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We looked at a cute beach house in California the last time we were together. Let’s go all the way across the country to another beach house today – this time off the coast of North Carolina in Rodanthe in the Outer Banks. (Can you tell I am dying to be at the beach?!)
Just in case you don’t remember the plot of the Nicholas Sparks book or the movie, Nights in Rodanthe, here is the link to the movie trailer to refresh your memory.
The movie was filmed in Rodanthe and Wilmington. Exterior shots were done at the house on the beach while interior ones were done on a set. Much has been written about this beach house. (It might even be called one of the stars of the movie!) Julia at Hooked on Houses has done several posts about it here, here, here, and here. I am not going to put the movie rooms in today’s post, but if you want to revisit those rooms, click on the first of Julia’s links or watch the movie again.
In case you don’t know the history, here is a brief synopsis of it. It was built in the 1980′s and named Serendipity. At the time of construction, there was 400 feet of beach between it and the ocean. Over the years, the ocean began to encroach upon the property, and in August of 2009, Hurricane Bill wiped out the septic system and took out the heating and air conditioning system, too. (You can see a video of it after that hurricane here.)
The owners wanted to sell the house, but no one was interested since it would take a tremendous amount of money to repair it and make it livable again. Eventually the county wanted to condemn the property. It looked like the house would not be saved, but then… something wonderful happened. A couple came forward – Ben and Debra Huss. They believed the home was worth saving. So they purchased it and a lot to which they would move it, and in January of 2010 they had the house moved 7/8 of a mile to its new location.
(You can watch a video of the move here.)
The Husses wanted to move the home to keep it safe from the power of water, and more than that, they wanted to decorate the interiors so that it looked like the inn in the movie. That is what I want to show you today. They have worked tirelessly to make it look like the movie house. Let’s begin with the blue shuttered exterior…
Just take a look at some of its rooms, and see if you recognize any elements from the movie.
They tried very hard to copy the sets with as many matching details as possible. In fact, they purchased some of the props from the movie to use in the 6 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath house. Recognize the blue wallpaper and ornate bed in this bedroom?
I love the look of this sunporch. It really looks like a room out of an old Nags Head beach house.
sunrealtync.com
And I bet the view from this upper deck is amazing – especially for watching the sun rise!sunrealtync.com
The Husses named the house The Inn at Rodanthe to honor the movie, but it is not actually an inn. It is really a house that you rent in its entirety. Currently it is booked through the first week in October.
There are many more rooms that I have not shown you from the Inn at Rodanthe, but I want to leave you with my favorite spot to soak in all the beauty of being at the beach…
Wouldn’t it be relaxing (and romantic!) to be seated on that swing looking out at the ocean?
I’ll have another home from the Outer Banks to show you next time. This one should be in a movie, but hasn’t as of yet. And I’ll leave you with a question to talk about today…
If you could, would you build a home right on beachfront property?
I always love hearing from you!
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Hi Kelly, Yes, I would build a house at the beach. I don’t think I could resist, if I had the money, but I sure wouldn’t stay there during any hurricanes. What a lovely home it is.
Yes I would! I have been hoping to win the lottery so I could do just that. All my children and
could come and stay as long as they liked. Then I would hire you to come and decorate to your heart’s content.
I always thought I wanted to be right on the ocean front, but since we moved to FL and have seen all the storm damage that can and does happens, I have changed my mind. Actually, I planned where we moved due to the concerns of weather. We are right in the middle of the state almost the same distance from both coast lines. And I am blessed to have a beach front lake house and at times it feels like we are on the ocean! Like yesterday, the lake had big white caps and the wind was blowing up a storm– even turned over one of my umbrella tables! So after this morning of cleaning up palm fronds and Spanish moss everywhere– I’m so grateful not to be on the coast. BUT I do love visiting beautiful inns right on the beach– like Elizabeth Pointe on Amelia Isand. Love this post–loved this movie and book! Now to go back and dream about the rooms of this beautiful beach home! Oh, my Kelly– you know how to keep us all enertained with your “Talk of the house!”
I would definitely not build a house on the beach. My feelings are like the song I learned in SS as a child. The wise man builds his house upon the rock. The foolish man builds his house upon the sand. Literally and figuratively. But I do think that some of the homes that “foolish” people build are beautiful.
Kelly,
I saw that movie, what an interesting follow up story to the house. I must say, in light of global warming warnings and such, I no longer long to live on the ocean…inland a ways, yes. In fact, there are several homes on man made islands here in Orange County that could be wiped out if there is ever a tsunami due to earthquake…here on the Pacific that is a very real possibility. Mr. B always says that maybe we’ll one day have beach front property.
Karen
They sure can fool us with their movie magic can’t they? This house always struck me as looking “fake” on film, like it was some false front/shell and not a real house. Joke’s on me!
It is gorgeous and it looks like it has found very good owners to take care of it.
If I had money to burn, which I do not, I would build an ocean front home. I think it would be wonderful!!
My mom and a friend hoped in the car one weekend to go find the Night of Rodanthe house. I’ll have to ask her, because I can’t remember if they ever found it. LOL! I do remember her saying they found out that it had been moved.
In a skinny minute I would build a house right on the beach and drink coffee every morning from a rocking chair on my huge porch while watching the tide roll in. And, I would walk on the beach every morning, collecting shells and I would walk again every evening while watching the sunset. My house would be big and open with lots of character and lots of windows and fantastic ocean views. (I have been saving the lucky dimes I find to buy a lottery ticket and when I win and my dream comes true, I will send photos.) Can you tell I have already given that question a lot of thought?
Yes! I would totally build a house at the beach if I could! I love Surfside South Carolina! We have rented houses there and it is a wonderful place to stay.
Anne – I would probably do the same…and use every conceivable hurricane protection in building that I could find. And like you, I would definitely NOT stay during a hurricane. I remember hurricanes all too well from living in Mobile, Alabama when I was a little girl…scary! Glad you liked the house from the movie.
Minnie – Sounds like a good plan to me!
Louvina – I think you are so lucky to be close to water no matter which way you drive! We are all jealous. You are smart to be where you are since the storms can be so scary and damaging. We visited Elizabeth Pointe Lodge one time right after a hurricane came through there. The size of the waves after the storm was amazing!! And the wind was unbelievable too.
Nancy – You are the smart one! I just have a hard time resisting that view, that scent, that breeze….the sunny days fool you. I think my favorite homes are those found at the beach…big or little…they usually have such good architectural details.
Karen – A house on a manmade home? Boy that WOULD be scary. I have said what your husband said about property in California too. It sounds wild, but totally a possibility given all the earthquakes in your area. Very smart of you to be inland some. I would love to be closer to the water…the convenience without all the fear.
Sarah – It is amazing what they can do with movie magic, isn’t? I think if I understood it all, I would probably not like seeing movies as well. It is kind of nice to be taken into that fantasy land for awhile. I think the owners of the home are totally smitten with their project of recreating the house from the film, so she should be well taken care of for a long time.
But many of the others in that area will be victims of the wrath of nature. Water is powerful force.
Missy – It would be wonderful to have that view every day wouldn’t it? I always thought it would take money to burn to have a house there, but recently one of my mother’s friends got a great bargain on a place at the beach…one that was in foreclosure. So your dream might actually be a reachable goal one day!
Send your mom to the website in the post, and she can find the address of the home’s new location there.
Kathy – Oh yes, I can tell you have this all planned out! Your comment made me laugh out loud!
Thank you so much for that because these days I need some laughs!
Dawn – Thanks for giving me another place to check out! I have never even heard of Surfside, so this is great!
Kelly
I loved that movie, in fact I have it! Amazing job with the house!
I’ve never seen this movie, but the house looks interesting, to say the least.