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West Chatham Street
Durant Road
Gold2026 Parade of Homes
The Onyx · Category 20

Triangle Parade of Homes

Inside.

Gemstone Homes builds luxury custom homes in North Carolina's Research Triangle.

The 2026 tour ran three weekends in October.

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The Onyx at McLaurin Farms, a white brick home with steep gables and a cedar-post porch, from the air

2026 Triangle Parade of Homes

Gold for The Onyx at McLaurin Farms.

Category 20 · $1,175,000 to $1,240,000

Parade map 64

See The Onyx

Pictured: The Onyx, Lot 60, McLaurin Farms

The finishes

Take your time with the finishes.

You'll live with them a lot longer than you'll spend choosing them.

Selections come before construction. We work through those decisions with you before the build begins.

Samples and plans during selections
A white kitchen with a wood-trimmed range hood, a veined backsplash, and a stained wood island with upholstered stools under gold dome pendants
Lot 60, McLaurin Farms. A wood-trimmed range hood behind a stained island.
A freestanding tub with a floor-mounted filler beneath a window, beside open shelving
Freestanding tub under the primary bath window.
A double vanity with light wood cabinets, a dark green countertop, brass faucets and sconces, and an orchid
Lot 60. Dark green vanity tops and brass sconces.
A wood stair with a light under each tread, a wood railing and white paneled walls
Lot 60. Lit treads on the stair.
A pantry lined with wood shelving and a wood counter, with glass jars, mugs and a woven basket
Lot 60. Wood shelving in the pantry.

Swipe for more

Behind the walls

Ask about the construction.

We'll be glad you did.

Our pre-drywall walkthrough is part of the building process, so you can see the work before drywall goes up.

  1. 01

    ZIP System sheathing

    Structural panels with a built-in water-resistive barrier, taped at the seams.

  2. 02

    California corners

    Exterior corners framed to leave room for insulation where the two walls meet.

  3. 03

    Sealed, conditioned crawl space

    Sealed and conditioned with the house rather than vented to the outside air.

A two-story house under construction wrapped in green ZIP System panels, with scaffolding at the front
ZIP System panels on a house in framing.
Framing, before drywall.
Ken Godwin and Chris Schiavone seated in armchairs in front of navy built-in shelving

The owners

The person who builds your home should care about it as much as you do.

Two disciplines, one standard.

Ken Godwin

Ken came up on jobsites. He's the builder, and the standard every Gemstone crew builds to is his.

Chris Schiavone

Chris grew up in his family's commercial HVAC business and went on to build a career in technology. He runs the business side, the systems and the strategy that keep every project on track.

The owners set the standard, and dedicated project managers hold it in the field every day. You'll work with Chris during the process. Your project manager handles day-to-day communication and oversees construction.

Gemstone builds in the communities where Ken and Chris raise their families: Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs and Apex.

2017Founded in Fuquay-Varina
30+Years of combined experience
The Gemstone Homes team standing under an arched stone entry
The Gemstone team.

“Ken & Chris are top notch!”

Kourtney T., on Google
4.7 across 46 Google reviews

“Stunning homes and craftsmanship!”

Jacie D., on Google

“Quality builder with so much attention to detail! Easy to work with and very communicative!”

Dawn H., on Google

“By far the most creative builder downtown.”

Sebastian S., on Google

On the tour

View the homes.

The tour was free and open to the public.

October 2026 Homes were open noon to 5 each tour day.
Weekend one
Sat3Sun4
Weekend two
Fri9Sat10Sun11
Weekend three
Fri16Sat17Sun18

Gold2026 Parade of Homes

A painted white brick home with three steep gables and a cedar-post porch, on a new lawn
A painted brick fireplace with an arched plaster surround between lit oak built-ins

Lot 60, McLaurin Farms

3829 Cobbler View Way, Fuquay-Varina · Fully staged

Parade map 64 · entered as The Onyx

Category 20 · $1,175,000 to $1,240,000

Directions
A two-story home with dark brick, board and batten siding, steep gables and a landscaped front yard
The Durant Road kitchen with black cabinets and a wood island

Durant Road

14020 Durant Road, Raleigh · Fully staged

Parade map 179 · entered as The Emerald II

Directions
Two tall, narrow new homes with stacked front porches and brick bases among mature trees
A living room with a linear fireplace, a cream sofa and two blush armchairs

West Chatham Street

502 and 506 W Chatham Street, Apex · Fully staged

Parade maps 17 and 18 · two cottages side by side

Directions

Questions about the 2026 Raleigh Parade of Homes

Which Gemstone homes were on the 2026 Raleigh Parade of Homes?

Gemstone showed homes at three locations on the 2026 Triangle Parade of Homes: Lot 60 at McLaurin Farms, 3829 Cobbler View Way in Fuquay-Varina, entered as The Onyx; 14020 Durant Road in Raleigh, entered as The Emerald II; and two cottages side by side at 502 and 506 W Chatham Street in Apex.

Where were Gemstone's homes on the 2026 Parade map?

The Onyx at Lot 60, McLaurin Farms was Parade map 64. The Emerald II on Durant Road was Parade map 179. The West Chatham Street cottages in Apex were Parade maps 17 and 18. Each home above has a Directions link.

Did a Gemstone home win a 2026 Parade of Homes award?

Yes. The Onyx at McLaurin Farms in Fuquay-Varina won Gold in Category 20, for homes priced $1,175,000 to $1,240,000, at the 2026 Triangle Parade of Homes. The award was announced at the Parade's Awards Gala on October 13.

When was the 2026 Parade of Homes?

October 3 and 4, October 9 to 11, and October 16 to 18, 2026. Homes were open noon to 5 each tour day, free and open to the public.

I saw a Gemstone home on the Parade. How do I follow up?

Tell us what you liked and we'll pick it up from there. Call 919-355-6549 or use our contact form. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM.

Talk to us

Have a few questions? Let's talk them through.

Bring your ideas. We'll tell you what we'd recommend and why.

Call919-355-6549 Arrange a visit Explore the floor plans
Arrange a visit

Come back with your questions.

A Parade weekend is a lot to take in. Tell us what you liked and we will pick it up from there.

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