Story Builders

We still can’t quite believe the timing of this.

In just over a week, Cedar & Stone will host a wedding.

And the two weekends immediately after, it will open its doors as part of the Hood County Showcase of Homes.

Sometimes the timing of things feels bigger than you.

Cedar & Stone has been a labor of love - designed and built for family, legacy, and gathering.

To have the opportunity to share it with this community, as we begin planting roots here, feels incredibly meaningful.

We’re deeply grateful to be included in this year’s Showcase of Homes and excited to welcome people into a home that means so much to our family.

If you’re local (or willing to drive!) we’d love for you to come see it.

📍 Cedar & Stone | Tolar
🗓 June 6–7 & June 13–14
Saturdays: 10am–6pm
Sundays: 12pm–5pm

You can view the digital magazine here (Cedar & Stone is featured on page 53):

https://tinyurl.com/Showcase-of-Homes-Magazine

We truly believe God’s hand has been on the timing of this project from the beginning.

And we can’t wait to share it.

From the beginning, the goal was simple:

Design and build a home that reflects how our clients want to live - without forcing it into a formula.

There are no preset plans.
No fixed timelines.
No limited selections for finishes.

Every detail - from flooring to lighting to tile - is shaped by the homeowner’s vision, priorities, and budget.

That kind of process takes time.

It requires thought, patience, and a willingness to make decisions carefully along the way.

But the result is a home that truly belongs to the people living in it.

We’re incredibly grateful to these clients for trusting us with something so personal. It’s a privilege to help bring their vision to life.

Custom takes time.
And it’s always worth it.

Excited to be living in this unique town! Congrats Granbury!

Granbury Earns Unprecedented Fifth Title as Best Historic Small Town in America

GRANBURY, TEXAS – Visit Granbury, the City of Granbury’s Convention & Visitors Bureau, is proud to announce that Granbury has once again been named the #1 Best Historic Small Town in America by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards—marking an unprecedented fifth national title.
This latest recognition places Granbury at the top of a distinguished list of historic destinations across the country - an achievement made even more meaningful as our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, a time when communities like Granbury help preserve and celebrate the stories that define our shared history:

1. Granbury, Texas
2. Ruston, Louisiana
3. Ludington, Michigan
4. Abilene, Kansas
5. Mackinac Island, Michigan
6. Shepherdstown, West Virginia
7. Seneca Falls, New York
8. Worthington, Ohio
9. Newport, Kentucky
10. New Castle, Delaware

With previous wins in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025, this fifth designation further affirms Granbury’s unique place as one of America’s most treasured historic destinations—known for its authentic character, vibrant cultural scene, and welcoming community.

“This honor is something our community never takes for granted,” said Tammy Dooley, Director of Visit Granbury. “To be recognized once is special—five times is truly humbling. This reflects the heart of Granbury—our residents, businesses, and partners who show up every day to create a place people want to visit and experience. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported and voted for Granbury.”

Stacked talents.

Before Story Builders, there were years spent learning, working, and building in different ways.

Derek grew up on job sites, following in the footsteps of his dad and grandfather. He studied architecture and became both designer and builder - able to take a home from concept to completion.

My path looked different.

Law.
Construction.
Business development.
Risk management.

Over time, those experiences began to stack - shaping how we approach every project, every client, and every decision.

You can see it in the homes we build.

And now, you’ll see it in a new way too.

I passed the Texas Real Estate sales agent license exam.

Not because we’re changing direction, but because we’re continuing to build a business that serves families well from beginning to end.

From land…
to design…
to build…
and now through buying and selling.

Stacked talents.
One purpose.

Every story begins at home.

Excited now to be serving the communities of Hood and Parker Counties!

Before there was Story Builders, there was someone who showed us what it meant to build.

Derek’s dad, Ron.

He’s the one who first put tools in his hands, walked job sites with him, and showed him how to take something from the ground up and do it well.

More than that, he showed him how to live.

Until just a few weeks ago, Ron was walking miles every day, playing golf, and living life fully.

Today, he’s in surgery at Stanford, facing something none of us expected.

And through it all, he’s been the same steady presence - reminding us, and even the hospital staff, that God is in control.

That kind of faith, that kind of perspective… it shapes more than a life.

It shapes a family.
It shapes a business.
It shapes the way we build.

Everything we do at Story Builders is rooted in something deeper than construction.

The homes we build are shaped by the people who built us.

Before we build, we plan.

We stand on the land. We ask questions. We get design inspiration. We think it through to the end.

At our Tolar project, every design selection was made before the first wall went up.

Decisions made in advance bring clarity to the overall project.

It allows the build to move steadily, without second guessing, changes, delays or rework.

At Cedar & Stone decisions were made early.

The vision was clear.

And the build is moving with momentum toward a very real date on the calendar.

Every story begins at home.

P.S. 9 weeks to go!

How does this family live?

One of the most important components of designing a home is asking the right question.

Cedar & Stone is unique. This home was designed very specifically for a growing, multi-generational family.

Now that the drywall is up, you can begin to see the spaces take shape.

A home school classroom.

A work-from-home office.

A chapel.

A great room and kitchen designed for large family meals (with a table in the middle that seats 20 and 2 dishwashers to keep up).

Every decision was made to accommodate the rhythms of everyday life on a family homestead.

Because the best designs aren’t based on trends or square footage.

They’re designed around the people who live there.

Every story begins at home.

We build differently. Most contractors are handed off a set of plans created by someone else.

As a true custom home builder we work with you from the very beginning.

It starts with the land.

We walk the property, study orientation, and begin envisioning a home that fits both the family and the setting.

From there we move into architectural design - drawing a home we know can be built well, because we’re the ones building it.

Then the structure rises.

Foundation, framing, systems, finishes, and finally the small details that make a house feel like a home.

Taking a project from dirt to final detail allows the entire process to stay connected.

One vision.
One team.
One home built with intention.

Every story begins at home.