2010
A New Beginning in Asheville
Kelly moved to Asheville, North Carolina, drawn to the city’s creative spirit and deeply connected to its vibrant yoga community
About
YOUR all-in-one resource
Helping you discover, curate, and dwell in spaces that feel like home—from the ground up.
WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR
Your modern guide rooted in the belief that well-being begins where you live.
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, we’re a one-stop destination for inspired living—offering beautifully crafted homes for rent and for sale, a thoughtfully curated real estate service, and a lifestyle journal that ties it all together. Our spaces are shaped by beauty, function, and a deep reverence for nature, designed to support not just how you live — but how you feel.
Whether you’re searching for your next home, dreaming up your own, or simply looking for inspiration, Abode invites you into a world where design, wellness, and meaningful living converge.
GET TO KNOW US
KELLY KING
FOUNDER, MANAGING PARTNER & DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS
Kelly is the powerhouse behind Abode, merging her background in commercial construction, real estate investment, and interior design into a cohesive vision rooted in intentional living. Formally trained as an artist and shaped by her family’s construction legacy, she earned her real estate license in 2013 and later founded Bliss Farm & Retreat, which evolved into Bliss Design and ultimately Abode — a brand spanning homes, real estate, and lifestyle content.
Today, she leads Abode’s strategic direction and holistic operations: financial planning, team and infrastructure management across the Homes, Real Estate, and Lifestyle arms. She continues to shape every residential interior and property in Abode’s growing portfolio, while co-hosting Echoes of Home, a podcast exploring the emotional and energetic layers of space. Kelly’s leadership is the throughline, cultivating well-being from the ground up.
RYAN MCCULLOUGH
MANAGING PARTNER, DIRECTOR OF SALES & CONSTRUCTION
Ryan brings over a decade of regional real estate and construction experience to Abode. Rooted in Western North Carolina, he earned his real estate license in 2014 and has since built a reputation for integrity, local expertise, and hands-on leadership.
He directs Abode’s real estate sales, acquisitions, and turnkey development projects—acting as broker, site superintendent, and project manager. Whether guiding land deals, custom builds, or client transactions, Ryan offers steady, grounded leadership and a deeply thoughtful approach to nurturing long-term relationships and delivering quality from vision through closing.
TRANSFORMING SPACE. CULTIVATING SELF.
Our Compass
For Dwelling
ABODE HOMES
Meticulously designed homes for sale and for rent in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We believe that the standard of a “well-built” home should be one shaped by beauty, functionality, and integration with nature. We believe that an inspired home is at the heart of a deeper life. That the most nourishing moments of the day happen in your communal spaces. And our homes back up this ethos. Go ahead and explore!
For Beauty
SPACES
Design will always be part of our story. This is a behind-the-scenes look at the interiors I’ve crafted — homes I’ve designed, staged, lived in, invite you to stay in and those I have let go of. You’ll find a curated portfolio, stories from the creative process, and a peek inside my rental properties and sold spaces. This isn’t your typical glamour and go shots, but a real peak under the hood. No gate-keeping, real honest ways we weave practice and purpose.
For Belonging
REAL ESTATE
Our boutique realty arm where we meet you where you are and help you find your place. We believe that buying a home should feel less like a transaction — and more like a homecoming. Whether you’re dreaming of your first fixer-upper or finally ready for your forever home, we meet you exactly where you are on the journey. We listen closely. We move at your pace. And we bring warmth, honesty, and deep local knowledge to every conversation.
For Inspiration
LIFESTYLE
This is where I share everything I’ve learned (and am still learning) about how to live more consciously. Think of it as your modern sanctuary: a mix of reflective essays, practical guidance, and soulful rituals for creating rhythm and meaning in your everyday. Whether you’re navigating grief, growth, or just craving depth, you’ll find something here to support you.
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
A Timeline of Becoming
2013
Laying the Foundation
Kelly earned her real estate license and continued to build her career, drawing on her lifelong background working for her family’s general construction companies and multiple commercial construction firms.
2014
Real Estate Roots
Ryan McCullough obtained his real estate license and began his practice in Asheville, developing deep knowledge of both real estate investment and construction.
2020
The Inspiration for Abode
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Kelly founded Bliss Design and Interiors as a sister company to Bliss Farm and Retreat — a retreat center known for its thoughtfully developed farmhouse, cabins, and aesthetic experience. Inspired by the desire to offer a taste of this lifestyle beyond the retreat, Bliss Design served early design clients and laid the groundwork for Abode. Kelly’s experience in real estate, construction, and retreat development converged into the perfect foundation for creating a new, all-encompassing brand: Abode.
2021
Abode Takes Shape
Abode officially launched, opening a retail store and design center across from the Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville. The store served as a headquarters for contemporary home decor, design services, and community connection, celebrating thoughtful living.
2022
Expanding the Vision
Abode moved to a larger, more visible flagship location on Biltmore Avenue. The new space deepened the brand’s presence, continuing to offer contemporary home goods, full design services, and a lifestyle element centered around intentional living.
2024
Embracing Evolution
In 2024, Abode closed its downtown retail location and moved its headquarters to North Asheville. This transition reflected a natural evolution: focusing the brand’s energy on developing Abode Homes, offering fully turnkey properties for sale and rent. Abode also ceased offering interior design as a public service, choosing instead to design exclusively for its own portfolio of homes and projects, allowing for a deeper alignment with the brand’s vision. Real estate services continued to be offered, maintaining Abode’s connection to helping individuals and families find their place in Asheville. Gratitude for the community support during the retail years remains a cornerstone of Abode’s story.
2025
A Unified Vision for Living Well
In 2025, Kelly and Ryan merged their talents to shape Abode into a fully integrated experience, offering refined real estate, curated homes, and a lifestyle rooted in intentional living. Abode Homes reflects their portfolio of thoughtfully designed, turnkey properties available for sale and rent, while Abode Real Estate provides a bespoke, relationship-driven approach to helping clients find land and homes throughout Asheville. The lifestyle element of Abode enriches the brand with stories, philosophies, and wellness inspirations that celebrate the art of living well beyond the home.
