The photo above was taken in spring, with the azaleas in bloom. I think these homeowners made a great choice in azaleas, as their orangey flowers pick up the color of the front door nicely.
In a later photo showing a foundation planting with a white stone mulch, you'll see an example with more greenery, and the white stone mulch will set off the shrubbery more strikingly. I also happen to think that white stone mulch works even better with dark-colored homes, for which it affords such a wonderful contrast in colors. But wherever it's used, white stone mulch certainly brightens up an area and promotes a clean look.