Cottage Contemporary

When the boxy hip-roofed Holland Cottage went on the market a few years ago Sarah and Paul Casey of Chapel Hill realized the timing was just right to make their dream of a family vacation home in Wrightsville Beach a reality. At the time living an ocean away with three children on the front end of a two-year work assignment in Singapore  We bought the house via email  Sarah says.  It was next-door to Paul s sister and her family. We have children the same ages plus Paul s mother has a beach house here. We are a close family and definitely a full house when we are together. So the timing was just right.  

Fast-forward approximately three years and after numerous cross-continent architectural and construction collaborations interior design decisions and artistic detailing via Skype email and texts the Caseys have come home at last to their beach house.  Sarah says it is  an absolute dream come true  crediting the vision and craftsmanship of those she calls amazingly talented people.       

From the start of the design process an important overall goal for both local architect Michael Kersting and the Caseys was that their newly constructed 3 714-square-foot five-bedroom home pay homage to the original cottage at 314 South Lumina Avenue. At the same time they wanted to offer a more spacious functional footplan conducive to large family get-togethers and entertaining guests.

 The Caseys wanted the house certainly to fit with the traditions of Wrightsville Beach but were also interested in some edgier contemporary details  — ones that both reflected the traditional Wrightsville Beach cottage but also worked well as a current home for the active family  Kersting says.

For these more traditional purposes Kersting s design included various exposed structural elements asphalt shingles paneled ceilings and as a nod to the original home s dark green box porch the same deep green color chosen for the current home s captured porch overlooking Banks Channel.  Kersting incorporated more contemporary elements like the kitchen cabinetry for the blended style desired.

 All along we wanted to mix the old with the new. More modern but not all modern  Sarah says.  And we wanted one big open room in the main living area that was light and airy with high ceilings and exposed beams because we wanted them as the focal point of the house. The beams actually started all of [the design style].

Meticulously constructed by local builder Fred Murray and his crew the main level tongue-and-groove pine ceiling with exposed beams is a striking reflection of keen craftsmanship and precision. The design of the ceiling called for custom trusses for the purpose of free spanning. Kersting explains that this allows for big ceiling spaces without the need for columns. Also essential to the ceiling s structure and architecture were 50 40-foot cross gables which were manually hoisted into the space with ropes and pulleys around existing power lines. Murray s crew accomplished this labor-intensive job in the course of one long workday eventually cutting the gables individually into fitted pieces for the ceiling.

 We then built the roof around it  Murray explains.

 The craftsmanship of Fred s guys is exceptional. Just phenomenal. The house is truly crafted like a piece of furniture  Kersting says.

About the ceiling s angled craftsmanship Murray says  My guys insisted on those mitered corners.  He also notes that not much is ready-made in the house; a lot is handmade.

Virtually every space in the home reflects the Cape Fear area s local artisanship and artistic talent. Interior design consultant Susan Covington of Sac Art Designs was the eyes and ears when the Caseys could not be on site during the construction process.

 Susan was like an angel who took care of us  Sarah says.  You have to have a Susan when you live away if you want your own home your own look. I totally trusted her decisions. She was just an incredible resource and gave such attention to detail and accents which was really important.

Most everything in the house is custom-made says Covington including an eclectic array of doors found throughout the home.

 Each of the doors has a little story behind it  she laughs.

In all of her design projects Covington strives to work with as many local artists and craftspeople as possible acknowledging that she was very fortunate to incorporate so many talents into this project.

From vintage lighting murals wall art pottery and stuffed animals; custom-built coffee and dining tables and outdoor furniture to locally cut and crafted concrete surfboards countertops and benches the home touts unmatched originality in its creative detail and custom accents.

 I am beyond impressed with the amount of detail in our home from people who are so talented right here in Wrightsville [and the surrounding area]. I am just very proud of that. Honestly one of my favorite things about our home is that is locally built and designed  Sarah says.

 My other favorite thing is the view. And then the deck the ocean and the waterway. And the kitchen and the lighting and the beams  she laughs checking off her favorite amenities.  We definitely wanted this house to be welcoming and inviting and fun for our friends and family.

A wish-come-true the overwhelming response to their new home is exactly what the Caseys hoped for. Having officially moved into their new home Memorial Day weekend they entertained more than 20 guests. Sarah says no one got in the car the entire weekend.

 We have everything we need right here. This house makes us happy  she says.

So much so the family  — only two months into its new beach home  — has plans to live in Wrightsville during the summer season while commuting back and forth from Chapel Hill on weekends during the school year. 

ur dream came true  Sarah says while standing in her  new kitchen making sandwiches for her 6-year-old and 3-year-old twins.  The minute we drive onto the island I feel relaxed and immediately fall into island-time. We don t have to be anywhere go anywhere. We just go from breakfast to bathing suits.

And by day s end to the open-air upper deck for another evening s sunset.

Resources

Creating this Home of Distinction

Homeowners   

Sarah and Paul Casey            

Architect

Michael Ross Kersting Architects

Building Contractor

Murray Construction    

Interior Designer and Project Manager

SAC ART DESIGN

Appliances/Plumbing & Electrical Fixtures

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

Audio/Visual

Port City AV

Kitchen/Bath Hardware

Atlantic Appliance

Plumber

Bob West Plumbing

Electrician

Hodges Electric

Lighting Fixtures

Louise Gaskill

Hardwood Supplier

Fulfords Antiques and Flooring

Hardwood Installer                                          

Jackson Floors

Tile Supplier

Southeastern Tile

Tile Installer

Inline Tile

Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer/Installer

Archer Read Cabinets

Kitchen/Master Bath/Bathroom

Countertops/Installer/Stone Cutter/Back Splash/ Marble Framed Concrete Wall

Bluewater Surfaces

Closets

SAC ART DESIGN

Painting

Thompson Painting

HVAC

Greendot Heating and Air

Outdoor Lights/Doors  

SAC ART DESIGN

Blinds

The Blind Spot

Custom Cabinet Design

Cigar Guest Room Bed/Night Stands/Console/ Powder Room Vanity Design

SAC ART DESIGN

Custom Cabinet Production

Cigar Guest Room Bed/Night Stands/Console/ Powder Room Vanity

Bryan Humphrey Designs

Custom Cabinet Finishers 

Ludlum Custom Finishing

Artisan-Designed Furniture

Walnut Dining Table

Tom Covington SAC ART DESIGN

Living Room Coffee Table/Master Bedroom Headboard/Hanging Bed/ Guest Room Upholstered Headboard

SAC ART DESIGN

Dining Room Sideboard Design/Master Bedroom Headboard and Hanging Bed Production

Bryan Humphrey Designs

Living Room Coffee Table Production

Murray Construction

Guest Room Upholstered Headboard Production

Maria Mendoza Upholstery

Bunk Bedroom and Office Fish Art

Michael Van Hout

Outdoor Dining Table Metal Base

Dumay Gorham

Outdoor Dining Table/Coffee Table/Sofas/Chairs/ Lounge Chairs

Bryan Humphrey Designs

Rugs and Bed Linens

Maran Home

Mural Bunk Room and Mudroom Elevator Etc.

Leisha Cascaddin

Pottery

Sue Binns

Glass Stairwell Textured Door Glass

Standard Glass

Original Art

Clyde Edgerton and Candy Pegram

Landscape Design/Fountain

Myrtle Vinca Landscape Design

Landscaping

Middle Sound Landscaping

Pavement/Driveway

J & J Concrete

Outdoor Daybed Swing Design

SAC ART DESIGN

Outdoor Daybed Swing Design Production

Murray Construction

Surfboard Dock Shower

Bluewater Surfaces

Irrigation

JB Lawn Sprinklers Inc