Building in The Settings of Black Mountain
By Jim Jones DRB Chair While visiting their daughter at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Jim and Susan Jones fell in love with the little town of Black Mountain, which prompted them to purchase two lots in The Settings development. The Jones' didn't start building right away though. "We wanted to live in Black Mountain for awhile before we started building our mountain home," said Jim. "This gave us a chance to have an up close look at the financial state of The Settings and what it would take for The Settings to move forward and be complete." Jim and Susan chose to build their home in The Settings for reasons such as: the close proximity to Asheville, the development being centered in a real town (Black Mountain), and because they were impressed with the natural beauty, great roads and infrastructure The Settings offered them. It was shortly after the Jones' bought their lots in 2008 that the economy suffered a major downturn and the developer of The Settings went bankrupt. However, after doing careful research, Jim realized that The Settings was still in better shape than 99 percent of other like communities; all of the lots had been sold, the infrastructure was almost entirely complete and 98 percent of dues were being collected. All that was needed was for a core group of lot owners to lead the HOA takeover of the development, which was exactly what happened. The Jones' joined numerous other lot owners and worked for more than two years to get the developer to turn The Settings over to the Home Owner's Association. Since this happened in October of 2011 all liens have been cleared and paid off, the common area was transferred to the HOA (including the clubhouse), all back taxes were paid, the water system was complete and in the process of being turned over to the town of Black Mountain and the roads were repaired. Jim reflects, "In the HOA we all wear many hats. For example, I am the head of the Design Review Board, a director on the board, assist in the realtor relations program, assist on the community signage upgrades, etc. We have an extremely talented and active group of lot and homeowners who are committed to the long-term success of The Settings." Jim says he now has complete confidence in The Settings as a financial, as well as a lifestyle investment. So, in the spring of 2012, The Jones' decided it was time to begin designing their dream mountain home and they chose Living Stone Construction's design/build team that includes John Petri (Petri Architecture) and Laura Kirkpatrick (I.D.ology). "I chose Living Stone because I've had 4 years to see just how great they are. I've especially enjoyed the design/build program because the architect, the builder, the interior designer and the client all work as a team from the very beginning, " said Jim. Living Stone was also a clear choice in his mind because of the great client/builder communication that takes place. Jim explains, "There is a synergy you get when you have everyone together in one room. Not only is it more cost effective, you get a better product, better design, better build and better involvement with the homeowner. Overall, you get what you want at a price you can afford."
Laura Kirkpatrick Sullivan, ID.ology Interior Design
Home and hearth, and the comfort they engender, figure prominently in Asheville interior designer Laura Kirkpatrick’s work. Her firm, ID.ology, offers interior design services to private and commercial clients, staging services for home sellers and consultation for anyone wishing to put their best, well-designed foot forward. Kirkpatrick has had a lifelong love of the visual — and she likes to mix things up. Working a treasured family heirloom into a contemporary design is the type of challenge she enjoys. And she’s as comfortable in a hardhat as she is flipping fabric swatches. The daughter of a real estate broker/contractor dad, Kirkpatrick earned her real estate brokerage and general contractor licensures in 2006. Read More
Read MoreMike Bates
[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.19.1" da_disable_devices="off|off|off" global_colors_info="{}" da_is_popup="off" da_exit_intent="off" da_has_close="on" da_alt_close="off" da_dark_close="off" da_not_modal="on" da_is_singular="off" da_with_loader="off" da_has_shadow="on"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="0px||0px|" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" background_position="top_left" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text module_class="chronospro-heading" _builder_version="4.16" module_alignment="left" border_style="solid" global_colors_info="{}"]ABOUT LIVING STONE | MEET OUR TEAM | MIKE BATES [/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" 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 admin_label="Mike Bates" module_class="chronospro-heading" _builder_version="4.16" module_alignment="left" border_style="solid" global_colors_info="{}"]Mike Bates Vice President of Construction [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src="https://media-upload-livingstone.s3.amazonaws.com/img/20250506152024/mike-bates.webp" alt="mike bates" title_text="mike-bates" align_tablet="center" align_phone="" align_last_edited="on|desktop" disabled_on="off|off|on" admin_label="Mobile Image" module_class="mobile-team-image" _builder_version="4.27.4" vertical_offset_tablet="0" horizontal_offset_tablet="0" hover_enabled="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" border_style="solid" animation="off" sticky="off" always_center_on_mobile="on" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.16" border_style="solid" global_colors_info="{}"]Mike is the Vice President of Construction for Living Stone Design + Build and is tasked with overseeing the entirety of the building process, from breaking ground to move in day, Mike is there orchestrating every step. Mike began with Living Stone in 1997 and his many years with the team has honed his invaluable eye for detail and workmanship. Mike is Green Building and Energy Star Certified and continues his learning through yearly OSHA classes. Mike lives in Candler with his wife. What has been your favorite Living Stone project? Pritchard Hardin Residence What are your 3 favorite activities to do outside of work? Golf Golf… again Spending time with friends What values would you defend to the death? Work ethic Integrity Respect What is your secret talent? If you have a problem, I can probably fix it! What is your favorite Asheville area restaurant? The Cantina in Biltmore If you could have one superpower what would it be? The ability to clone myself [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on="on|on|on" admin_label="Houzz Logos" _builder_version="3.19.10" module_alignment="left" disabled="on" global_module="19206" saved_tabs="all" global_colors_info="{}"] [/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/20250506152024/mike-bates.webp" alt="mike bates" title_text="mike-bates" align_tablet="center" align_phone="" align_last_edited="on|desktop" disabled_on="on|on|off" admin_label="Desktop Image" module_class="desktop-team-image" _builder_version="4.27.4" vertical_offset_tablet="0" horizontal_offset_tablet="0" hover_enabled="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" border_style="solid" animation="off" sticky="off" always_center_on_mobile="on" global_colors_info="{}" sticky_enabled="0"][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label="Contact Info" _builder_version="4.20.1" background_color="#ede8e5" module_alignment="left" custom_padding="27px|27px|27px|27px" z_index_tablet="500" text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" 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="{}"]Contact Information Office: 855.720.2435 mike@livingstoneconstruction.com 121 Sweeten Creek Rd. Ste. 70 Asheville Design District Asheville, NC 28803 Download V Card [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on="off|off|off" admin_label="Quote" module_class="member-quote" _builder_version="4.16" module_alignment="left" border_style="solid" global_colors_info="{}"]“Mike is a true treasure for us and for all of his clients with Living Stone. He was totally unflappable, he listened and he delivered a quality product on time.” - Stanlee Stahl [/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]