Intentional Shifts Forward
Earlier this spring, Sean Perry sat down for a conversation on the recent changes within his company — from a big move across town to the intentional shifts guiding The Hands of Sean Perry forward. Learn more about the team’s refreshed direction, from the design of the new space to the values that continue to shape their award-winning work.
When Sean arrives at his new North Asheville headquarters, he feels energized — by the space, by his team, by the neighborhood itself, and by this exciting next chapter for The Hands of Sean Perry.
“I know the moment I walk through this door, I’m going to feel good,” he said from his second-floor office, looking out over the bustling Woolsey Dip corridor below. “There’s just such a positive, uplifting vibe here. The collaboration and support of the whole team is palpable.”
More than a new address for the 29-year-old design-build firm, the 2,500-square-foot building at 508 Merrimon Ave. represents an evolution of the team — grounded in renewed vision and purpose.
“We were bursting at the seams in the old space,” Sean said of the former location on Haywood Road, his company’s home base for the last 18 years. At about half the size of the new location, “there was no good room for my construction crew to do anything but pass through, ask a question and leave.” The new building — which the team renovated with windows, skylights, ample meeting space and character-rich wood accents salvaged from historic Asheville sites — offers not only more room but also more opportunity. “It brings us to the next level,” he said. “It creates a natural place for dialogue, for meaningful conversations that move us forward.”
What’s more, the North Asheville neighborhood feels “more like home” to the Montford resident — within walking distance of the majority of existing clients, friends and neighbors. The move across the town is also symbolic of a new personal chapter for Sean. “We bought the West Asheville space four months after my first daughter was born and then moved here five months after she left for college,” he said. “Just as she graduated, I graduated too.”
But more than logistics or sentiment, the transition is about intentionality.
“We’re intentional about everything we do,” Sean explained. “With clients, it’s listening to what’s important to them. With our team, it’s choosing to stay mindful and work together toward solutions, even when challenges arise. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve, and now we have the space to come together as a team and really make those thoughtful changes.”
This mindset is now helping the company evolve and expand, including, for example, from its long-held niche of historic renovations and additions to its first full-scale new construction project, made possible by the extended capacity of a growing team.
“I moved here at 22 and started out with just a business card,” Sean said. “Now we have a building, a staff of XX” — including two in-house designers — “a good reputation and resources to work with. I’m still kind of processing it all, but it’s satisfying to look back and appreciate how far we’ve come.”
Walking into the new foyer, guests are greeted by a striking accent piece made from 100-year-old pine, and in the conference room, conversations are backdropped by a feature wall made from downtown’s oldest surviving structure, with a copper display of the company’s tagline, “Built in Trust.”
Sean hopes these changes — including the new website and updated logo — communicate not just professionalism, but purpose. “We really wanted a refresh, for this next chapter to feel bright and airy and inspiring for us all,” Sean said. “Now that we’ve got the elbow room and renewed inspiration for growth, it’s given us a conscious opportunity to shape our future and what comes next.”
“We’re intentional about everything we do,” Sean explained. “With clients, it’s listening to what’s important to them. With our team, it’s choosing to stay mindful and work together toward solutions, even when challenges arise. We’re constantly looking for ways to improve, and now we have the space to come together as a team and really make those thoughtful changes.”
This mindset is now helping the company evolve and expand, including, for example, from its long-held niche of historic renovations and additions to its first full-scale new construction project, made possible by the extended capacity of a growing team.
“I moved here at 22 and started out with just a business card,” Sean said. “Now we have a building, a staff of XX” — including two in-house designers — “a good reputation and resources to work with. I’m still kind of processing it all, but it’s satisfying to look back and appreciate how far we’ve come.”
Walking into the new foyer, guests are greeted by a striking accent piece made from 100-year-old pine, and in the conference room, conversations are backdropped by a feature wall made from downtown’s oldest surviving structure, with a copper display of the company’s tagline, “Built in Trust.”
Sean hopes these changes — including the new website and updated logo — communicate not just professionalism, but purpose. “We really wanted a refresh, for this next chapter to feel bright and airy and inspiring for us all,” Sean said. “Now that we’ve got the elbow room and renewed inspiration for growth, it’s given us a conscious opportunity to shape our future and what comes next.”