Traditional Stonework
Built to last
Stonefruit Construction Co. is a builder specializing in walls, pathways, patios, and custom installations. We build with stone, concrete block, brick, and paver. We’re based in Durham and serve clients across the Triangle, including Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and beyond.
Led by stonemason Emily Shepherd, we combine traditional building methods with modern problem-solving. From repairing crumbling steps to building new gathering spaces, we approach every project with curiosity, care, and respect for the craft.
Built on tradition
Stonefruit’s work is grounded in study, observation, and practice. Under the mentorship of master mason Brooks Burleson, Emily refined her understanding of structure, balance, and the dialogue between stone and setting. Their work together has included large-format projects such as a dry stack retaining wall in Hillsborough and a reclaimed millstone patio at Duke Gardens, both built with the precision and care that define this tradition.
These experiences deepened Emily’s commitment to methodical, enduring construction that honors both material and place. Every project begins with attention: to weight, geometry, and the quiet sense of fit that makes a wall or patio feel inevitable in its landscape.
Featured work
Duke Gardens-Style Hillside Patio
Each massive stone in this 350-square-foot patio was hand-fit without mortar, a detailed geometric puzzle of flagstone and boulder designed to create seamless joints and lasting strength.
Elliptical Patio and Retaining Wall
To level a sloped yard, we built a retaining wall and matching patio designed around two symmetrical ellipses. The curved brickwork follows the natural topography, blending structure with landscape, and showcasing precise, custom stone and brick detailing.
Stone Stair Restoration
A full renovation of a deteriorating stone staircase. We reused the client’s existing materials, resetting each tread for better slope and traction, and creating a safer, sturdier, and more graceful entryway.
Brick and Flagstone Stair Renovation
We rebuilt a hazardous set of steps using the original stone, and we added brick risers for improved safety and stability. The result is an even-footed, accessible staircase that maintains its natural charm while supporting aging-in-place design.
Flagstone Pathway with Brick Edging
We replaced a sloped concrete walk with a flagstone and brick pathway that extends to the street, and directs water away from the foundation. The new design adds curb appeal and drainage improvement, featuring a custom step with a hand-cut brick leaf pattern.
Reclaimed Brick Pathway
A new life for 300 salvaged chimney bricks. We adapted a homeowner’s original idea to develop this path for functional drainage and stability, resulting in a durable walkway that stays clean and easy to navigate.
Meditation Garden
This project features a pathway that shifts from order to organic form, blending function, symbolism, and design. Distinct gravel textures meet and merge, framed by brick edging that intentionally fades, as if time itself is softening its boundaries. Subtle details, like scattered bricks and a small patio beneath the bird feeders, turn the space into both a meditative walk and a living installation within the landscape.
Boulder Installation
Boulder placement is part art, part geology. Each stone has a natural grain, and setting it well means reading those lines, angles, and layers until the arrangement feels inevitable. These installations are buried partly below ground and oriented to the landscape, balancing peaks, rhythm, and shadow, so the boulders appear not added, but uncovered.
Contact
stonefruitconstructionco@gmail.com
(913) 907-6077
