Project Details

 

This is the under construction project for an experienced Custom Home Architect and his Real Estate Broker wife, being built in Sapphire, NC, next to Cashiers.

The project is being constructed for a very reasonable fixed price by Hearthstone, due to the detailed nature of HOME ARCHITECTS® thorough construction documents.  This architectural firm dispells the myth that people don’t need good architectural documents.  BECAUSE they produced detailed working drawings and specifications (38 sheets of them, 24″x36″) Hearthstone was able to provide their subcontractors and material providers with detailed information, resulting in firm prices BEFORE construction even began.

 

This is in stark contrast to nearly every other Contractor on the Cashiers-Highlands- Lake Toxaway Plateau (nearly all of whom insist on only building on a Cost Plus basis).  And Hearthstone’s price to build this mountain jewel was about 1/3 LESS than any other Builder.  The Owners should know: they bid it out to about a dozen other Cashers, Lake Toxaway, Sapphire, Glenville, Sylva, Cullowhee, Highlands Contractors.  ALL of whom demanded Cost Plus arrangements and proposed much higher prices for LESS house.

 

The Architect was so impressed with Hearthstone’s value oriented building that he has suggested them to other of his firm’s clients who are also enjoying reduced pricing for better quality construction based on more detailed architectural design documents.  There’s been this ridiculous myth going around The Plateau for over a decade: “You don’t need no stinking architectural drawings!”  Well, that might work in movies, but not in real life.  It turns out this may very well be the tip of an iceberg, created by other Builders to force higher prices on The Plateau, like $400/SF at some country clubs, which is far above what Hearthstone’s pricing typically is.  This of course depends on the each project’s particulars, but Hearthstone has proven that detailed architectural documents, such as for this project, result in better pricing for the client, not higher pricing.

 

This particular house is a contemporary mountain house, as conceived by the Architect.  The Owner/Architect said he could not afford the more traditional mountain-type houses he typically designs for his clients, so he said he started simplifying details and ended up with this design, which is an interesting blend of modern and mountain.  There are large timbers, a huge timber truss, a giant boulder stone column and other features that are very mountain-style, along with contemporary overall shapes.

 

Hearthstone often builds much more traditional Mountain-style houses with gable roofs, dormers and other normal Mountain features.  However, Hearthstone as the knowledge and experience to build whatever style project clients want.