Renee Visits Southern Living’s 2017 Idea House at Bald Head Island
For this busy REALTOR®, even vacation includes a showhome walk-through! While on vacation with my family in Bald Head Island, NC, last week, I took an hour to go visit the 2017 Southern Living Idea House. I didn’t have my nice camera on hand, so bear with my cell phone pictures here.
Bald Head Island is a unique island situated close the small coastal town of Southport and there is tons of history in this area for the history buffs reading along here! Bald Head Island was an old fort and actually has one of the original lighthouses that is celebrating its 200th year – Old Baldy. We even got to walk to the top with our daughter, Elise! (PS: A portion of the $15 tour ticket goes toward supporting Old Baldy. Yay!)
I was told the market value of this idea house would be around $2.3 million, although the builder will be residing there after the tour concludes this October. My mother-in-law and I trekked over on the golf cart to check it out. A unique thing on the island is there are no vehicles – some are there for maintenance, but everyone that lives there has golf carts. Talk about a real vacation!
I think one of the main challenges is the logistics of getting to the island and I couldn’t help but to think about all the “stuff” coming over to make this home possible. You have to arrange transport by the passenger ferry which runs hourly to-and-from the mainland. Then to get all the building materials over, appliances, decorating, etc., you are making arrangements with a cargo ferry. So it’s not an easy feat.
What is even more impressive is they built this house in just six months when normal build time is about a year on BHI!
The home itself is around 3,200 sq. ft., but the attention to detail was impressive. Outdoor spaces are a big thing here, so there was a beautiful gas log firepit with paver patio, multiple covered decks, outdoor kitchen, and one of the coolest things: a wall of windows that opened to an eating bar on the porch!
Another awesome feature was the zero-entry shower – the master bathroom truly was a work of art and another feature that always seems to be popular at the beach is an outdoor shower – situated with access off the master suite.
Crofters: Everyone wonders what these are! Think mini garages for the golf carts with a room and typically bathroom above. This makes for great guest quarters, a home office, or whatever you need space-wise.
As much as I hate to say it, I loved the wallpaper in here. It just seemed to fit with a fun coastal theme but still said, “sophisticated”. (As you might have guessed it, we REALTORS® have nightmares about dated wallpaper and trying to remove it by hand.) The walls weren’t the only places that received thoughtful treatments… the flooring on the main floor came from a tobacco bar in Wilson, NC. It was wide plank, rich, and gorgeous.
With the Southern Living Idea Home tours, they give you an entire sheet on colors, where everything was purchased, etc. So if you see something you like, it makes it easy to identify where to buy to get this look in your own home or vacation property. (I have the sheets so happy to provide those if you would like to see them! Contact Me: 919-877-6708 or Renee@HREGSells.com)
For better photos than my cell phone delivered, check out the photo galleries and tours online. Are you heading to Bald Head Island this fall? Make time see the Southern Living Idea House – purhcase your tickets online here!