INTERIORS SUCCESS STORY: WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH NC
Kevin and Karla in the kitchen of their Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina home.
Here is Wrightsville Beach, a sleepy town comprising pristine beach- and interior-islands along North Carolina’s scenic coast. During their search, the couple could find nowhere as beautiful—or as meaningful. As Kevin puts it, “The house is new, but already it carries so much family history. We think of it as our ‘glue home,’ a place where everyone in the family can continue to return, a place that can be passed down to future generations.”
After choosing their architect and builder, the Dolans sought a partner to help them realize their vision for the new home’s interiors.
Soothing Comfort of Light, Color, and Space
At the urging of friends who had previously worked with Insidesign, the Dolans planned a visit. “We loved the wood in our friends’ house, so we wanted to see everything they had to offer,” Karla says. “While selecting our floors, we met Rick, who had pulled together some textile samples for us. After just one phone call, he had been able to zero in on exactly what we had envisioned.”
“And nearly all of those initial selections made it into the final plan!” adds Rick Anthony Bonner, Insidesign’s Creative Director at the time. “Sometimes, things just click, and this was one of those times. Karla told me she hoped to bring all the colors of the outside to the interiors, so I helped to build a palette around the sandy color of the floors that Karla and Kevin had chosen.”
While the serene palette mirrors nature, space planning and furniture selection accommodate the home’s expansive views. As Rick explains, “I set out to maintain the generous sightlines in the main living areas, while giving guests enough room to enjoy them.” Karla adds, “Rick knows how to analyze space, and he helped us avoid a ‘furniture-store’ look!” she laughs. “We don’t feel crowded anywhere.” As Kevin notes, “Everyone, in every seat, has a beautiful view, no matter where they sit.”
“It’s not so perfect that you can’t relax!”
Considering the sometimes conflicting notions of architects, builders, designers, and clients, new-home construction has the potential for chaos—especially when undertaking it as a long-distance homeowner. “We wanted to be active participants every step of the way,” Kevin recalls. “Sometimes, that can cause friction, but Rick embraced it. He stood by our vision as much as we did.”
“I loved his confidence,” Karla adds. “Even when our kitchen designer left mid-project, Rick didn’t miss a beat. Through the trials and the challenges, he and his team showed such integrity and positive energy.”
After two and a half years, the Dolans agree their legacy house was worth every minute of it. “The end product is perfect in my mind,” Karla says. “But it’s not so perfect that you can’t relax and have fun there!” Kevin agrees, “It’s a place that not only brings back a lot of memories, but also will create memories for the next generations.”
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