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.
Rhodo Reno – A Case Study In Right Size Design
The Rhodo Reno
A case study in “Right Size” Design
By Sean Sullivan, AMB, CGP, CAPS
My wife (Laura) and I decided to buy a 1960’s rancher in downtown Black Mountain to renovate for ourselves. We liked the feel of downtown and wanted to be close in to the lake, park, pool and center of town. We had our work cut out for us though since the home hadn’t been touched in nearly 40 years!
The 900sf shack sat on a crawl space situated nicely on a corner lot near the golf course. Believers in making all things beautiful, and the desire to give every home we touch “curb appeal”, we first nailed down the floor plan. We wanted to keep as much of the original structure as possible, leaving the two exterior door locations, existing room layouts (virtually the same), as well as leaving the original location of the hallway and common bath. Because we had to combine the two end bedrooms into a master suite, we needed to design a small addition on the back to replace the lost bedroom and give the home a proper kitchen.
We enlisted the help of an architect partner to help create the new style, passive solar design, and get the exterior elevations just right. After that was nailed down, we set out to make this the most efficient use of space we could create. Since most of our clients end up building homes larger than they had originally intended (due to having lower levels on sloping lots), we wanted to show what it meant to “right size” a home.
The Modern Prairie in Beaucatcher Heights
Community: Beaucatcher Heights – 2 Samuel Ashe Drive, Asheville, NC 28803
Status: Land/Home Package
Price: starting at $899,000
Contact: Heather Wheatley 828.335.0735
A Custom Rockcliff for the Parks in Southcliff
Joe and Shari Parks had the good fortune to be able to retire wherever they wanted. But they were very particular about the company they chose to build their house.
They picked Living Stone Construction, largely on its reputation in Southcliff, the gated community in which they chose to build.
Custom Alexandra for Christine Dowd
Christine Dowd knew what she didn’t want in a house. She didn’t want what she had, which was a house she’d built whose finishes were so rough she ripped a sweater on a door frame.
What she wanted was a beautiful new house in Thoms Estate, a north Asheville enclave of good taste and friendliness that had a couple of lots she liked. She was out there looking at them one day when a couple who lived beside one of the lots invited her in to look at the home that Living Stone Construction had built for them. Christine loved it (and she loved the couple).
“They graciously showed me around their home,” she said. “They loved their house. It was so well designed. You could tell that someone had taken a lot of time to get all the details right. When I walked out of their beautiful home, even though I’d contemplated other builders, I’d made up my mind to go with Living Stone.”
And so Christine, recently retired as a presenter for Apple, went to see Sean Sullivan at Living Stone Construction, a builder of green and energy-efficient homes whose work continues to win awards for design, function and price points.
Mountain Modern in WNC
Sarah Watkins knew what kind of house she wanted to build. She just had to find the kind of builder who would love the challenge of creating it as much as she did.
She and husband Casey found the builder they wanted in Living Stone Construction and its president, Sean Sullivan.
“The thing about Sean was that when I presented what I wanted in our home, he loved it,” Sarah said. “It was a bit different from some other projects he had done.”
Sarah had spent a year and a half putting her family home near Asheville together in her mind. Picking up just about every architectural magazine available, she knew enough about what she wanted that she sketched it all out. She knew the textures, finishes and ambience she wanted in the home.
She and Casey visited several builders in the Asheville area. Living Stone was among the last they visited, and they were immediately impressed by the company’s approach, plan and thoughtfulness. They liked that Sean took them to Living Stone job sites to see not only the houses under construction but also the process by which Living Stone built them. They liked that the owners loved the homes Living Stone had built for them.
Battery Park
Mountain Rustic Modern Home – Award Winner!
Click here to see the full gallery of this home! Sarah Watkins knew what kind of house she wanted to build. She just had to find the kind of builder who would love the challenge of creating it as much as she did. She and husband Casey found the builder they wanted in...
New Model Home in French Broad Crossing
Living Stone is privileged to be chosen as the builder for the 2016 Southern Living Inspired Community Model home on Lot 23 in French Broad Crossing.
The Sunset – semi custom plan
All of our semi-custom plans are fully customizable to create your ONE OF A KIND home.
Starting on your lot for $449,000
Contact: 828.669.4343
Features: Energy Star Certified, NC Green Built Home, Universally Designed plan
The Sunset is a universally designed home that not only boasts a quaint craftsman architectural feel, but also incredibly energy efficient construction. This compact floor plan works well for a starter home, someone looking to downsize, or for a mountain getaway. It is designed to take advantage of the naturally sloping lot (above the road or below). This 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home has 1,982 heated square feet with no wasted space. This plan can be adapted to fit your needs, your lot, or your wallet. Enjoy your view of the sunset in this home designed to maximize your views and your budget.
The Sunset Rose
All of our semi-custom plans are fully customizable to create your ONE OF A KIND home.
Starting on your lot for $485,000
Contact: Sean Sullivan 828.669.4343
Features: Energy Star Certified, NC Green Built Home, Universally Designed plan
The Sunset Rose is a universally designed home that not only boasts a quaint craftsman architectural feel, but also incredibly energy efficient construction. This compact floor plan works well for a starter home, someone looking to downsize, or for a mountain getaway. It simply adds a second story to our Sunset Model. It is designed to take advantage of the naturally sloping lot (above the road or below). This 4 bedroom, 3 bath home has 2,533 heated square feet with no wasted space. This plan can be adapted to fit your needs, your lot, or your wallet by building on a crawl space, a basement for the garage, or a fully finished lower level. Enjoy your view of the sunset in this home designed to maximize your views and your budget.