A Q&A with Ryan & Christina Wikman

Photo courtesy of Chestnut Grove Design Group

Notes from the Set is all about celebrating interiors through storytelling and collaboration with the incredible designers who shape our industry. Today, I’m spotlighting Ryan & Christina Wikman of Chestnut Grove Design Group—the designers behind this month’s featured project—to hear their perspective on the design of the Pine Knoll project.

JD: What was your original design vision for this project, and how did it evolve along the way?

RW/CW: The original vision for the home was one that would feel cohesive, calming, and accessible. Our goal was to blend the natural elements of the surrounding oceanfront shoreline into the interior of the house and create a cohesive environment that felt one with nature. We also included some features for accessibility that would allow for aging in place, such as an elevator, and thoughtful planning for the landscape with a hidden built-in ramp to the patio and minimal stairs for ease of indoor/outdoor flow.

JD: Were there any design risks or bold choices in this space that you weren’t sure about at first — but now feel really proud of capturing?

RW/CW: The use of natural materials like Danby marble in the primary bath, soapstone in the kitchen, and a marble checkerboard floor in the walk-in pantry were choices that the client was a little nervous about, but ultimately so happy with the warmth and patina that naturally grows with the house as they are used and loved.

JD: There are always little details I love photographing — the things that feel personal. Is there a design element in this space that holds special meaning for you or your client?

RW/CW: Yes, the wife loves to entertain and creates stunning food displays. She collects Mud Pie dishware, which she uses regularly, and has a large collection for which we designed her pantry around to both hold and display the pieces. Keeping the shelves open makes it easy to grab and see what she has. We also used a special lift inside a cabinet to hold her KitchenAid and make it easy to pull up and down without having to carry it around.

On the landscape side, the husband loves to make pizza, and we included an outdoor pizza oven in the cooking zone. Tucked back in the corner of the yard is an oversized golf ball, which the husband purchased from a well-known mini golf spot when they were closing. It had been the spot where he and his wife had first met in high school, and they wanted to incorporate it somehow.

JD: When you imagined someone walking into this space for the first time, what kind of mood or feeling did you want to create?

RW/CW: Our clients, specifically, the wife, really wanted a calming and peaceful feel when coming into the house. She wanted it to feel like a sanctuary where everything was soft on the eyes but also warm and welcoming. Having a place for everything was also very important, and we brought in a professional organizer to help create beautifully organized interiors for the cabinetry and storage areas we designed.

Outside, we wanted to create a wow factor and take full advantage of the spectacular views of the ocean. We did this by elevating the patio to see beyond the sea wall and keep the full panoramic views in sight.

JD: From your perspective as a designer, how does photography help you share your work or shape how your brand is seen?

RW/CW: Photography has been something we have invested in from the very beginning, realizing that the best way to showcase our design talent to future clients is to work with a photographer specialized in interior and landscape photography. We work on these projects for so long, sometimes several years, and having a record of that completed work captured in such a beautiful way is so important for us to be able to look back on and remind ourselves of the design journey we have been on. It’s the ultimate compliment when clients come to us with photos from our portfolio as inspiration for their own projects.

A BIT ABOUT RYAN & CHRISTINA

JD: Do you have a favorite material that you try to incorporate into your projects?

CW: I love all natural materials and incorporate them into every project I work on. Currently, I am loving wicker used indoors to bring the outdoors in. I’m also a huge fan of wallpaper to break up all the paint and use it in every project.

RW: Outside hydrangeas in all types and varieties are a favorite that we use in many of our projects.

JD: For dinner parties, what are you pouring?  Favorite music choice?

RW/CW: We love to have a variety of local hard ciders on hand for impromptu dinner parties, and to go along, we love some folksy music or acoustic guitar.

JD: Do you have any rules you live by?

RW/CW: We’re not sure it’s a “rule,” but we really want our work to go backwards in a way and go back to beauty, quality, and choices that last. We want our work to be the antithesis of “fast fashion.”

JD: What is your biggest indulgence?

RW/CW: Laurel House is what we have lovingly named our 1880s money pit Victorian, which we purchased a few years ago, and this is by far our biggest indulgence. There’s nothing we love more than a weekend at home to work on projects both inside and out, and slowly transform the house into something we can be proud of and share with others to also enjoy.

JD: Who would be your dream client and why?

RW/CW:  Our dream client purchased a beautiful old home that needs a complete overhaul inside and out, or wants to build a new “old” home and make people wonder if the house is actually new or has always been there! This client also really appreciates the impact of a beautiful landscape on their lifestyle and allows us to create outdoor “rooms” for them to enjoy along with their stunning new home.

Thanks Ryan & Christina!

xx, Jess