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Keep up-to-date with the latest news about Living Stone Design + Build and browse some of our How-To videos for helpful Design + Build tips and tricks.

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The Barker Renovation

The Barker Renovation

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Asheville Achievers – Laura Sullivan ID.ology Interior Design

Laura SullivanLaura Sullivan is a woman in a man’s world. It started as a child, when she’d accompany her father to job sites, getting her hands dirty throwing materials in the dumpsters in his investment properties. It continued during school, when she combined her passion for art with her experience in real estate to earn a degree in interior design (and a minor in art). Upon graduation from college, Sullivan invested further in that traditionally masculine world, as she received both her real estate broker’s license and her contractors license. 

Expert Interview Series: Sean Sullivan of Living Stone Construction About the Appeal and Durability of Green Homes

Expert Interview Series: Sean Sullivan of Living Stone Construction About the Appeal and Durability of Green Homes

Sean Sullivan, the president of Living Stone Construction, is an award-winning builder who specializes in designing and building high-performance green homes in Asheville, North Carolina. We recently spoke with Sean to learn more about today’s green homes and why they are becoming more popular among home buyers.

Tell us a bit about your background. Why did you decide to concentrate on building green homes?

My father was a fighter pilot in the Marine Corps. After he ascended the leadership ladder and finished taking command of different air bases, he began teaching TQM (Total Quality Management) and later formed his own consulting company. I learned not only from his teachings, but also those of others like W. Edwards Deming who said, “It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best.”

So when we first heard that there was a rating system coming to western North Carolina for ENERGY STAR and Greenbuilt-certified homes, we immediately signed up. We simply believe that if you are going to do something, do it right.

NAHB Honors 5 Young Professionals

NAHB Honors 5 Young Professionals

NAHB has honored five home builders around the country as the 2016 Young Professionals of the Year. The awards were given Monday evening, January 9th in Orlando, Florida, during the NAHB International Builders’ Show. “David Belman, Robert Fallone, Eugene Graf, Sean...

The 2016 Southern Living Inspired Home: A mountain home at one with its setting

The 2016 Southern Living Inspired Home: A mountain home at one with its setting

By Charles Richardson
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A timeless setting
The first thing you notice about French Broad Crossing (FBC) is the exquisite Western North Carolina setting: pure, pristine, secluded, and in perfect harmony with the lush, densely forested hills that form a natural amphitheater of majesty and timeless beauty. Residents here liken it “to living in one’s own national park,” yet it’s just a short drive from the dynamic city of Asheville, NC. Indeed, much of the land at FBC is permanently preserved, held in conservation to prevent further development. Families are drawn to an idyllic living experience that can be passed down to future generations, in the same undisturbed state that exists today. It is here, against the backdrop of ancient rolling mountains and the mighty French Broad River—third oldest river in the world according to geologists—that the new 2016 Southern Living Inspired Home will reside.

Growing Options for Seniors Ready to Move

Aging in PlaceSubmitted by Sean D. Sullivan

For many seniors, making the decision to move or downsize to a smaller home can be emotionally challenging. After raising a family or spending a good portion of their adult lives in one home, it is often difficult to think about leaving it. Yet, practically, it may be easier to live in a home that better accommodates their changing lifestyle.

To meet the growing need of these baby boomers, a new industry of “senior move managers” was created to help with the transition to the next phase of their lives. Senior move managers handle many aspects of a senior move. From setting up floor plans and helping determine what furniture to take, to packing the house and helping seniors sell or donate things they no longer want.

The National Association of Senior Move Managers provides resources and a directory of senior move managers across the country. Here are the three key things seniors should consider before they begin the downsizing process:

• It takes time. It is hard to imagine moving out of a home you have lived in for so long. Likewise, organizing all of the steps involved in a move can be overwhelming. Be sure to give yourself enough time to process the changes that will be taking place.

Strong Foundations First

Preventative Maintenance

Whether you seek the assurance of a comprehensive maintenance program or prefer personalized assistance for individual projects, Living Stone Design + Build is here to support you.

2023 National Custom Home Builder of the Year

30+ Years of Design-Build Experience

Green Building Leadership

Protecting your investment

We prioritize designing and building homes that are as low-maintenance as possible—but no home is maintenance-free. Much like a high-performance vehicle, a high-performance home is designed to perform at a higher level, but it still requires thoughtful, routine care to keep it operating at its best. Living Stone Concierge helps protect that performance—and your investment—by giving you a trusted team to manage the ongoing care your home needs for years to come.

Single Point of Contact
Vetted Trade Partners
Seasonal Inspections
Warranty Support

Two Premier Services

One Team, Long After Move-In

Membership

Preventative Maintenance Program

A membership-based luxury home management program designed to proactively care for your home.

By Project

Custom Care Plan

Personalized services tailored to individual projects, offering flexibility without the commitment of a subscription.

1

Point of Contact

4

Pillars of care

30+

Years Building Homes

How the program Works

Four Pillars of Concierge Care

Through the Preventative Maintenance Program, your Living Stone Concierge delivers single point of contact service, so you no longer need to worry about finding trusted service contractors or waiting countless hours for them to show up. When there are third party workers in your home you can rest easy that your Living Stone Concierge will be there monitoring and ensuring a quality job is done.

Comprehensive Assessment
01

Prevent

The best defense is a good offense. Our comprehensive assessment is designed to detect and prevent unforeseen issues in your home and deliver you a unique home care program. Our service program will maintain your property, ensuring its optimal performance. Using the results of your comprehensive assessment, a custom maintenance program will be developed to meet the needs of your property, ensuring the long-term value and reliability of your home.
White Glove Approach
02

Repair 

As repairs and upgrades are requested, we will coordinate and supervise every phase of the process. We will commit to ensuring all work meets the highest quality standards. Of course, this commitment applies whether you're part of our membership program or utilizing our Custom Care Plan for individual projects.
03
Personal Experience

Improve

Your home should evolve with the way you live. Our Custom Care team handles personalized improvements—from hanging artwork and installing shelving to building fences and completing those finishing touches that make your home work better for you.

04
Personal Partnership

Trust

We believe your time is better spent enjoying your home than managing it. Our team takes care of the details, giving you one trusted resource and access to our network of proven professionals—so your home is cared for and your time stays yours.

Michael Blackstone

Michael Blackstone

Warranty Specialist

As the overseer of our Preventative Maintenance Plan, he meticulously examines every detail of your home to ensure it is perfectly finished and maintained. With a wealth of experience in home construction and renovation from his years with various trade-related companies, Michael is the ultimate guardian of Living Stone standards. Beyond his professional expertise, Michael is a family man with a son, residing in the charming community of Old Fort. Entrust your project to Michael, where craftsmanship meets care.

mblackstone@livingstoneconstruction.com

Strong Foundations First

Preventative Maintenance

Whether you seek the assurance of a comprehensive maintenance program or prefer personalized assistance for individual projects, Living Stone Design + Build is here to support you.

2023 National Custom Home Builder of the Year

30+ Years of Design-Build Experience

Green Building Leadership

Protecting your investment

We prioritize designing and building homes that are as low-maintenance as possible—but no home is maintenance-free. Much like a high-performance vehicle, a high-performance home is designed to perform at a higher level, but it still requires thoughtful, routine care to keep it operating at its best. Living Stone Concierge helps protect that performance—and your investment—by giving you a trusted team to manage the ongoing care your home needs for years to come.

Single Point of Contact
Vetted Trade Partners
Seasonal Inspections
Warranty Support

Two Premier Services

One Team, Long After Move-In

Membership

Preventative Maintenance Program

A membership-based luxury home management program designed to proactively care for your home.

By Project

Custom Care Plan

Personalized services tailored to individual projects, offering flexibility without the commitment of a subscription.

1

Point of Contact

4

Pillars of care

30+

Years Building Homes

How the program Works

Four Pillars of Concierge Care

Through the Preventative Maintenance Program, your Living Stone Concierge delivers single point of contact service, so you no longer need to worry about finding trusted service contractors or waiting countless hours for them to show up. When there are third party workers in your home you can rest easy that your Living Stone Concierge will be there monitoring and ensuring a quality job is done.

Comprehensive Assessment
01

Prevent

The best defense is a good offense. Our comprehensive assessment is designed to detect and prevent unforeseen issues in your home and deliver you a unique home care program. Our service program will maintain your property, ensuring its optimal performance. Using the results of your comprehensive assessment, a custom maintenance program will be developed to meet the needs of your property, ensuring the long-term value and reliability of your home.
White Glove Approach
02

Repair 

As repairs and upgrades are requested, we will coordinate and supervise every phase of the process. We will commit to ensuring all work meets the highest quality standards. Of course, this commitment applies whether you're part of our membership program or utilizing our Custom Care Plan for individual projects.
03
Personal Experience

Improve

Your home should evolve with the way you live. Our Custom Care team handles personalized improvements—from hanging artwork and installing shelving to building fences and completing those finishing touches that make your home work better for you.

04
Personal Partnership

Trust

We believe your time is better spent enjoying your home than managing it. Our team takes care of the details, giving you one trusted resource and access to our network of proven professionals—so your home is cared for and your time stays yours.

Michael Blackstone

Michael Blackstone

Warranty Specialist

As the overseer of our Preventative Maintenance Plan, he meticulously examines every detail of your home to ensure it is perfectly finished and maintained. With a wealth of experience in home construction and renovation from his years with various trade-related companies, Michael is the ultimate guardian of Living Stone standards. Beyond his professional expertise, Michael is a family man with a son, residing in the charming community of Old Fort. Entrust your project to Michael, where craftsmanship meets care.

mblackstone@livingstoneconstruction.com