River House Diary

I asked Zuniga Interiors for help with our screen porch and this is the design concept they sent me a few days later: Screen porch design concept; courtesy Zuniga Interiors I hadn't planned on purchasing new cushions for the sofa I'll have to see if we can swing it. I do like how crisp and clean the design is.

We said we wouldn't buy anything for the Great Room until we were in the house, but Ballard Designs Presidents' Day sale lasting through midnight yesterday tempted us. We purchased two Shiloh Spool Chairs with a walnut finish and Sunbrella Dimple Sand fabric. Shiloh Spool Chair in Walnut with Sunbrella Dimple Sand fabric; courtesy of Ballard Designs Every chair needs a pillow, right? Of course they do. We purchased two 20" W x 12" H lumbar pillow covers in Suzanne Kasler Signature Linen Cote Stripe Sky. Suzanne Kasler Signature Linen Cote Stripe in Sky pillow covers; courtesy of Ballard Designs

Pete and I have both been uncomfortable with the thought of ordering our window treatments online as we would be responsible for measuring and installing. We asked our builder's interior designer if she had recommendations for a workroom we could use, and she directed us to McQueen's Interiors in Morehead City. We are working with Beth Cantrell. She must have loved us. We walk in off the street extremely windblown, carrying a 3-ring binder and two plastic bags filled with carpet and tile samples and fabric. But after selecting treatments for 21 windows, crafting a cushion for our closet bench and reupholstering a bench and a chair, I think she really loves us now! The woven shades Zuniga selected for the kitchen were now longer available, but this looks like a great replacement -- just perfect. Window treatments selected for four kitchen windows; personal collection A bonus for us -- the sideboard Zuniga Interiors specified for the eat-in area of the kitchen is on sale...

I've been using the Christmas sales to purchase the soft furnishings that will bring blue into our existing Master Bedroom interior design. Christmas sale purchases for Master Bedroom; personal collection Lili Alessandra Chloe Single Reversible Coverlet in Blue Seafoam Magnolia Eastern Accents Geometric Euro Pillow Textured Solid Square Throw Pillow with Jute Border Solid Cashmere Throw, Seafoam Jamie Young Medium Clear Plum Jar Table Lamp

When designing the Bonus Bath both Zuniga Interiors and I missed a critical bit of information provided by the house plans. The slope ceiling non-surprise surprise; personal collection Those dashed lines circled in red indicate the ceiling is sloped where the bathroom vanity is located. What the plans didn't indicate was how high up on the wall did the slope start. Today, we found out. Ceiling slope in Bonus Bath; personal collection The wall is 83-1/4 inches high -- less than an inch short of 7 feet. The height of all the things that have to go under that slope are: 33.25" -- Bathroom vanity without countertop   6.00" -- Countertop and backsplash 35.00" -- Mirror   9.00" -- Light bar ------- 83.25" That means there would be no space between the backsplash, mirror and light bar. Not good. The lights have already been ordered and changing them would require a restocking fee. Also, there's not really enough room for sconces on e...

I asked Zuniga Interiors to update the design they did for the master bedroom in our Oakton house. I wanted to keep as much furniture and furnishings as possible yet incorporate the beautiful blue colors used throughout the other rooms of River House. Their Interiors To-Go box arrived last week. It's always like Christmas when one of their boxes arrive! Master bedroom design concept; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors It's perfect as the design did everything I asked. It incorporates all of our existing furniture -- bed, nightstands, dresser, bench, ottoman and chair. All I need to due is purchase another chair, an area rug, a mirror, decorative pillows, some decorative items and the window treatments, as well as having the existing chair and bench reupholstered. Fabric samples; personal collection The fabric on the left is for the two chairs, one of which will need to be reupholstered; the ikat print at the top is for draperies and decorative pillows; the woven sisal ...

In 2011 Zuniga Interiors designed our Master Bedroom for our Virginia house. I wanted a British Colonial vibe and a room designed around some crewel embroidery bedding I found online. Virginia Master Bedroom; personal collection Custom pillows; personal collection Upholstered Bed; personal collection The design needed to be tweaked for River House as the shape of the room was very different and I left the drapery at our Virginia house. I can't wait to see what Zuniga Interiors will create!

Zuniga Interiors sent the design concept for the Great Room. Great Room furniture; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors A gallery of coastal art along one wall. Furnishings and decorative items; courtesy Zuniga Interiors A simple chest between the French doors. River view wall; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors And a place for Octopussy, our name for the silver sunburst mirror with octopus tentacles. Fireplace decor; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors

Zuniga Interiors design concept for the Bonus Room arrived when we were in North Carolina. They've continued the color palette from the main level of the house and made it a little more vibrant. The office area of the room; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors The TV wall; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors The seating area; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors The textiles; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors Some of the decorative items we can purchase as needed; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors

Our paint selections were due to our builder yesterday. So I asked Zuniga Interiors if they thought we would be using any more paint and wallpaper then I already knew about. And they sent this beauty as a wallpaper option for Bedroom 2. I had no idea dandelions could be so pretty! Carolyn Light Blue Dandelion Wallpaper by Advantage; courtesy of Home Depot

I sent the completed questionnaire to Zuniga Interiors for our upstairs Bonus Room. It will be a multi-functional room serving as an office for Pete, a hobby room for me, and space for overnight overflow guests. We need many linear feet for filing cabinets (Pete's paperwork). Here are some inspiration photos I collected. The Murphy bed pulls down from the wall and the nightstands are "drawers" that pull out when needed. So clever! Murphy bed in a family room; courtesy of Laura Stein Interiors The built-ins cabinets could work with the sloped ceilings for file cabinets. Bedroom with built-in dresser; courtesy of Whitten Architects Perhaps a sitting area in the alcove? The wallpaper on the ceiling is a nice touch. Sitting area; courtesy of Anthony Catalfano Interiors Double desks since we're sharing the office. Double desks; courtesy of Odyssey Wordworks But perhaps a T shaped desk for two works better? T-shaped desk; courtesy of Niche ...

I sent the completed questionnaire to Zuniga Interiors today for our Great Room Interiors To-Go design. Here are some of the inspiration photos I included. I like the furniture placement. Margaret Donaldson designed living room; courtesy of Margaret Donaldson Interiors I like everything about this room Phoebe Howard designed for Southern Living's 2013 Idea House. Phoebe Howard designed living room; courtesy of Phoebe Howard These colors...beautiful! An Alexandra Rae designed living room; courtesy of Alexandra Rae Interior Design

When I ask Zuniga Interiors a question, I always get a beautiful answer. Here's the solution to my cabinet conundrum. Cabinets over refrigeration columns; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors (source unknown) What was the problem? Those short, squatty upper cabinets above the refrigeration columns that don't align with the appliance widths. Elevation drawing of refrigerator/freezer wall; courtesy of JAK Moulding & Supply Those cabinets really bothered me. When we visited the cabinet supplier in May to complete the outstanding items related to our order, we talked about the squatty cabinets. Working under the premise the cabinets would be operable, there just wasn't a good CabCraft solution. So we didn't change anything. But they continued to bother me, and I finally did what I should have done in the beginning. I emailed Zuniga Interiors. They pointed out the appliances were 7 feet tall and those cabinets would be difficult to access. They suggested using ...

And just like that I'm over "dark and moody" and back to coastal. That's what I love about good interior designers; they keep you on track.  The walls will be painted Magnolia Home Pearly Cotton (MAG041), the built-in cabinets will be Sherwin Williams Aquitaine (SW9057), and the door and window casing will be Magnolia Home True White (MAG008) Den design concept; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors The Den is 11'6" deep by 14'0" wide with 1'6" deep built-in cabinets along one wall. It has double pocket doors with glass panels that adjoin the foyer. Den furniture placement; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors Ethan Allen's Borini and Marcus distressed plaid fabric; personal collection For those who like details: Ethan Allen Graham Recliner in Borini Straw Ethan Allen Bentley Chair in Borini Straw Ethan Allen Bentley Ottoman in Marcus Seaglass distressed plaid Century Funiture Matilda Bay round commode (no longer available) Ba...

When I said I wanted a dark and moody Den, Zuniga Interiors took me at my word and suggested Sherwin Williams 9059 Silken Peacock. Sherwin Williams 9059 Silken Peacock; courtesy of SherwinWilliams.com I wasn't prepared to go that dark! What a whimp. I chose 9057 Aquitaine instead. Sherwin Williams 9057 Aquitaine; courtesy of SherwinWilliams.com

It's time to think about the Den, a room that will be used mostly in the evenings after dinner. The primary purpose of the room is watching television -- and Pete falling asleep in his recliner! I have been drawn to the idea of dark and moody for this room. These were the inspiration photos I sent to Zuniga Interiors. Phoebe Howard designed Nashville Farmhouse; courtesy of PhoebeHoward.net Phoebe Howard designed Nashville Farmhouse; courtesy of PhoebeHoward.net Southern Living 2018 Idea House; courtesy of SouthernLiving.com Blue Bungalow designed by Lauren Liess; courtesy of LaurenLiess.com What will Zuniga Interiors do with these I wonder...

I wanted a simple, yet traditional fireplace. This is almost it. Almost perfect fireplace; courtesy of Southern Living We'll be using a vent-free gas fireplace instead of wood burning. The mantel will be stained to match the kitchen island. Instead of a marble surround, we'll use tile from Walker Zanger. Duquesa Catarina decorative ceramic tile in Aqua ; courtesy of Walker Zanger

Zuniga Interiors sent bead samples today for the foyer chandelier. I've chosen the lighter color -- Aqua. Bead samples for the Cynthia chandelier from Au Courant Interiors; personal collection

Once I fell in love with a chandelier for the foyer, Zuniga Interiors developed a design concept for our Foyer. Design concept for the foyer; courtesy of Zuniga Interiors For those who like details: Hallmark Floors Alta Vista Collection in Ojai Oak Au Courant Interiors Cynthia Chandelier in Aqua Kichler Lighting Alton 1-Light Wall Sconce in Natural Brass Magnolia Home interior paint in Pearly Cotton Arhaus Tinsley Three Drawer Dresser Uttermost Agustin Walnut Mirror

My latest swoon is an Empire-style chandelier made out of sea glass nuggets. When I sent it to our interior designer asking her to put me out of my misery and tell me it wouldn't work, she didn't. Instead, she incorporated it in to the design for our foyer. Cynthia Sea Glass Nugget Open Chandelier from Au Courant Interiors ; courtesy of Au Courant Interiors