Carol Ann's Custom Blog

Are you looking to update your living environment but not sure if you want to renovate or build a brand-new home? As a long time Chapel Hill designer-builder, I can help you figure that out....

Having recently completed a big Durham master suite remodel which includes a spectacular modern bathroom… Zinn Design Build is starting 2026 with three other projects under construction. These are all located in Chapel Hill, but...

It’s a chilly, foggy Sunday morning here in Chapel Hill… … a good day to make split pea soup (in process!), stay warm and cozy, and sharesome updates. While Project Manager Jason O’Quinn continues to...

I’ll never get tired of saying it: There’s no place like New York. I just returned from another long weekend trip to my home state, where I enjoyed a little time in The City with...

Working on our Chapel Hill projects this week while I spend time in the San Francisco Bay area is effortless, thanks to the internet, email, zoom, and phone. It’s 5:30am on the West Coast (8:30am...

The front door of any building provides an opportunity to make a welcoming statement. Whether it be the design, the color, and/or adjacent elements, this area is the first introduction to and hint of what...

Clients are showing heightened interest in creating upscale laundry rooms. This might include the use of inventive new laundry accessories for increased functionality, and it might manifest in beautiful cabinetry, lighting and ceramic tile to...

The housing world of 1978, my first year as a designer-builder, was far different from the housing world of today. The exteriors of many Chapel Hill homes looked like traditional colonials, and the typical eight-foot-high...

Yes, my latest journey was to this mystical land of inspiration, where traditional elements are blended with modern style, harmonizing form and function with a focus on simplicity and the use of natural materials. This...

While visiting the San Francisco Bay area last month, I was fortunate to be invited to join a tour of new luxury homes. This offered an exclusive opportunity to see creative offerings from another part...

There’s a strong thread of creativity that runs in my family, and it started with my beloved father, Louis Ganz. His goal of becoming a doctor was hampered by the Great Depression. Instead, over time,...

I love our wonderful North Carolina suppliers, but sourcing design details from other areas offers a broader world of options. I often find interesting materials that are not common in our regional market. Using items...