Carol Ann's Custom Blog

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...

It’s happening. With the scarcity of affordable in-town building sites (did I actually use the word affordable?), we are seeing an uptick in remodels and additions. Perhaps you love your property, you love your neighbors,...

What a year it was for Zinn Design Build! As we celebrate our 47th anniversary designing and building homes, I am reflecting on what may have been our best moments yet. In 2024 we completed...

Though I have loved Chapel Hill since I arrived here in 1972, a part of my heart belongs to the San Francisco Bay Area, and our luxury custom homes are blessed by the inspiration it...