As a six-year-old growing up in the Boston area, Josh Zammuto received his first jigsaw from one of nine uncles on his father’s side, six of whom are general contractors. From that early age, he knew he was destined to work in the construction industry. At 22, he started his own business and ran it for a decade.
Deciding that he’d had enough of the harsh Massachusetts winters, Zammuto started researching warmer destinations –and Charleston kept popping up. In 2020, the time came to sell the company and move South with his girlfriend, who is now his wife. While getting a handle on the area, he worked with several developers.
In the meantime, California native Stone Cyrus, who has a background in civil engineering, flipping houses and wholesaling commercial and residential properties, had felt a tug towards starting a renovation company for some time. To pursue that idea, as well as real estate investing, he moved to Charleston in late 2024.
When Zammuto and Cyrus crossed paths while working on a real estate project in 2025, they discovered that combining their talents for full-scale residential and commercial renovations, restoring historic homes downtown as well as efficient handyman services, would give them the opportunity to support a wider range of homeowners, property managers and realtors.
That’s how their business, Next Chapter Charleston, was founded. As Cyrus explained, the name of the company is significant because, “Every renovation reflects the next chapter of a client’s life, whether that’s marriage, growing a family or looking at retirement.”
Zammuto, who is a new dad, added, “We’re happy with how the name turned out.”
While 60-65% of their current projects are focused on kitchen and bathroom remodels, Zammuto and Cyrus also enjoy exploring the stories that are hidden behind the walls of historic homes. “Work on older properties has revealed treasures such as original carved fireplaces. We’ve even found antique jewelry,” Zammuto said.
Cyrus commented that on one “stairs to nowhere”-like job site they were working on near Monks Corner, they realized that the house was actually two homes that had been connected with siding. He described the attic space as, “A maze with cubby holes that led in all different directions.”
No matter what the scope of the project is, the most rewarding part of their work, they said, is the process of transforming the before to the after. Throughout the journey with their clients, Zammuto and Cyrus insist on the importance of building trust by communicating and following through.
“Working with a client means we are in a relationship together,” Zammuto explained. “We feel that it’s important to focus on that so they know what’s happening every step of the way.”
“We are here for building relationships,” Cyrus agreed. “Our clients know that they can reach us anytime day or night and on weekends and that we show up when we say we’re going to. While that may seem like a basic principle, not everyone in this industry has the same level of respect.”
When it comes to luxury trends for 2026, Zammuto and Cyrus said that tiling a whole bathroom or a full wall in a kitchen are “in.” Additionally, neutral color palettes are a timeless and elegant backdrop for layering furnishings, art and accessories.
Zammuto pointed out that trends aren’t always the focus, however. “People with different tastes and budgets are moving here from everywhere, so our projects are always varied.”
To hone in on what a client is looking to achieve, Zammuto and Cyrus always collaborate with high-end designers.
When Cyrus is not on a job site meeting with clients, designers and subcontractors, he enjoys working out at the gym, fishing, shooting, surfing and any other outdoor adventures. Additionally, his seven month-old, 12-pound Australian shepherd puppy named Pepper keeps him on his toes. Meanwhile, Zammuto has relatively little downtime as he’s loving family time with his new daughter.
To learn more about working with Next Chapter Charleston and the services they provide, visit nextchaptercharleston.com.
Next Chapter Charleston’s Services
Kitchen remodels include an updated layout, installing modern cabinetry, countertops, fixtures and lighting and more.
Upgrade bathrooms with a new layout, tile, fixtures and vanities.
Update any interior living space with fresh layouts, new flooring, paint, lighting and trim work.
Specialize in building ADUs, or home additions such as a bedroom, bathroom, office or expanded living area that will blend seamlessly with an existing space.
Enhance exteriors with updated siding, roofing, windows, decking, doors and paint.
In addition to working directly with clients, they offer handyman services such as pre-listing home prep, post-inspection repairs, pre-renovation prep work, staging support services, cosmetic fixes such as paint, trim and hardware and exterior improvements.