Quality
Quality can only be achieved by a complete dedication to it by everyone on the team. Hiring a builder with decades of experience and a proven track record is the way to get there. Coach Duane Fanning once said “Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only winners perfect the little things.”
This philosophy is why we created the process we use today. After utilizing every construction implementation method available, we ultimately learned that you can be a jack-of-all-trades but master of none. So instead of having a large, expensive staff, we have partnered with (and trained) the best talent in each field, and have them competitively price each project against another one of their contemporaries. This ensures two things: (1) that each client is getting the best tradesman for their project, and (2) each trade has submitted the most competitive price. Enjoy the posts below to see our promises turn into action.
Who Won the 2026 Asheville Parade of Homes? The Honest Answer Is “It Depends”
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...
Can You Build a Fireproof Home in Western North Carolina?
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...
Why We Build for Accessibility in Every Home: A Grand ARDA Win and a Family’s Story
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...
Living Stone Design + Build Featured in House Beautiful’s 2024 Whole Home
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 +...
What Aging in Place Design Really Means (A Family’s Story)
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 +...
What Are the Best Neighborhoods for Golfers to Live in Near Western North Carolina?
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...
What to Know Before You Build a Custom Home
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....
Living Stone Wins Six 2026 American Residential Design Awards, Including Two Grand ARDA Honors
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...
What Should You Do If Your Home Inspection Report Comes Back Bad?
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...
What Do I Do If My Appraisal Comes Back Too Low?
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...