Sean, Author at Living Stone Design + Build

Home Storage Tips

by Sean | May 29, 2013 | News

As summer approaches and people shed their layers of clothing from the cooler months, many want to also lighten the load their homes are carrying—or at least make it look neater. Before you toss the tools in a garage corner or stuff the down jackets into a box and toss it in the attic, why not evaluate your needs and make your storage both effective and attractive? The first thing you should do is make a list of everything you want to store. This list will both help you determine how much storage space you need and ensure that nothing gets lost once you start putting things away. Shelving is one of the easiest ways to create more storage. It can be portable in the form of free-standing units, or permanent that is attached to your walls. Easy-to-install, heavy-duty shelving can be purchased at just about any major home supply store. Many of these units are designed so that you can leave as much room between the shelves as you like, making it easy to get larger and smaller items onto the same unit and saving you space. Heavy winter clothing can take up lots of closet space, leaving you with little room for your entire four-season wardrobe. One solution for storing out-of-season clothing is under the bed. Under-the-bed storage containers come in a variety of sizes and styles, including ones with wheels for easy access and to protect hardwood floors from scratches when you pull them out. You can also buy simple risers that elevate your bed off the floor additional inches to create even more space. Garage storage has also gotten much more efficient. You can get built-in storage cabinets with doors so the space looks clean and orderly. There are also modular systems that enable you to choose what features are best for your needs; including hanging racks for sports equipment, hooks for tools, and more. Most garages have pitched roofs to keep rainwater or snow from collecting on top, and this space is ideal for items you don’t use on a daily or weekly basis. Store these things on platforms or racks that lower and raise either electronically at the touch of a button, or with an easy-to-use pulley system. In newer or renovated homes, a mudroom or drop zone is a popular feature. This area often has built-in benches, hooks and bins to neatly tuck away boots, jackets, gardening equipment and other items your family uses frequently. Finally, if your family is as tied to their portable internet and communications devices as many modern families, get rid of the tangle of charger cords on your counters by buying or building a home charging station with multiple outlets and pockets for storing and charging cell phones, tablets, laptops and more.

Paula Bruder

by Sean | May 22, 2013 | What Customers Are Saying

“I couldn’t be more pleased. Michael and I feel like we are on vacation, every time we walk into the kitchen. I’m actually afraid to start living yet, for fear of messing something up. Frank and all the crew has really made this project go smoothly, and I can’t thank Living Stone enough.” – Paula Bruder

The Petite Alexandra Cottage – semi-custom plan

by Sean | May 20, 2013 | Craftsman Floor Plans, Floor Plans & Design Ideas

All of our semi-custom plans are fully customizable to create your ONE OF A KIND home.
Starting on your lot for $475,000
Contact: Sean Sullivan 828.669.4343

Features: Energy Star Certified, NC Green Built Home, Universally Designed plan

The Petite Alexandra is an alternate to our popular Alexandra model that keeps the same main floor plan and finishes, it simply eliminates the upstairs bonus room. It also, is a universally designed home that not only boasts a quaint craftsman architectural feel, but also incredibly energy efficient construction. This floor plan works well for families of all size and ages. Click “read more” to see more photos, floor plans and more!

All About Aging in Place

by Sean | May 20, 2013 | Aging In Place, Construction, Construction & Design, Universal Design

Aging in Place, or Universal Design, means living in one’s home independently regardless of age or ability. During the design phase of construction, Living Stone carefully integrates universal design elements to suit the needs of the client.

89% of people 50+ wish to remain in their own homes indefinitely (AARP)
68% of remodelers already perform aging-in-place remodeling (NAHB).
Over half of all 55+ households rate their current home a 9 or 10 out of 10 (American
Housing Survey).
The aging population is the number two issue to affect the remodeling industry over the
next five years, only behind the availability of skilled labor (NAHB).
Remodelers report that the most requested aging-in-place features include: grab bars, higher
toilets, curbless showers, wider doorways, ramps or lower-thresholds, and task lighting.

What should my home contain if I want to age in place?

A master bedroom and bath on the first floor.

Check credentials when hiring a Professional Remodeler

by Sean | May 20, 2013 | Construction, Construction & Design

If you’re planning a home remodel, hire a professional remodeler with excellent credentials. The best remodeling results are achieved when qualified remodelers do the work. Click here for more information on renovations! “Remodeling professionals have training, experience, skills, and solid references,” said says Sean Sullivan with Living Stone Construction. “Home owners can hire the best remodeler for the job by checking credentials and choosing the most qualified candidate.” Ask about these credentials when hiring a professional remodeler: Licensing and Insurance All professional home remodelers should be insured and able to display a certificate proving possession of insurance. While not all states require remodelers to be licensed, in those states the remodelers should also be able to share proof of licensure. Insurance and licensing (where applicable) helps to demonstrate that the remodeling firm is in good standing. Education The most skilled professional remodelers not only have experience on the job, but education. This may include designations such as Certified Graduate Remodeler, Graduate Master Remodeler, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Certified Green Professional and more. These remodelers have invested in continuing education and professional development to keep their remodeling and business skills sharp and better serve their customers. Association Membership Many successful remodelers are members of trade associations like the National Association of Home Builders—Remodelers because it offers business resources and continuing education. Membership also provides opportunity for professional growth and expanding knowledge of the remodeling industry. Excellent References Glowing references are abundant for professional remodelers because happy home owners enjoy sharing their good experiences and appreciation of their newly upgraded space. Ask to speak with previous clients and to see photos of previous home remodels for getting a sense of their customer relations practice and work style. Business Skills Experienced remodelers know how to manage their business, which provides stability and security for their customers. These professionals will provide a written contract for a home remodeling job, as well as guarantees and warranties for their work. Another important sign of honest business practices from a remodeler is outlining a clear payment schedule and not requiring large amounts of cash up front. Professional remodelers should also have a good reputation with the Better Business Bureau and a good credit report, indicating solid business operations. Conduct thorough research when hiring a professional home remodeler so that you hire someone with good credentials. Verifying smart business practices and remodeling expertise will better ensure that your home remodel will be completed successfully. For more tips on planning a home remodel or hiring a professional remodeler, visit www.nahb.org/remodel or contact Living Stone Construction! 828.669.4343

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Testimonials

We are so appreciative that Living Stone reached out to your clients and friends to offer restoration services to our WNC communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. We wanted to take this opportunity to let you know how grateful we are that we chose Living Stone to help us restore our Black Mountain townhome. We couldn’t be happier with the process and progress thus far, from our initial meeting with Mike to see what repairs were needed… to our call with Justin for an estimate of the work… to our conversation with Alfred to review the comprehensive estimate… to our initial meeting with Chuck and everything he has done since to move things along flawlessly with our restoration… to our beautiful fireplace surround and mantle that Michael Blackstone built. We feel blessed that Chuck was assigned as our project manager, as we have had a great collaboration with him. His demeanor is personable, but straight forward. He is extremely accessible, either onsite or via text/phone to provide scheduling updates, answer our questions, offer suggestions, provide feedback on design selections, and discuss next steps. He made a great suggestion to reclaim the unused space under our stairs as storage space. Chuck is also very proactive, quietly working behind the scenes to make things happen seamlessly. He is committed to providing us with a high-quality restoration project while keeping our budget in mind. We already knew that Living Stone has an excellent reputation as a builder, but we are equally impressed by how much you give back to the community. That’s a large part of the reason we selected you to help us with our restoration. You have definitely exceeded our expectations thus far, and we know we will be very happy with our home once the restoration is complete. Although there is still work to do, we wanted to give you some preliminary feedback on how pleased we are to be working with Chuck and the entire Living Stone team. We are delighted to call ourselves Living Stone customers!

Lisa and Juan