Energy Efficient

If you’re trying to find out who won the 2026 Parade of Homes in Asheville, you’ll quickly discover there isn’t one clean answer. That’s because two separate award programs were presented on the same night, and each one recognizes different things. Here’s how it...

No home in Western North Carolina can be guaranteed fireproof. You can, however, build a fire-resistant home that reduces the chances of ignition through carefully selected materials, ember protection, and defensible space. Even a home that meets the IBHS Wildfire...

Accessible home design is often misunderstood. People tend to picture hospital-style bathrooms, wheelchair ramps, and features that put practicality ahead of appearance. But a home can be designed for accessibility without looking or feeling any different from the...

Most people hear "aging in place" and think of practical home features: wider doorways, walk-in showers, fewer stairs, or perhaps a wheelchair ramp that might be needed someday. These details matter, but they only tell part of the story. At Living Stone Design +...

Most people hear "aging in place" and think of practical home features: wider doorways, walk-in showers, fewer stairs, or perhaps a wheelchair ramp that might be needed someday. These details matter, but they only tell part of the story. At Living Stone Design +...

We've built custom homes in some of the most established golf communities across Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina, Lake Norman, and East Tennessee. That includes everything from mountain properties overlooking the fairways to homes near lakes and private...

I’ve spent thirty years building custom homes, and I’ve noticed the same pattern almost every time a project goes sideways. It’s rarely bad luck. More often, the trouble started months earlier, before the first shovel ever hit the ground. The wrong builder was chosen....

I'm proud to share that Living Stone Design + Build took home six awards in the 2026 American Residential Design Awards, including two Grand ARDA wins, the program's highest distinction. ARDA is the American Institute of Building Design's premier award program, and...

A bad home inspection report does not automatically mean the house is a bad deal. In many cases, the bigger problem is what happens in the first 24 to 48 hours, when buyers see a long list of issues but do not yet know what any of them actually cost to fix. That is...

When a home appraisal comes back lower than expected, it can put an otherwise solid deal at risk. But a low appraisal does not automatically mean the home is overpriced. In my experience, low appraisals usually come down to one of three issues: inaccurate information...