Inspiration in the Studio

Our Beach Break Project in Haven Magazine!

It’s the first day of spring and we’re celebrating with the latest issue of Haven Magazine, the annual publication featuring everything we love about Bald Head Island. One of our latest favorite projects (so many favorites) is featured with a full home tour in the magazine.

We’ll share a sneak peek of some of the beautiful interiors!  This kitchen with cabinets the color of seaglass, quartz countertops, and incredible pendant lights is the central gathering space of the home.

The dining table is perfect for large gatherings of family and friends.  There’s no need to worry about wet bathing suits with the performance fabrics on the upholstered furniture!

The large sectional in the family room provides casual comfort for the entire family!  A seaside vibe carries throughout the home with layers of blue and turquoise color.

This is one happy beach home that is ready for summer guests! Enjoy.

Contractor:  Whitney Blair Custom Homes

Photography:  Harry Taylor Photography

CAD Comes to Life in a Bunk Room, Bathroom, and Living Room!

So often in our projects, we need to communicate the design vision through conceptual drawings. It’s always a thrill to see these CAD elevations come to life and we thought it would be fun to share. From a coastal project’s bunk room and bathroom vanities to a family room fireplace, we enjoyed reimagining these spaces and customizing for each client.

A Coastal Bunk Room

In this showstopper Bald Head Island retreat, a playful bunk room with plenty of seating to enjoy the exquisite oceanfront views was a must.

We initially drew up the plan to include recessed niches to give the walls additional character, under the bed storage, and a shared ladder for the top bunks. With two full size and two twin beds, we wanted the room to still feel fresh and airy, reminiscent of its coastal outside surroundings. Whether for late night reading or playing games, lighting was also added for each bunk – giving each bunk its own private feel. The soft blue color on the ceiling also keeps the serenity of the rest of the home alive and consistent within this fun sleeping and playing space.

We hope you enjoy the “before and after” of this project as much as we do…we’re dreaming of those ocean views!

Photo: Dustin Peck Photography

Seaside Vanity Projects

In these two coastal bathrooms, space planning was essential.

In the first drawing and photo of the guest bathroom, a towel and quartz shelf were added to maximize storage space in tight quarters. For a more direct light source, we incorporated a library light fixture and placed above the mirror – taking advantage of the ceiling height.

In the second set of images, we decided to enhance the use of a tile our client loved and pull it down to cover the floor. To showcase and not take away from the beautiful tile, we matched the cabinetry and mirror frame, while adding sconces to anchor and streamline the space.

Photo: Dustin Peck Photography

Photo: Dustin Peck Photography

An Elegant Fireplace

In this Cary, NC residence, the fireplace is the icing on the cake of an open, airy family room.

We designed the fireplace to coordinate with the room’s soothing, neutral color palette. Painted in a fresh white to contrast slightly with the creamy white walls, the fireplace has a presence that is carefully kept soft to blend with the room’s furnishings. Incorporating more creamy hues with brighter whites was a challenge, however layering these neutrals created an eye-catching pairing. Crystal and brass sconces adorn the columns, further highlighting the elegant architectural details of the fireplace.

From CAD drawing to real life, we imagined this fireplace to pair seamlessly with the construction selections of the kitchen cabinetry and countertops, as the kitchen is in direct view. The clients envisioned a relaxing space with a “peaceful sanctuary” aesthetic, yet they also wanted one that felt refined. With the fireplace design, we wanted to do just that – create a setting where family felt at ease, as well as create an element that could stand alone as the room’s sophisticated centerpiece.

Photo: Taylor Lovette of Blue Barn Photography

Work Hard, Play Hard

Last week, the Bald Head Island team headed to our new studio to co-host an evening of Oysters & Chili – a perfect way to kick off the beginning of November and toast our new outdoor space. Our professional and personal motto has been “work hard, play hard” for many years, and this event was a true testament to that mantra!

We loved sharing our new home with old and new friends while we shucked oysters, roasted marshmallows by the fire, and fixed chili bowls to our liking. Bald Head Island’s team spared no details to bring a taste of the island inland, making our guests and our own team eager for a trip to the coast.

Cheers from downtown Cary!

Project Feature - Seaside Serenity on Bald Head Island

Almost two full years ago, we met an amazing couple who were planning to build their dream home on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. We loved their vision of a place to relax and refresh away from their busy professional lives. We quickly got to work planning, designing and preparing for every detail. It’s not 100% complete (still working on a few finishing touches with art and lighting), but we are so thankful they have enjoyed their summer in this beautiful space.

Enjoy a quick home tour! The plan is a reversed, so the living spaces are upstairs to maximize the beautiful maritime forest views.  We love this quiet dining space at the top of the stairs.

The living area is open and oh so comfortable and beautiful!

The kitchen is a dream!  There’s no doubt that many fabulous meals will be shared in this home.

There are several porches and outdoor living spaces, but this is our favorite.  Even the family dog found her happy spot!

The master bedroom is the perfect escape (wish you could see the bathroom too).  We especially enjoyed working with the superintendent to design the custom bed.

And, our favorite spot of all….the cozy reading nook under the staircase!  Gotta love a good port hole window perfect placed.

We’re always thankful to work with great architects and builders.  It’s the design team, along with great clients, that can make all the difference.

Architect:  Cothran Harris Architecture

Builder:  Dudley Builders

Our Latest Project, Coastal Calm, in Home Design and Decor Magazine

Just in time for summer, we are thrilled to find one of our latest coastal projects on the cover of  Triangle Home Design and Decor Magazine and a full feature in the Charlotte edition. What an incredible home with an incredible history on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. Remodels can often be more challenging than new construction and this project was no exception. We wanted to honor the home’s history and architecture. Relax and take a moment to read the full article here.

It’s no surprise that some of our favorite projects are vacation homes and we are thankful to be surrounded by some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, lakes, and mountains. I really think it’s the relaxed vibe and family memories that drive us to create these special places. And this one is truly special.

This dutch door welcomes guests to the impressive foyer complete with a custom designed chandelier.

Imagine the meals and conversations that will happen in this kitchen. We kept much of the original kitchen, but carefully modified the design for a fresh look that functions better for our clients.

Walk down the hall to the new addition and notice that there is hardly any drywall in this home. It’s filled with truly amazing craftsmanship by the Dudley Builders team.

Architect Cothran Harris did an amazing job keeping the integrity of the original architecture in the newly added guest suite.

We managed to mix the old with the new in the renovated master suite. Check out the incredible view of the Atlantic ocean!

A bubble bath in this tub would be the perfect end to a day in the sun and sand. Take me away…

We’ll share more photos of this beautiful home soon! Thanks to these special clients for opening their home to us. Now, let the summer fun begin!

NAVIGATION