Custom Home Builder in Johnson City, TN
Bringing Award-Winning Design-Build to the Tri-Cities
2023 National Custom Home Builder of the Year
30+ Years of Design-Build Experience
Green Building Leadership
A New Standard for Custom Homes in Johnson City
Nestled in the Appalachian Highlands of upper East Tennessee, Johnson City offers the rare combination of mountain scenery, a thriving downtown, and a relaxed pace of life. As Living Stone Design + Build expands into the Tri-Cities, we’re bringing 30+ years of award-winning design-build experience to homeowners who want a custom home designed around the way they actually live, and built to be as healthy to live in as it is beautiful to look at.
We’re an established Western North Carolina builder, nationally recognized for green and high-performance building, now offering that same proven process to families building in Johnson City and across East Tennessee.
Years Building in NC
INSPIRED BY TRI-CITIES LIVING
Custom Home Builders for
Johnson City & the Tri-Cities
Your vision deserves one team, fully committed from start to finish. From the first conversation to the final detail, your architect, interior designer, project manager, and builder work in complete alignment.
Healthy Homes, Built to a Higher Standard
Every home we build is Energy Star Certified and meets green-built certification standards. Not as an upgrade. As a baseline. Better air quality, lower energy costs, and materials selected for your family’s long-term health are built into how we work.
Eight Levels of Service
From lot selection and architectural design through pre-construction, active construction, interior finishes, furnishings, final inspections, and post-build warranty, Living Stone is your single point of contact at every stage. Learn more about Eight Levels of Service.
Our No Regrets Promise
We measure success simply: every client should reach move-in day feeling they made the right choice in every dimension. Design, budget, process, and relationship. That standard shapes every decision we make on your behalf.
Our Design-Build
Construction Process
Discovery & Lot Selection
We start with your vision, your budget, and your land. Whether you own a parcel or need help finding one, we evaluate the lot for views, solar orientation, access, slope, drainage, and the considerations that come with building in the East Tennessee foothills.
Architectual Design
Our architects and designers get to work to translate your lifestyle into a complete set of drawings and specifications. Every element reviewed and approved by you.
Construction
Your dedicated project manager oversees the full build, handling permitting and inspections from groundbreaking to completion.
Move In
We walk through every inch of the home with you before handover. Our post-build warranty and client care program means we remain your builder long after you move in.
Featured Custom Homes:
Our Award-Winning Portfolio
The Bronder Residence
Hawks Nest Residence
Elk Mountain Zen
Recognition
& Awards
Living Stone’s custom homes have earned national and regional recognition.
NAHB National Custom Home Builder of the Year
NAHB Green Builder of the Year — National Recognition
#1 Custom Home Builder in the Carolinas — Home Builders Digest
Best in American Living Award — Custom Owner's Suite
American Residential Design Awards (ARDA) — Bronder Residence & Hawks Nest Residence
Testimonials From the Families
We’ve Built For
LET’S BRING YOUR VISION TO LIFE
Ready to Build in Johnson City, TN?
Building a custom home is a significant investment. A discovery call is an opportunity to discuss your goals, timeline, and priorities while learning how our design-build process delivers a seamless experience from concept to completion.
Why Build Your Custom Home in Johnson City
Connected to Nature and Everyday Convenience
Johnson City anchors the Tri-Cities of East Tennessee, in a region known for its mild four-season climate, low cost of living, and easy access to the outdoors. The Appalachian Highlands surround the area with mountains, rivers, and the nearby Cherokee National Forest, while downtown Johnson City has grown into a walkable hub of restaurants, breweries, and shops. Home to East Tennessee State University and a respected regional medical center, the city draws families, professionals, and retirees alike.
More Space for a Thoughtfully Designed Home
For homeowners relocating from busier or higher-cost markets, the Tri-Cities offer space to build, room to breathe, and a setting where a thoughtfully designed custom home can take full advantage of mountain views and the natural landscape. New construction here means the chance to build exactly the home you want, in one of the most livable corners of the Southeast. Explore what Johnson City has to offer.
FAQs About Building a Home in Johnson City
Does Living Stone build in Johnson City and the Tri-Cities?
Yes. Living Stone is an established, award-winning custom home builder based in Western North Carolina, and we’re expanding our design-build services into Johnson City, and the surrounding East Tennessee area. You get a builder with three decades of proven experience, now bringing that process to your build in the Tri-Cities.
Do you build on my land, or do I need to purchase a lot in a specific community?
Both. If you already own land in the Johnson City area, we start with a site evaluation. If you’re still searching, we can help you assess a potential homesite for views, access, slope, and buildability before you buy.
What does design-build mean, and why does it matter?
Design-build means your architect and your builder are the same team, working under one contract. In a traditional model, an architect designs the home and hands it off to a contractor, creating friction, cost uncertainty, and finger-pointing when problems arise. With Living Stone’s design-build model, one team is accountable for everything, from your first sketch to your final walkthrough.
How much does it cost to build a custom home in Johnson City?
Costs vary based on site conditions, square footage, architectural complexity, and finish selections. Sloped or wooded lots can add additional variables such as grading, foundations, and access. We provide transparent, line-item pricing after a discovery meeting and site evaluation.
How long does it take to build a custom home?
Most Living Stone custom home projects run 14 to 24 months from design to move-in. Site conditions, permitting timelines, and the scope of finish selections can all affect the schedule. We map out a realistic timeline in our first conversations and stick to it.
What is Living Stone's "Whole Living" approach?
Whole Living is our philosophy that a home should be as healthy as it is beautiful. In practice, it means smart air filtration systems, low-toxicity paints and finishes, eco-friendly sealants, and energy systems designed for the regional climate. Homeowners care about the environment, and we build homes that reflect that in ways you can see, breathe, and feel in your utility bills.