WILL AND EMILY Mullinix dreamed of having a summer spot on the North Carolina coast. Born and raised in Wilmington, both cherished their fond memories and strong connection to the area and wanted their three children to also have the opportunity to fall in love with the place they’d called home. When they heard about a Wrightsville Beach property coming onto the market in spring 2021, they knew they had to see it.
“The location was the most important piece of this story, and this home checked all the boxes,” Emily says. “We met with the owners and had lovely conversations, discovering a mutual love for the home, the community, and family. They’d created many memories there and were happy we had that same goal too. It was a sweet process that left us feeling like this home was meant to be.”
The 1980s-era three-bed, two-bath cottage on the southern end of Wrightsville Beach, however, needed TLC. Wanting to maintain the integrity of the home while merging that traditional architecture with modern touches and updates, the Mullinixes enlisted the help of a team of experts, including Greg Perry, owner and architectural designer of Greg Perry Design, Nancy Targgart and Kim Moore of Cashion Hill Design, and Tanner Konrady, owner of Konrady & Son Construction. The homeowners had worked with Perry on two previous projects and Cashion Hill Design on three, so there was already an established trust.
“We delivered a renovation that kept with the neighborhood but was also forward thinking in both plan and aesthetics,” Perry says. “It was important to take advantage of the breathtaking Intercoastal Waterway views to honor the traditions of Wrightsville Beach, which, in part, also included keeping the vaulted ceilings while creating a modern, functional cottage.”
The biggest challenge was expanding the home to a four-bed, three-bath layout without changing rooflines. They gutted the entire inside, moved the kitchen to the front of the house, and extended the home’s footprint on the two back corners to create the children’s bedrooms.
Once architecture was tackled, Cashion Hill Design came in to create a stylish yet comfortable aesthetic that increased function and flow for the family. Custom storage, including a platform storage bed in the son’s room and floor-to-ceiling cupboards in the laundry, was implemented throughout, and pocket doors were installed to hide children’s bedrooms when entertaining. Stools, benches, drink tables, and pull-up chairs offer flexibility for guests, while the front porch was expanded, allowing room for a dining and living area. To make it all-season, a ceiling heater was installed as well.
“Layout and scale were important in maximizing the cozy 1,600-square-foot cottage,” Moore says. “We were thoughtful about where to add, edit, or create custom built-ins to provide the most storage options.” The designers showcased panoramic water views while drawing inspiration from the large vintage oil painting in the family room and the hues of the coastal landscape. A harmonious mixture of new fixtures and furnishings, custom-built pieces, and antique items were hand-picked for each space. “Our goal was to make the beach cottage bright and open with interesting layers of color and texture,” Targgart says. “We kept the base of the decor neutral and organized, and added pops with art, wallpaper, and some fabulous finds.”
The Mullinixes’ home has already become the memory maker they wanted. “Every part of this home is curated. Everything has meaning,” Emily says. “We’re thrilled to be part of the close-knit community of Wrightsville Beach with a home that honors the traditions of this place. We’ve already made many memories and look forward to making more.”