December in Chapel Hill

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 share
some updates.

While Project Manager Jason O’Quinn continues to move our Coker Hills remodel/addition forward, yesterday I met with our lovely long-term Chapel Hill resident clients to focus on the coffee bar they just decided to add at the entry to their new primary suite. We are hanging sheetrock, so the dialogue for decisions needed speedy attention, and we’re making it happen! Here’s a preliminary cabinet drawing:

I love the paint color they selected – a hazy blue-green-gray – which will look elegant with the brass faucet, sink and cabinet pulls. And those cabinet pulls!

These clients showed us pictures they took while visiting a Charlottesville open house, and our office manager super detective Michelle Wood was able to track the pulls down at a boutique business in Norfolk VA. Look at that backplate!

Another project in process is a new custom home on a five-acre site in Greenbrae, now receiving tile and cabinets.  These folks moved from New Jersey and are renting until we finish their home.  One thing I love in particular about this project is the detached workshop, a smaller building designed specifically for the husband’s creative furniture-making. It’s a unique take on the “man cave” – but light and bright and super functional.

And while these projects and others move forward “in the field” as we say, last week I created the beginning design concept (floor plan and elevations) for new custom clients – also long-term Chapel Hill homeowners – whose positive experience living in a Zinn Design Build home for many years led them our way. They will be building this home on another beautiful five-acre property in Greenbrae.

It’s a flat site with beautiful hardwood trees that will provide a lovely view no matter the season. This is an exciting home, with ten-foot ceilings on the main level, allowing long windows and much sunlight to flood the space. It will include an attached in-law apartment for a family member to occupy in the future. 

Next step: the hand-drawn plans will be translated into a digital plan for further refinement. We are also starting to work together on the many detail decisions for plumbing, tile, lighting and other finishes, using the systematic and calm process I have developed over many years of working on custom homes. Every client is different, so I work with finesse to apply my system as it suits each new client.

As I end this December blog, I’m sharing this photo showing paperwhite bulbs just planted in their small glass jars, which should produce flowers in about 6 weeks.

For me, a long-term cold weather bulb forcer, this is a true sign of winter. In my home I created a deeper window countertop to accommodate these jars, as well as small pottery sculptures that dazzle my eye and warm my spirit. 

Carol Ann Zinn

Zinn Design Build

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