By Nathan Sparks | Photography by Bruce McCamish
Appeared in Cityview Magazine, Vol. 41, Issue 6 (Nov/Dec 2025)
Morning light drapes across the hills of Tennessee National, catching the soft grain of timber beams and the shimmer of glass in a home that seems to have grown naturally from the land itself. Beneath the vaulted rooflines and stone accents, there’s a quiet sense of balance—strength and warmth, modernity and timelessness. It’s the kind of home that doesn’t just impress—it invites you in.
This year, Providence Builders celebrates its third consecutive Cityview Magazine Best of the Best Award for Custom Home Builder – Over $1 Million. For Ron and Diane Bills, the husband-and-wife team behind the company, the honor feels both humbling and affirming. “Every award we’ve ever received belongs to our team,” says Ron, president and founder of Providence Builders. “The designers, the project managers, the craftsmen, the people who pour their skill and care into every detail. We just have the privilege of leading them.”
And the home that best embodies that spirit this year is their latest Parade of Homes showcase: a 3,792-square-foot Mountain Modern Ranch in the Tennessee National development, complete with an 830-square-foot garage, three bedrooms, and four baths. Designed and built for a client who wanted the perfect marriage of comfort and sophistication, the home is an architectural expression of Providence’s entire philosophy—where design, craftsmanship, and livability meet in harmony.
Mountain Modern, Masterfully Executed
The home’s style—what Ron and Diane describe as Mountain Modern Ranch—is defined by its clean geometry and natural textures. From the moment you step onto the wide, welcoming front porch, the materials do the talking: authentic stone, wood, and glass in perfect proportion. Inside, a vaulted great room rises dramatically, its timber trusses drawing the eye upward while a natural stone fireplace anchors the space with quiet confidence.
It’s an environment that feels both grand and grounded. Expansive glass walls open the interior to nature through a 10-foot multi-slide door, erasing the line between indoors and outdoors. Beyond it, a broad covered patio and sunroom create a seamless flow of space—ideal for entertaining or simply enjoying the calm of the landscape.
“Comfort was the goal,” Ron says. “We wanted the home to live easily day to day—to feel connected and warm, while still having the precision and presence of fine craftsmanship.”
Designed for the Way People Live
While many Parade homes strive to dazzle, this one was designed to feel right. Most of the living space sits on a single level—a thoughtful decision for comfort, accessibility, and flow. Each space transitions naturally to the next: the great room to the kitchen, the kitchen to the sunroom, the sunroom to the patio overlooking the rolling Tennessee hills.
The kitchen, designed “with the culinary artist in mind,” is both functional and inspiring. Professional-grade appliances, abundant prep space, and a large island make it a cook’s dream. Yet the finishes—rich wood cabinetry, Dekton surfaces, and subtle lighting—keep it warm and inviting. It’s the kind of space where a chef can host a dinner party or a family can gather over pancakes on a Sunday morning.
“Single-level living doesn’t mean simple,” Diane says with a smile. “It means intentional. Every detail—from sightlines to materials to lighting—is chosen to make daily living a pleasure.”
The Design-Build Difference
What makes Providence Builders unique isn’t just their craftsmanship—it’s their process. The company’s design-build model means that architecture, construction, and interior design all work in concert from day one. There’s no handoff between firms, no miscommunication between vision and execution. The entire project moves as one creative rhythm.
That collaboration starts with listening. “We begin by understanding how our clients live,” Diane explains. “How they cook, entertain, relax, and recharge. Then we design a home that supports that lifestyle.”
Once the design direction is established, Ron and his project team translate that vision into structure. His background in aerospace engineering and corporate leadership informs a disciplined approach to precision. “We don’t draw something we can’t build beautifully,” he says. “Our plans are detailed to the millimeter. That’s how you control quality and make sure the finished home is as extraordinary as the dream behind it.”
Providence’s process is also defined by transparency. Every budget is meticulously documented, every cost accounted for. Clients receive regular reports through the BuilderTrend platform, complete with photos, updates, and progress tracking. The result is not just a well-built home—it’s a stress-free experience.
“Building a home should be fun,” Ron adds. “It’s one of the biggest investments of your life. You deserve to enjoy the process.”
Craftsmanship That Tells a Story
Providence Builders’ reputation has been built one detail at a time. Their job sites are models of organization and pride, where long-time trade partners—many of whom have worked with Ron for years—bring engineering-level precision to every cut, joint, and finish.
In the Tennessee National home, that craftsmanship is everywhere you look. The beam work in the great room is as structural as it is sculptural. The stone fireplace rises in graceful contrast to sleek built-in shelving. Cabinetry fits like fine furniture. Even the trim transitions, often overlooked in lesser builds, align perfectly from room to room.
“There are a thousand people who touch a home before it’s done,” Ron says. “We make sure every one of them knows their role matters. Because it does.”
That culture of respect and shared pride is what keeps Providence’s quality consistent—and why clients return again and again. Many homeowners build multiple homes with Providence, not out of necessity, but because the experience is that good.
Interior Elegance, Crafted for Comfort
Inside, the artistry continues. Under the guidance of Diane Bills and interior designer Anne White, the home’s interiors reflect a refined yet livable aesthetic. The palette is soft and natural: warm woods, creamy whites, brushed metals, and subtle stone tones that echo the landscape beyond the glass.
The result is a home that feels serene, connected, and timeless. “Our goal is to make every home not just beautiful but livable,” Anne says. “We design for how people actually live, not just how it photographs.”
From the welcoming foyer to the intimate owner’s suite, each space feels cohesive and considered. The bathrooms blend spa-like luxury with practical comfort; the bedrooms are retreats, designed for rest and simplicity. The sunroom, with its broad windows and gentle light, offers a moment of calm—perhaps the most defining space of all.
“Comfort doesn’t just come from furniture or finishes,” Diane notes. “It comes from balance—proportion, light, texture, the way materials meet. That’s what makes a home feel right.”
A Legacy of Trust and Gratitude
Winning Best of the Best for three years running is no small feat, but Providence Builders doesn’t measure success in trophies. For Ron and Diane, the recognition is a reflection of the relationships they’ve built—with clients, with their team, and with the community.
“We’re incredibly grateful,” Ron says. “It means people notice the care we take. It means they value transparency, quality, and trust as much as we do.”
In an industry often driven by speed and scale, Providence continues to champion the personal side of building—the belief that each home is a story of people and place. “We never want to lose sight of that,” Diane adds. “This work is about creating something meaningful—something lasting.”
That philosophy extends beyond the job site. Providence is known for its community-minded approach: delivering welcome baskets to neighbors before a build begins, celebrating project completions as shared milestones, and maintaining friendships with clients long after the keys are handed over.
“It’s not just about building homes,” Ron says. “It’s about building relationships that last.”
Looking Forward
As Providence Builders steps into another year of design excellence, the mission remains the same: to create homes that elevate everyday living through precision, beauty, and heart. The Tennessee National Parade Home may stand as their latest masterpiece, but for Ron and Diane, it’s simply the continuation of a story they’ve been writing for two decades—a story of craftsmanship guided by purpose.
Each new project brings fresh ideas, new materials, evolving technologies—but the essence never changes. Every plan begins with a blank sheet of paper and a question: How can we make this home feel like theirs?
It’s that question that keeps Providence’s work personal and enduring—and what keeps clients coming back, generation after generation.
Standing in the great room of the Tennessee National home, sunlight streaming across the stone hearth and the wide-plank floors, Diane smiles. “Homes like this remind us why we do what we do,” she says. “When you create something that feels right—where every detail works in harmony—you’ve built more than a house. You’ve built a home.”
Gold Winner :
Custom Home Builder – One Million +
865-816-6688
600 E. Broadway St.
Lenoir City, TN 37771
providence-tennessee.com
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