Gallery

Bellwether Design – Build in Asheville has many photos of beautiful, diverse, and successful home building projects all around the mountains of Western North Carolina. Please take a moment to browse our gallery below.

777 High St. Canton NC

8 Von Ruck Ct. Asheville, NC

This is a specifically designed addition, with a certain purpose in mind and was completed in the fall of 2023. Our client wanted a new carport and rental apartment  above. With the assistance of Bellwether’s design build team, we succeeded! A clean steel structure gives the client an open carport, with long range views. Upstairs boasts a beautiful one bedroom apartment with a full size kitchen. A private cantilevered deck is the perfect spot to catch a sunset. Like all Bellwether projects this one came in on schedule and slightly under budget! A fun challenging project for amazing clients. Like what you see. Contact Brad at Bellwether to discuss.

43 Oakdale Dr. Candler NC

45 Oakdale Dr. Candler NC

144 Rowland Rd. Swannanoa NC

One World Brewing in West Asheville

This was an older building in a prime location, that had been vacant for many years. The original use was a Massey Ferguson Tractor Dealership.  Most locals said the building had been empty for decades. The Owners of One World Brewery had a successful downtown location for a couple of years. In this space they were operating a smaller 1.5-barrel brewery. They decided to lease this space and grow their brewing operation to a 10-barrel system in the lower level, with a full bar upstairs. This open, light filled space boasts the regions largest circular bar. Custom concrete countertops, along with locally made overhead drink rail, and UFO style light highlight the shape of the bar. Making it quite inviting.  Huge wrap around deck makes a perfect area to relax in the warmer months. So, next time you find yourself on Haywood Road, stop in for a pint or enjoy the local live music that happens 4-5 nights a week. This venue is truly one of the most unique spots on the west side.

“Brad and his team were a pleasure to work with. They were kind, courteous, very knowledgeable and skillful and worked well with everyone on the team. They perform high quality work in good time and hire reputable, quality sub-contractors.”

Pinecroft

This modern style new home sits a quiet street in North Asheville. Mixture of stucco and reclaimed white oak barn wood clad the home. The interior boasts open spaces that faces a private courtyard. The backyard is terraced beautifully with landscaping and stone walls which have an old-world look.

“Working with Brad Rice and Bellwether Builders to build our home in Asheville was a great experience. Brad is very skilled, has an excellent, steady stream of subcontractors and was hands on the entire project. Any changes or issues were dealt with quick and professionally. Brad’s personality is also suited to the demands of working with clients. As it is often a long process, involving many discussions, he always rose to the job. We would recommend him to anyone looking to build a unique home.”

Kimberly

This 1980’s-built home was built on one of the most prestigious streets in North Asheville, with the Grove Park Inn in the site from the backyard. Only problem was that you could not see it from inside the home, because of the lack of windows facing the gorgeous view! Fast forward to 2016. New homeowners loved the location and the potential view. We removed the roof, built a full height second story, added proper fenestration that took advantage of the amazing views, opened the kitchen and living area to accommodate modern living, and voila!! This is one for the ages, the before and after pictures do not even do it justice. Very satisfying to see the complete transformation.

“We have worked with several contractors over the last 10 years and Brad & his team significantly stand out as superior in terms of quality, professionalism and attention to detail. Brad was very transparent – communicating regularly and consistently throughout our entire-house renovation that included removal of a roof, second story addition, and complete interior remodel. Brad is now working on a second ADU project for us on the same property. All of the subcontractors Brad uses were extremely skilled and professional and we were delighted with the outcome of our project. We would certainly recommend Bellwether Builders.”

 

« of 2 »

Accessory Dwelling Unit for Short Term Rental at Kimberly

After completion of the whole house renovation on 215 Kimberly Ave, the homeowners decided on building a small detached accessory dwelling unit for short term rental use. Bellwether assisted with the site location and design. The 525 SF structure was designed to match the architectural language of 215 Kimberly, as well as take advantage of the amazing views of the infamous Grove Park Inn. The floor plan has a nice living area, bedroom with two queen size beds, and a spacious bathroom. The deck has great views, as well as a sunken hot tub. The structure blends in nicely with the neighborhood and provides a steady stream of additional income. Look it up on the Airbnb site, but plan at least three months ahead. Comparable places with privacy, views, and location are few and far between.

 

Weaverville NC Home

New custom design build in Weaverville. We consulted on the land purchase with the homeowners and designed and built their new home with in their budget! Home features excellent southern exposure, great room with sloped ceiling and exposed structural steel beam, master on main, large kitchen that flows into an amazing screen porch. Exterior is a mixture of smooth hardi panel, with fry reglet vertical mold trim, cedar ship lap, and raw steel, with homemade concoction that looks just like corten at a portion of the price!

Chelsea Benay assisted with the exterior and interior finishes. Entire job was completed with homeowners living out of state. Another awesome design build job.

 “We chose Bellwether as our builder after a referral from a previous client that we met by chance. Brad drove around with us to look at land parcels and helped us narrow down our site selection based on sun exposure views, and shade. Brad referred a designer to draw up plans for our new home and referred us to an interior decorator to help with design elements such as lighting fixtures, plumbing, flooring etc. Building a house long distance can be challenging. Brad made the process very easy, weekly conference calls, photos to keep us updated and being able to personally meet everyone who worked on our house kept us involved.

The house was delivered on time and the attention to detail was evident. Brad had great ideas such as incorporating an exposed steel beam to enhance our industrial modern design and mocking up other design elements so we could visualize the scale and differences between materials prior to committing to an idea.

We never could have imagined that building a house long distance would go so smoothly, and all the credit must go to Brad and his great team.”

« of 2 »

New Home in West Asheville

New home build in the West Asheville neighborhood. This two-story home has a modern design, open floor plan on the main level, and like many homes in Asheville, North Carolina, also has a spectacular view. We partnered with Chelsea Benay, LLC. for the interior design of this beautiful custom home. There are lots of custom details in this home. We love how this one turned out!

“This was our first experience in new home construction.  From our initial conversations with Brad and brainstorming ideas with the home’s designer, David Merrifield…to the day we moved into our beautiful new house almost a year later, the Bellwether team remained professional, honest, and communicative.  We watched the house construction progress each step of the way, and have 100% confidence that our new home was built with quality materials and expert hands, at a price we could afford.  We had no idea of the infinite decisions that are required in the construction of a medium-sized, custom-built home.  Brad remained patient and open with us throughout the project, and we are so grateful for his work.  The depth and breadth of his knowledge of construction materials, as well as his connections with talented, local craftspeople was integral to the completion of the new home we now love and inhabit.”
– Lisa and David, West Asheville, USA
« of 2 »

New Home on Chicken Hill

This custom home built in the Chicken Hill area of Asheville, NC was designed by a local architect of C3 Studios. Chicken Hill is a neighborhood located within walking distance of the River Arts District of Asheville. The home’s design was inspired by the historical mill cottages of Chicken Hill. The architectural design combines typical lap siding, contemporary metal elements with a classic roof line and traditional design details. The living area of the home was designed on the second floor to take advantage of the view of the River Arts District, overlooking New Belgium Brewery.

“Bellwether Design-Build was the perfect builder for our contemporary Downtown Asheville Chicken Hill home! Brad and his crew, Lars and John, paid such exceptional attention to detail that it truly brought out the architectural craftsmanship of our home. Our build was efficient and on time and Brad was available at any time to answer questions, and always with enthusiasm and a smile! Thank you Bellwether for helping us to craft our beautiful home!!!”

Custom Home in Ciel North Asheville

This unique custom home in the Ciel community in North Asheville is an award-winning home! This green home won the Innovative Award from the Asheville Home Builders Association’s 2015 Parade of Homes. It features cantilever construction, three walkout roofs, vertical cypress siding, energy efficient windows, a waterfall island, countertop, and more luxury finishes.

Rodgers Craftsman Home

The Rodgers Craftsman home was an Energy Star custom home that exemplifies the Arts and Craft style, yet takes beauty and attention to details to the next level. This spec home was built in 2006 and boasts countless luxurious finishes. The exterior is all natural stucco, stone, and cedar, with a unique custom slate roof. Specially designed brackets were fabricated by local metalsmiths and woodworkers. The interior of this gem is dressed with woodwork, custom-designed trim, a massive two-sided fireplace. Tons of windows let in natural light, while framing a beautiful view of downtown Asheville, NC.

Griffin-Forde Residence

Our home addition project is a perfect example of how a ranch home can be updated and taken to the next level…literally. This dated ranch home was gutted and we added a story on part of the house in order to capture the amazing views of downtown Asheville, North Carolina. The home has simple and elegant modern lines with tons of light and comfort. The eight panel 24 foot folding door creates a window to the astounding views and allows the owners to further utilize their outdoor living area. This beautiful home combines materials like Hardi panels, cedar, Jarah wood, steel, and metal roofing. We really enjoyed collaborating with designer, Retro+Fit Design, and the clients on this ranch remodel extravaganza. This home was featured in: Carolina Home and Garden Magazine.

“Brad and his team clearly understood our vision for the new home, which made our communications so much easier. Brad’s detailed build schedule was well executed, which meant we encountered very few delays waiting for materials to arrive or decisions to be made. The entire crew were professional, courteous and tidy, which made our visits to the site enjoyable and productive. We were delighted not only the end result, but the entire build process. We would highly recommend Bellwether Design – Build.” —Michael Forde, owner of MOBILIA

Copper Rose Modern Home

This modern home design is an example of creativity at its absolute best. The home was a Healthy Built project which granted Bellwether an opportunity to “think outside the lot.” The home was sited on a narrow infill parcel in Asheville, NC’s historic Montford Avenue neighborhood. The front of the home included a home office with a separate entrance. Special touches such as the master bedroom balcony, the intimate back deck, and the tall glass windows permit a view of the wooded lot in all seasons. The lot itself included beautiful landscaping features and plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces to gather.

Cherokee Road Home Renovation

This 1980s ranch-style home in Asheville, NC was a perfect candidate for a contemporary remodel. We worked with our client’s vision to make sure that we brought in some modernized features and let in more natural light. It was important to highlight the beautiful wooded land that surrounded the home. By adding windows, skylights, and a solarium off of the living room and kitchen, we were able to embrace the gorgeous surroundings of the home.

The Cool Ranch Home Remodel

This total rehab of this ranch presented an amazing opportunity to showcase the innovative vision behind Bellwether’s creative design team. This sustainably remodeled home has foam insulation, low-voc paint, a new three-zoned high-efficiency heat pump, new locally made windows, and wool carpet. It took home 3 awards at the annual Parade of Homes banquet in 2009, including: the Gold Craftsmanship Award in its price category ($440,000-$525,000), the Innovative Home Award, and the Trend Award for using recycled material.

“We feel so grateful for our wonderful home by Bellwether Design-Build. Our home is full of light, creativity, exceptional craftsmanship, and fresh style. They were able to reinvent this 70’s ranch as a spacious, open, modern home with high ceilings, interesting angles, and innovative windows. Bellwether made each choice in this renovation with a perfect balance of imagination and function; this artful practicality greatly enriches our daily living. The house exceeds our highest expectations.” —Jessica Chilton & Craig Mariani, homeowners

Evelyn Home Remodel

In 1959, this run-of-the-mill ranch was plopped down in one of Asheville’s most elegant neighborhoods. Grove Park is filled with gracious, custom-designed homes, many of which were constructed by tradesmen who brought the nearby Grove Park Inn into being. Over the years, the little ranch had seen its share of renovations, but had never grown beyond its two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath configuration. But when a young couple with three boys moved in, they craved more space and an update that would keep up with a growing family.

Working with a local architect, the Bellwether team added nearly 2,500 square feet, knitting it seamlessly into the floor plan of the old house. The parents got a stunning new master bedroom suite. The expanded kitchen was outfitted with stylish new finishes and modern appliances, not to mention a pantry, breakfast room, and nearby mudroom. Outside, we built a two-car garage and framed the view of the Grove Park Inn’s gold course with a tiled, walk-out terrace. The installation of larger windows and transoms has imbued the home with glorious natural light. We’re proud of this one. It’s an all-around stunner, as evidenced by the coverage the home received in the fall 2013 issue of Carolina Home & Garden magazine.

Brad Rice and the expert team at Bellwether Builders did a top-notch job on our home renovation! Brad’s core team of builders were awesome to work with – always glad to answer our questions or address any of our specific concerns. Renovating a house, whether it’s a small addition or a whole house project like ours, can be stressful, but Brad Rice and his team were at our house every single day, working hard to get the job done. Their dedication and attention to detail made our project a great success. I’m very thankful that we chose Bellwether Builders. I highly recommend them! – B. Davis, homeowner

Strang Home Remodel

“Working with Bellwether was a great experience! We found the entire team to be professional, focused, personable, and friendly. They understood what we were seeking in our home remodeling project and came up with both creative and cost-effective solutions that worked beautifully for us. They kept a tight schedule and held to our budget, keeping us updated and informed throughout the process. They discussed any problems that emerged during the design and remodeling phases and were always receptive to our input and ideas. We certainly would work with them again on any building project and highly recommend their services.” – Drs. Bill and Karol Strang – Pisgah Forest, NC

Duke Street Custom Home

This new custom home, designed and built for a family in Kenilworth, is a great example of thoughtful design and sustainable building. The home received a Silver Healthy-Built certification and was rated as the “tightest home tested in the area” at the time of completion. Homeowners Jason and Tania Wells had something to say about their experience. “We are grateful to Katie for listening to our wants and needs concerning the design and budget,” says Tania. “I could not believe how warm and comfortable our home was when we moved in. We just filled the wood stove twice a day and that was the only heat we needed,” testifies Jason.

“We are grateful to Bellwether for listening to our needs concerning the design and budget. We could not believe how warm and comfortable our home was when we moved in. We just filled the wood stove twice a day and that was only heat we needed.” —Jason and Tania Wells, homeowners

Richard Sharp Smith Makeover

This beautiful historic home was due for a little TLC. Bellwether totally gutted the kitchen, taking the room back to its bones. The space is a pleasurable blend of old world charm and fresh, new materials. An antique cabinet was left in place and refinished. “It’s important to us that we keep a bit of the original energy,” say homeowners Michael and Sally Beth Shore. Extensive trim work, including gothic arches, were built to match the pine trim decorating the original 1916 interior. Details like leaving a partial brick wall and placing handmade period style tiles in the backsplash make for a beautiful and more convenient place for a growing family—a room even the original architect, Mr. Smith, could feel proud of.

The Kuhlman Residence

This Mediterranean home was designed and built in 2001 for a world traveling couple ready to settle down in the Western North Carolina mountains. The home takes advantage of amazing south-facing views with it’s passive solar design. Radiant floor heat, a high velocity air system, and super insulation are key to the home’s green features. Arches, cast stone balustrades and abundant natural light compliment the beautiful pastoral landscape.

 

Airplane Bungalow

The Airplane Bungalow, so named for its low-pitched roof and exposed rafters, was designed and built on spec in 2005. This Energy Star home was used as the Reynold’s Mountain sales office and served as a model home for the upscale neighborhood. Details and features include: cedar shingle siding, natural stone chimney, Ipe porches, extensive woodwork throughout with coffered ceilings and built-ins, concrete countertops with Arts and Crafts detail copper inlay, custom kitchen and baths and Arroyo Craftsman fixtures.

Lenas/Allred Bathroom Remodel

The owner of this Mid Century Post and Beam home is very connected in the design and fashion industry, and this bathroom makeover had to emulate and reflect that artistic spirit. When asked for maximum collaboration and high-end style features, we knew we were up for the challenge. Decorative Plumbing fixtures are Watermark Designs, the Brooklyn based manufacturer of luxury faucets and bathes, and a true manufacturer of made-in-the-USA products. Bathroom design additions include a Duravit Vanity and Icera One-Piece, Comfort-Height Toilet, with performance flushing and premium design. Porcelanosa Spanish Tile was used to engulf the Decorative Bathtub, produced using environmental friendly technologies. Ferroker Aluminio Tiles were selected for the Walls and Floor with a Herribone Trim Mosaic; and “Paradise Arrow Gris” Tiles donned the Bathtub and Niches. The finished product resulted in an environmental friendly, contemporary space that reflects modern, clean, and unique, with an air of artistic textures and patterns.

“Bellwether’s craftsmanship and attention to detail is unparalleled. We picked them because they possess a modern sensibility and an artisan touch. Brad and his team did a phenomenal job: brainstorming creative solutions for our master bathroom renovation, communicating effectively throughout every stage of the work in a thorough and friendly manner, acting with integrity and utmost professionalism, and executing the design plan flawlessly. It was so reassuring to know we were in very capable hands every step of the way. We highly recommend Bellwether, and we are hoping to work with them again on future projects.”