Then came the furniture store. The idea? Vertical integration. Design green. Build green. Furnish green. Live green. “We call it whole living,” Sullivan says. “It’s not just about the structure. It’s about how you live in it.” This isn't branding — it's a philosophy. Every touchpoint is intentional, every partner aligned. Even their subcontractors, often overlooked in the industry, are part of what Sullivan calls a “Trade Partner Council,” with monthly updates, end-of-year awards, and business tips. “Intentionality is everything,” he says. “We’ve been cultivating relationships with our trade base for over 15 years. We don’t just subcontract — we collaborate.”
“In 2008, everything changed.”
The Great Recession forced Sullivan to rethink the entire business model. “I got tired of bidding against nine other builders. That’s not a healthy process for anyone — the homeowner, the builder, the architect.” Instead, he flipped the script. Living Stone now engages clients early — often before land is even purchased — to guide them through the full scope of a project: land, design, construction, furniture, landscaping. “The cost per square foot game is misleading,” he warns. “Some builders leave out the driveway, landscaping, even appliances to look cheaper. We include everything. We want our clients to see the full picture.”
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