Design-build custom homes · Asheville & Western NC
Custom Homes Designed Around Your Land
We help you find the right lot, design a home that fits it, and build it with our family team from start to finish.
What we build
Design-Build Custom Homes Near Asheville
We design and build custom homes that fit the land they sit on. Before anything is drawn, Kenny walks the lot with you: the topography, the views, where the sun rises and sets. Then we design a home around it.
Smart design is where you save money. Picking a plan and forcing it onto a lot usually costs more, in site work and in what you give up. A home designed for its site works with the slope instead of fighting it.
We are the best fit for clients who are funding their own build, especially lakefront and view homes.
Land first
We Start With the Lot
We help from start to finish, including finding the right lot. Kenny and Nickie are both licensed North Carolina real estate brokers, so if you are still looking for land with a view or lake frontage, we can help you find it and tell you what it will really take to build there.
The right lot makes all the difference
Every property has unique considerations, from grading and driveway access to septic systems and utilities. We help you understand these factors early, before you purchase land or commit to a home design.
What we look at with you
- Topography and slope
- Views and lake frontage
- Sunrise and sunset
- Foundation
- Driveway
- Septic
- Well
A sloping Weaverville lot: the walk-out lower level and covered deck work with the grade.
For inspiration
Home plan ideas
Browse our featured home plan for ideas and a starting point for the conversation. We can also build any home from an accurate set of prints, and we always check how a plan sits on your lot first.
Design & budget
A Team With Your Architect
For many homeowners, the task of finding a piece of land, designing a home, choosing a builder, finishes, and realistically balancing your budget while still maintaining sanity can be daunting.
After understanding our client’s needs, we recommend a few different architects who we feel are a good fit. Once chosen, we all work as a team to make sure that whatever is designed, can be built within budget.
Land first
We help you find the right lot, or walk the one you have. Kenny looks at the topography, views, sunrise and sunset, and the site costs: foundation, driveway, septic and well.
Design that fits the lot
Kenny designs the home around the site rather than forcing a plan onto it. Smart design is where you save money. We can also build from any accurate set of prints.
Budget & contract
Budgets, allowances and change orders are all handled in the contract, and we go through them in detail once you decide to move forward.
See how we build, step by step
Budgets, allowances and change orders are all handled in the contract. We go through them in detail once you decide to move forward.
Craftsmanship & finishes
Custom Built-Ins and Trim
Unmatched attention to detail, inside and out. Our crew:
- Installs standard to complex interior trim
- Does incredible custom tile work
- Installs kitchen cabinets
- Builds custom built-ins
Stacked-stone fireplace 
Wood rail, iron balusters 
Marble-look tile shower 
Stone and board-and-batten 
Board-and-batten gables
Kitchens & Baths
Kitchen & Bath Ideas for Your Home
Whether you want the rustic look to make your mountain home unique or a clean and open kitchen that speaks comfort to family and visitors, Buckingham Builders can make your gathering place reflect your dreams.
In the kitchen and bath, our crew does incredible custom tile work, installs kitchen cabinets and builds custom built-ins.
Marble-look peninsula 
Freestanding tub 
Chimney range hood 
Open white kitchen 
Subway-tile shower 
Open to the dining area 
Primary bath 
Hall bath tile work
Exterior & outdoor living
Porches, Decks and Stone
Outside the home, our crew:
- Builds decks and porches
- Installs exterior trim and siding
- Builds stone walls and patios
More ways to build with us
Have land? Build on your lot
Bring your lot and your ideas, or one of our home plans, and we’ll walk the land with you and talk through what it takes to build there.
Related projects
Custom Homes We’ve Built
Questions
Custom Home Questions
Do I need land or plans first?
Land first, ideally. The lot shapes the design: its slope, views and light, and what the site work will cost. If you don’t have land yet, we can help you find it. Kenny and Nickie are licensed North Carolina real estate brokers.
Can you help me find land?
Yes. We help clients find the right lot, whether that means a view or lake frontage, and we evaluate it with you before you buy so the foundation, driveway, septic and well costs are not a surprise.
What areas do you build in?
Asheville, Buncombe County, McDowell County and Lake James, including the Arbor subdivision. Our recent homes are in Candler and Weaverville.
Who is the best fit to build with you?
We are the best fit for clients funding their own build, especially lakefront and view homes. If you are planning to use a construction loan, tell us on the consultation form and we can talk it through.
How do you work with architects?
After understanding our client’s needs, we recommend a few different architects who we feel are a good fit. Once chosen, we all work as a team to make sure that whatever is designed, can be built within budget.
How do budgets work?
Budgets, allowances and change orders are handled in the contract. We go through them in detail once you decide to move forward.
What does your own crew build?
Our crew frames, installs windows and doors, builds decks and porches, installs exterior trim and siding, builds stone walls and patios, installs standard to complex interior trim, does custom tile work, installs kitchen cabinets and builds custom built-ins.
Is Buckingham Builders a licensed contractor?
Yes. Buckingham Builders Contracting Inc holds North Carolina unlimited general contractor license #107451. We have been licensed since 2004.
How many homes have you built?
Around 200 homes. We are a small family company, and you work directly with us on every one.
Are you insured, and what associations are you part of?
Yes, we carry builder’s risk, general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. We are members of the Home Builders Association of Asheville and the Better Business Bureau.
Let’s Look at Your Land
Tell us where you’d like to build and how far along you are. If you’re still looking for a lot, we can start there.