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A few days ago we looked at the sites from the movie version of Nicholas Sparks’ novel, The Last Song. It seems that many of Sparks’ novels are set along a waterway in North Carolina…The Guardian, Safe Haven, Message in a Bottle,Dear John, Nights in Rodanthe…all river or beach areas in North Carolina, but when these novels are made into movies, they don’t always film in the actual setting of the book. Take for example Message in a Bottle - set on the coast of North Carolina but filmed in Maine. (My post shows it here.) And The Last Song – also with a coastal North Carolina setting but filmed on Tybee Island in Georgia. Safe Haven was one of the Sparks’ movies that was filmed in the actual setting from the novel, Southport, North Carolina, and Southport is where you catch the ferry to get to here…
visitnc.com
Bald Head Island. We have never traveled to this little island where transportation is by golf cart, but I have always wanted to make a trip there. The house I’d like to share with you today is located there, and I think it would be the perfect setting for a story by Nicholas Sparks.
It has traditional coastal shingle and board and batten siding on the exterior, and it is perched on a sand dune. Can’t you just picture a handsome character walking up those steps? (and if it is a Nicholas Sparks’ book, it is probably raining!)
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Here is the area approaching the house. The earthy tan and dark green colors seem to fit the mood of a romantic novel as well.
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I love how the rafters and porthole window give the house an old fashioned North Carolina beach look.
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And the shutters also add to that vintage effect.
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Then come inside to the kitchen with its beautiful cabinetry and an even more beautiful view.
donduffyarchitecture.com
I have shown you professional photos of the house from the architectural firm’s site and from Houzz. Now here are a couple of shots from the rental agency that handles the house on Bald Head Island. They are not as styled as the others are.
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Here is a closer look at the view out the window above the sink. What a place to do the dishes!
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And looking out the window on the other side you can see the marina.
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Now take a look at the dining area in the great room…very simple decor that does not distract from the view nor the architectural beauty of the ceiling. I’m also noticing the X pattern on the chair backs matches the X pattern on the porch railing right outside.
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As I was studying the pictures of this house, I kept thinking I had seen it loooong ago in Coastal Living magazine, and after hours of searching I found it…yes, it had appeared in Coastal Living. Amazing what a difference styling and photo editing make.
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Here is a view of the seating area that faces the fireplace (again from the rental agency site.)
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There is a graceful stairway, and you can see the porthole window above a desk.
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There are 4 bedrooms in the house, but currently one appears to be used as a sitting room with a sleeper sofa.
seabreezerentals.com
And there are 3 bathrooms (but I have only found a photograph of one.) It has another corner of windows looking out on the water. The architect, Don Duffy, said that all those glass corners were a challenge for the builder, but he did a wonderful job with them.
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The last room of the house I want you to see is the porch…the perfect setting for a romantic scene in a Nicholas Sparks’ book.
donduffyarchitecture.com
Wouldn’t you love to be sitting out there in one of those chairs reading a novel?
sigh….
Before I go, I want to tell you a few more things related to Nicholas Sparks. First, you can read an interview that Southern Living did with him here.
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Secondly, Walmart has declared May to be Nicholas Sparks Month, and they are having specials on his novels all month. So if you want to pick up any copies of his books, now is a good time to do it. And finally, (and this is the big one!) there is a Facebook live chat with him on Thursday, 5/8/14 at 8:00 p.m. ET! Mark your calendar. You can find all the details here. You got all that??
So, do you think my NC beach house would make a good setting for a Sparks’ book and movie?
baldheadisland.com
What do you think?