Out door wall decor. big planters. Outdoor kitchen or bar?

I think Kathleen has the right idea . Paint it and decorste in front of it with things you need out there some shade loving plants too I think the white wall works if you do that . I am curious why the upper deck is empty Maybe even some fake greenery breaking up that wall expanse . Sounds bad but our neighbors did it on their front deck wall and honestly looked 10x times better .I usually hate fake plants but it might be worth looking at then add some lighting to be able to use the space at night too

I would love an outdoor kitchen but we learned at our last house that even then it needs to be close to the inside kitchen. Since this area is downstairs, no bathroom, we will entertain upstairs. There is no furniture because we are still under construction and we are still deciding what we want to order. Upstairs there will be a sofa and 2 club chairs with a rectangular fire pit in the covered area, in the uncovered area maybe 2 chaises, and a round 36 inch table in the corner lakeside outside those french doors. Downstairs we will have a sectional( in the area under the upper covered area part of deck that is 16 ft deep)with a TV that folds up under the deck so watching tv and lake at same time. The other area will be a large rectangular dining table and chairs with a small mat workout area that can be put away or left out. The deck boards were

just finished but we still need to install cable wires and finish painting the french doors and the molding around the windows etc.

Also we considered adding brick and then painting it like the rest of the house( actually Romobios Limewash masonry flat which looks like paint but is a stain) which would have looked great but passed on it due to what it might cost. Since the patio is flagstone i dont think more stone on the wall would be worth the cost and look ideal.

Once we clean up the wall i may add a metal trellis like below under the uncovered portion of that wall (below large windows) but still need to fix this eyesore issue with seam lines from the forms they used building the foundation

I am getting a stucco quote on Monday. My painter will be here next week so i will ask him about the sand texture recommended. That looks like the best cost effective solution if it will work well outdoors thank you for all of your help

Improving the basic look and then layering it with furniture or plants or whatever in front will help.

Honestly even getting something better than boxwoods would be a help. They are never filling that space but tons of different plants/shrubs could. Depending on your climate Thats could be a really pretty slit for hydrangea or rhododendron and then they would also flower and add a ton of colour

I also just realized you are the same poster who has the step issue so there is red brick around the front what, three sides of your home and just not the back? If so just finish the Brock in back so it is same all arpund!

Yes, it is 3 sided brick I love that idea, We had ugly stucco accents in front of house over our window and garage doors that we just had removed and replaced with brick. we did this before we do the lime be because it dated the house and that alone cost $2500 and took 2 days. I can't imagine how much to brick this would cost. hmm We discussed a little with the mason, but they didn't jump at the idea either.

The shrubs planted below the window are not boxwoods. i dont have any boxwoods for that reason. It is a tricky area because it does not drain well there. The builders basically put dirt over construction debris is what our landscaper said. We put these in with fingers crossed they would not die and so far so good. It gets little sun because of the large tree and its only morning sun too. i have that idea to build a metal trellis but want to clean up the wall first.