by Sean | Jan 14, 2020 | Building Green
Living Stone Named Most Innovative Sustainable Home Builder in North Carolina We’re pleased to announce we’ve been named the “Most Innovative Sustainable Home Building Firm in North Carolina” by BUILD magazine’s 2020 Design and Build Awards. Given by BUILD magazine, a quarterly digital publication dedicated to the construction and property markets, the award recognizes work done within the green building industry. It highlights the people who work tirelessly to ensure the global community decreases its collective carbon footprint. Today, thanks to advancements in construction technology, sustainable building is transforming the industry. “It’s an honor and, honestly, a huge credit to our people and our trade partners. I believe we have the Southeast’s best team building homes for our clients,” says Sean Sullivan, president of Living Stone Design + Build. “With sustainable building really taking off in the Asheville area, we believe 2020 will be our best year yet,” says Sullivan. “People are beginning to understand that sustainable means better. Not just for the environment, but it’s a healthier home.” We spend 87% of our time indoors. So what we choose to build our houses with makes a big impact on our health. We breathe these items on a daily basis. In the same way, you may choose to buy organic produce. Our building process has that same effect on your long term health. For nearly 25 years, Living Stone Design + Build has been crafting award-winning homes across the Asheville, NC, area. Known for their attention-to-detail, transparency and strong client relationships, Living Stone heads into 2020 as one of the region's premier design/build firms.
by Sean | Dec 19, 2019 | Construction & Design
As most of you know from our designs and builds, we love bringing nature into a home. We're big believers in biophilic design. This philosophy is about people being closer to nature. Of course, sometimes it's easier said than done. Here's a great post from our friends at the NAHB. Good ideas on giving nature space in your home. People are attracted to nature, and growing evidence suggests that interacting with nature makes people happier and healthier. But with an average of 90% of our time spent indoors, it is easy to feel disconnected. Bringing nature inside the home with specifically targeted design elements can resonate with and draw in potential home buyers and remodeling clients. A sunroom is a traditional indoor space designed to make you feel like you are outdoors. Think about how you feel when you are in a home’s sunroom — do you feel calmer and happier? Studies have shown that views of nature trigger more pleasure receptors in our brains than non-nature scenes. READ MORE
by Sean | Dec 6, 2019 | Recognition
Funny how one home can get so much attention. Over the years, the Campbell residence has garnered national accolades. And to be honest, it's humbling to stumble upon this feature in NAHB's Best in American Living. We feel incredibly lucky to build wonderful homes for people like the Campbells. With any project, a lot of hands touched this home. From ID.ology Design & Interiors to our dedicated trade partners, everyone helped bring this project to life. Splendor Living in the North Carolina Mountains When Scott and Starla Campbell decided to build a new home, they had a very specific vision in mind. They wanted to create a luxurious and comfortable space, in a contemporary mountain style. And, they wanted a design that suited their unique lifestyle. The couple commissioned Living Stone Construction for the job, and never looked back. “With Living Stone, you get a home that’s specifically made for your family’s needs and tastes. It’s tailored to you exactly,” Starla explains. The Campbells had several practical requirements. They both work from home, so they needed a designated work space for each of them. Living Stone gave each of them an office designed for their specific work habits. But, they also went above and beyond. “We both move around the house as we work,” notes Starla. “They gave us the freedom and flexibility we were looking for by creating several comfortable work space options throughout the house, including outdoors.” KEEP READING
by Sean | Nov 20, 2019 | Recognition
Living Stone Sets Benchmark with Safety Safety isn't usually something you think about when you're looking to build a home, but it says a lot about your builder. And to be quite honest, job safety is something we pride ourselves on. The National Association of Home Builders recently featured us in an article on safety. Sean Sullivan AMB, CGP, CAPS, BGRE is no stranger to home building awards and certifications. His company, Living Stone Design + Build, near Asheville, N.C., has won home design, green building, young professional and many other types of awards from NAHB, the North Carolina HBA, Houzz and others, including the 2018 SAFE Award for Single-Family Builder Safety Program of the Year. As his green custom home building company grew, adding more employees and more job sites, Sullivan knew he needed to turn his attention to safety. Superintendents managed Living Stone’s safety program, and while there were no problems, Sullivan wanted to be proactive. Read More
by Sean | Aug 2, 2019 | Building Green, Home News, News
Whole Living – Completing the Green Experience There's more to green, sustainable living than simply LED bulbs and bamboo floors. Today, living sustainably is an experience. Our own Sean Sullivan knows this better than most. With his wife, Laura Sullivan of ID.ology Interiors & Design, they have been designing and building green for quite some time. But that's only part of the experience. Come along as Sean tells us more about completing the green experience. It’s not hard to see why everyone is bitten by the “green bug.” Coast to coast, consumers are realizing that green homes can sell faster—and for more money—than non-green homes. And consumers have discovered that families living in green homes are often happier, healthier and more productive as well. So you’ve bought a green home, but now what? As home building professionals, we can take an active role in educating the consumer on what it means to live green beyond buying a green home and help our customers live whole-picture healthy lives. READ MORE
