Where Wellness Meets Design: The Laurel, September 2025

Where Wellness Meets Design: The Laurel, September 2025

Where Wellness Meets Design In Cashiers, a thoughtfully curated destination is changing the way homes are designed, built, and furnished—prioritizing health, harmony, and lasting value. Sean Sullivan of the Sullivan Family of Companies has dedicated his life to building homes that do more than just provide shelter—they promote health, sustainability, and well-being. In 2020, he and his wife, Laura, opened Atelier Maison & Co in Cashiers, offering a curated selection of non-toxic, sustainable furniture. Today, that single store has evolved into the heart of the Sullivan Family of Companies, bringing their complete philosophy of holistic living under one roof at their new location at 75 Village Walk in Cashiers. Clients can now tap into the full breadth of the Sullivans’ expertise: design green with ID.ology Interiors & Design, build green with Living Stone Design + Build, and furnish green with Atelier Maison & Co. Sean’s journey to creating this innovative business empire began in his father’s garage workshop, where early carpentry lessons sparked a lifelong passion for building. A Marine Corps pilot’s son who learned to adapt and improvise across different countries and states, Sullivan carried those skills into his first woodworking job in Beaufort, SC and later into residential construction work with Habitat for Humanity during college. After earning his contractor’s license in 2001, Sean established Living Stone Construction, focusing on high-quality, custom-built homes. The Great Recession became a turning point for Sean and his wife, Laura. Working with architects, they recognized the frustrations of bidding wars and miscommunication between builders and clients. To solve this, the couple created a “trees to keys” approach, guiding clients from lot selection through design, construction, and final furnishing, all within prescribed budgets and timelines. This approach led to the launch of ID.ology Interiors & Design, integrating architectural, interior design, and construction phases into a seamless experience aligned with their commitment to sustainability. As the Sullivans delved deeper into eco-friendly construction, they discovered that the furniture industry faced the same issues with toxic chemicals as building materials. This realization led to the opening of Atelier Maison & Co in 2020, first in Asheville and later that year in Cashiers, as a curated source for non-toxic, eco-friendly furnishings. Today, their Cashiers location at 75 Village Walk houses the retail showroom, while 79 Village Walk offers conference space where ID.ology and Living Stone collaborate with clients. “We are passionate about what we do,” Sean says. “Our clients work their whole lives to build these homes, and we don’t want them to spend their best days sick.” This dedication drives everything they do. Sullivans’ homes are certified with Energy Star, NC Green Built Alliance, Indoor Air Plus, and Net Zero Ready, making them more valuable from day one. The impact extends far beyond individual homes. In a region where luxury mountain retreats represent lifetime investments, the Sullivan Family of Companies is proving that you don’t have to choose between elegance and wellness. Their approach addresses a critical need that many homeowners don’t even realize they have—creating spaces that actively promote health rather than silently compromise it. With half a dozen projects underway, the Sullivans are continuing to expand their vision. As word spreads through the tight-knit plateau community about homes that don’t off-gas chemicals, that maintain excellent indoor air quality, and that use materials sourced for both beauty and safety, the Sullivans are pioneering a new standard for mountain living. By Marlene Osteen, photos by Mary Gillan Renfro
Resilient Luxury Homes in North Carolina: Build With Confidence

Resilient Luxury Homes in North Carolina: Build With Confidence

Resilient Luxury Homes in North Carolina: Build with a Team You Can Trust Searching for luxury home builders, a seasoned Asheville custom home builder, or help to build on your lot? Start with one word: resilience.   What “Resilient” Means in a Luxury Custom Home Resilience is the difference between a house you enjoy today and a home that serves you for decades. It’s how we design and build so your space stands up to mountain weather, day-to-day use, and life’s curveballs — without adding stress or surprise costs. Energy performance that lasts: Smarter envelopes, high-efficiency systems, and third-party standards help lower operating costs and keep comfort consistent. Healthy materials and clean air: Low-VOC paints/adhesives, attention to ventilation, and choices that support better indoor air quality. Details that prevent problems: Site-specific drainage, moisture control, durable claddings, and specs chosen for the Carolina climate. Built for your lifestyle: Floorplans and selections that match how you live — from aging-in-place features to quiet work zones to guest spaces. That’s how you build a custom home with no regrets. Where We Build: WNC & Upstate SC As a family-owned residential home builder based in Asheville, we focus on Western North Carolina and nearby Upstate South Carolina. If you’re comparing new construction near Charlotte, NC or searching home builders in Charlotte NC, we’re happy to share guidance — and why building in WNC is different (mountain topography, soils, access, and microclimates). Your Path: Build on Your Land or in a Community Many clients come to us after searching phrases like build home on your land, we build on your lot, or companies that build homes on your land. Others explore custom home neighborhoods near me or luxury new build homes. We design + build either way: Build on Your Lot From feasibility and budget to utilities, access, and siting views, we help you plan and deliver a custom built home that fits your land and your life. If you’re researching build on your lot cost or home builders in NC with prices, we’ll walk you through transparent allowances and line-item proposals — so you know where every dollar goes. Build in a Community If you’re browsing newly built homes near me or luxury homes for sale in a particular area, you may prefer the predictability of established infrastructure and amenities. We partner with architectural teams and trade pros to bring your home to life in premier communities across WNC. Design + Build: One Team, One Process With Living Stone, you don’t have to choose between a custom home designer and a custom home contractor — you get both, plus a streamlined process. Our Design + Build model ensures your team works together from concept to completion, keeping budgets, schedules, and your vision aligned. Healthier by Design We believe luxury homes should also be healthier homes. That’s why every Living Stone project is Energy Star Certified and Green Certified. Our Whole Living approach means your home is designed green, built green, and equipped so you can live green — all with comfort and air quality in mind.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Quality Custom Home

A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Quality Custom Home

A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Quality Custom Home Building a custom home should be exciting, not stressful. At Living Stone Design + Build, with 30 years of award-winning experience, we’re here to guide you through each step—making sure you build with no regrets. In this guide, you'll learn the most important questions to ask, smart investments to make, costly traps to avoid, and how to forge a strong, transparent partnership with your builder. Let’s bring your design story to life in a home that’s healthy, beautiful, and meant for you.   Critical Questions to Ask Before You Build Before breaking ground, start with these guiding questions—they’ll shape your entire project: What’s your lifestyle goal? (relaxation, entertaining, generational use?) What’s your long-term budget range—including soft costs and contingencies? What timeline fits your life rhythm? When do you truly want to move in? How important are energy efficiency and healthy living features? Which room or feature is your non-negotiable “must-have”? What’s your tolerance for change during construction? How hands-on do you plan to be—weekly check-ins or trusting us completely? How do you want to be communicated with—email, calls, site visits? What does “built to last” look like to you—materials, craftsmanship, certifications? What worries do you have about building custom? These simple but powerful questions set the foundation for clarity, trust, and a seamless building experience. Smart Places to Invest in Your Home Not all investments are equal. These areas bring long-term value, comfort, and wellness: High-performance insulation & efficient windows – lowers energy bills and maintains comfort. Ventilation systems with low-VOC finishes – ensures healthy indoor air quality, part of our Whole Living promise. Foundations and framing rated for longevity – fewer surprises down the road. Durable exterior materials – weather resistance saves on maintenance. Premium kitchen and bath fixtures – daily impact, timeless value. Smart design that blends with your lifestyle – open flow for family gatherings, quiet nooks for personal retreats. Green certifications – Energy Star, Green Built, and third-party quality checks—because we believe better homes mean better lives. At Living Stone, we believe in investing where it matters—so you can enjoy a healthy, livable, and resilient home for decades. Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them Avoiding pitfalls makes the process smoother: Underestimating total costs – account for soft costs like permits, surveys, and design. Skipping contingencies – stay flexible with a 10–15% buffer. Choosing builder by price alone – value expertise and process clarity. Late planning for energy or air quality goals – integrate early for best outcomes. Ignoring site-specific needs – every Carolina mountain site is unique—tailor solutions. Over-customizing early – finalize big-picture before going into details. Poor communication – set clear expectations up front. Not tracking changes – document every change to keep budget and schedule in sync. Substandard materials choices – prioritize quality over cost in long-term categories. Skipping permits or inspections – risks delays, fines, or worse. Neglecting maintenance planning – Preventative Maintenance Plans let you enjoy your home longer. Not aligning Design/Build teams – collaborative approach avoids missteps and stress. Choosing the Right Builder Your builder isn’t just a contractor—they’re your partner in turning dreams into reality. Too many skip this step, choosing based on cost or convenience. But the right builder, like Living Stone, brings: A collaborative “team” approach with designers, architects, and trusted trade partners. 30 years of specialized experience building in the Carolinas. Certifications that back up our quality claims—Energy Star, NC Green Built, Green. Transparent process from trees to keys. When builder equals partner, you’re not just building a house—you’re building a happier, healthier life. Hidden Costs & How to Prevent Them Surprises are fun—but not when they add unexpected bills. Watch for: Site surprises—rock, soil condition, water—mitigate with early surveys and tests. Change orders without foresight—plan, then revisit. Upgrades without planning—budget for future big-ticket finishes. Delayed inspections—can halt progress and push costs up. Utilities and infrastructure—don’t forget driveway, power, septic, etc. Prevent with due diligence, clear documentation, and a builder who values proactive planning. Building a Strong Relationship with Your Builder Successful projects thrive on trust and clarity: Set communication rhythms early—weekly site updates or calls work wonders. Trust the process—your builder brings expertise; you're the guiding vision. Choose mutual respect—your feedback matters, and we want to hear it. Stay open—unexpected issues aren’t personal, they’re just part of building. Celebrate milestones together—it’s your dream coming to life. A strong relationship turns challenges into memorable accomplishments. Practical Checklists to Keep You on Track Checklists turn chaos into calm. Consider: Pre-design checklist – budget, site evaluation, goals. Design review checklist – function, flow, future needs. Permit & documentation – zoning, energy ratings, inspections. Material review – finishes, fixtures, ventilation, green certifications. Pre-construction – site access, utility plans, schedules. During build – weekly tasks, milestones, change orders. Pre-move-in – cleaning,
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Brenton Benware, Construction Sales

Brenton Benware, Construction Sales

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header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" box_shadow_horizontal_tablet="0px" box_shadow_vertical_tablet="0px" box_shadow_blur_tablet="40px" box_shadow_spread_tablet="0px" global_colors_info="{}"]ABOUT LIVING STONE | MEET OUR TEAM | BRENTON BENWARE[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_2,1_2" module_class="custom-columns" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" custom_padding="5px|||||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_2" _builder_version="4.16" background_position="top_left" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text 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hover_enabled="0" locked="off" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"]Brenton Benware brings nearly two decades of experience in leadership, coaching, and student engagement to the Living Stone Design + Build team. Most recently, he served as both Director of Admissions and Director of Soccer at Asheville Christian Academy, where he played a key role in building strong relationships and guiding families through the admissions process. Prior to that, Brenton spent 16 years as a collegiate soccer coach, with several of those years focused on recruitment and admissions. He also coached within the Olympic Development Program (ODP), helping young athletes grow and excel. His background in mentorship, communication, and team-building adds valuable perspective to our client-first approach—and supports our mission of building happier, healthier lives.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2" _builder_version="4.16" background_position="top_left" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_image src="https://media-upload-livingstone.s3.amazonaws.com/img/20250808142503/DeskBrentonBenware.png" alt="Chuck Simmons Project Manager" title_text="DeskBrentonBenware" align_tablet="center" align_phone="" align_last_edited="on|desktop" disabled_on="off|off|off" admin_label="Image" module_class="desktop-team-image" _builder_version="4.27.4" vertical_offset_tablet="0" horizontal_offset_tablet="0" z_index_tablet="0" box_shadow_horizontal_tablet="0px" box_shadow_vertical_tablet="0px" box_shadow_blur_tablet="40px" box_shadow_spread_tablet="0px" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label="Contact Info" _builder_version="4.27.4" background_color="#ede8e5" custom_padding="27px|27px|27px|27px" border_style="solid" global_colors_info="{}"]Contact Information Office 855.720.2435   bbenware@livingstoneconstruction.com 121 Sweeten Creek Rd. Asheville, NC 28803[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_3,1_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_button button_url="/meet-the-team" button_text="MEET OUR TEAM" button_alignment="center" admin_label="MEET OUR TEAM" _builder_version="4.27.4" custom_button="on" button_text_size="17px" button_text_color="#ffffff" button_bg_color="#62a844" button_border_width="1px" button_border_color="#589a43" button_border_radius="0px" button_icon="9||divi||400" button_icon_color="#ffffff" button_on_hover="off" background_layout="dark" z_index_tablet="500" button_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" button_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" button_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" box_shadow_horizontal_tablet="0px" box_shadow_vertical_tablet="0px" box_shadow_blur_tablet="40px" box_shadow_spread_tablet="0px" global_module="20044" saved_tabs="all" global_colors_info="{}" button_text_size__hover_enabled="off" button_text_size__hover="null" button_one_text_size__hover_enabled="off" button_one_text_size__hover="null" button_two_text_size__hover_enabled="off" button_two_text_size__hover="null" button_text_color__hover_enabled="off" button_text_color__hover="null" button_one_text_color__hover_enabled="off" button_one_text_color__hover="null" button_two_text_color__hover_enabled="off" button_two_text_color__hover="null" button_border_width__hover_enabled="off" button_border_width__hover="null" button_one_border_width__hover_enabled="off" button_one_border_width__hover="null" button_two_border_width__hover_enabled="off" button_two_border_width__hover="null" button_border_color__hover_enabled="off" button_border_color__hover="null" button_one_border_color__hover_enabled="off" button_one_border_color__hover="null" button_two_border_color__hover_enabled="off" button_two_border_color__hover="null" button_border_radius__hover_enabled="on" button_border_radius__hover="0" button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled="off" button_one_border_radius__hover="null" button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled="off" button_two_border_radius__hover="null" button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled="on" button_letter_spacing__hover="0" button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled="off" button_one_letter_spacing__hover="null" button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled="off" button_two_letter_spacing__hover="null" button_bg_color__hover_enabled="off" button_bg_color__hover="null" button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled="off" button_one_bg_color__hover="null" button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled="off" button_two_bg_color__hover="null"][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
The Village at Longcliff

The Village at Longcliff

Longcliff is a private gated community nestled just five minutes from downtown Highlands, NC. This exclusive enclave features luxury estate homesites, sweeping Blue Ridge Mountain views, and convenient access to all the culture, dining, and natural beauty Highlands has to offer.

As a trusted builder in Longcliff, Living Stone Design + Build brings over 30 years of experience in crafting award-winning custom homes that support healthier, happier living. Our team collaborates closely with you to design and build a high-performance, Energy Star and Green Certified home that fits your vision and lifestyle.

From concept to completion, our 8 Levels of Service ensure your custom home journey is seamless, personalized, and deeply rooted in craftsmanship and care.

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