by hookedonhouses on December 20, 2009

“All my life I’ve wanted to have a big family Christmas.” –Clark Griswold
In National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) gets his wish for a big family Christmas. When his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) worries that it might not be quite as perfect as he imagines, he says, “Christmas is about resolving differences and seeing through the petty problems of family life.” He spends the rest of the movie trying to do just that!

Christmas Vacation was based on a short story written by John Hughes called “Christmas ‘59.” It was the second Vacation story to be published in National Lampoon’s Magazine (the first was “Vacation ‘58,” the basis for the first Vacation movie).

The movie premiered in 1989, and it shows in all of the wallpaper and fabric choices in the house.

The movie was called National Lampoon’s Winter Holiday in the U.K.

The Living Room:

[click to continue…]
by hookedonhouses on December 17, 2009

Remember the inn with the blue shutters from the Richard Gere-Diane Lane movie Nights in Rodanthe? In real life, it’s known as “Serendipity,” a house that sits on the edge of the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. According to an article published when the movie premiered:
The house was dolled up and temporarily renamed The Inn at Rodanthe; all the movie’s interior shots were done in Wilmington, N.C. Shutters were painted blue and decks and a gazebo were added.
Here’s how the house looked after filming ended and all of the shutters and decks, etc., were removed (looks kind of naked, doesn’t it?):

The house was built in 1988 with piling driven down 14 feet and set in concrete. At the time, there was 400 feet of beach in front of the house. Now the beach front is gone, and the ocean is slowly washing the house away.
The Island Free Press published this photo and more details about the state of the house in November:
The county is in the process of declaring Serendipity a public nuisance, which means that the owners will have to either move the house or have it torn down (source).

The owners purchased the house in 2003 just before Hurricane Isabel. The house was a rental property but has been condemned several times over the past two years.

I have received numerous e-mails and comments from local residents who are concerned about the house. One told me that after every storm, everyone wants to know whether Serendipity is still standing.

A reader named Curt sent me the following message:
Not only is Serendipity condemned for a failed sewage system, but also the next 6-7 houses just down from it in a row. It’s inevitible that it will be lost to nature. This is the most encroached upon area in the Outer Banks and is a great concern for the residents of Rodanthe today.
The current owners have been trying to sell it for $499,900, but apparently there haven’t been any takers. The listing shows us that the real house looks nothing like the movie version. Here’s the movie kitchen:

And the actual kitchen:

The movie’s version of the dining/living area:

And the actual living area:

Lisa, the reader who sent me the photo of the real Serendipity at the top of the post, tells me that people have actually been breaking into the house and stealing things because they want a “souvenir” from the movie.
In November, high water caused Highway 12, the road that runs past Serendipity, to buckle, and sections of it had to be closed (source):

It’s a sad situation. I feel sorry for the homeowners, who told the Island Free Press that they have “everything tied up in this house,” and don’t know what to do next.
UPDATE: It looks like Serendipity has found someone to rescue it! Ben and Debra Huss have announced plans to buy the house and move it a mile south in January. They want to restore the house to its former glory for fans of the movie and rent it out. Huss says, “We just had to save it,” adding that his wife agreed, telling him, “You’ve always been a dreamer.” (Thanks to Catherine for notifying me of the update. You can read the full article at the Island Free Press.)
For more photos from the movie: Nights in Rodanthe.
by hookedonhouses on December 17, 2009

I love how Sarah at A Beach Cottage decorates her house with white and silver for Christmas. It’s so simple and serene.

Visit A Beach Cottage for more photos of her seaside home in Australia.
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More Christmas for You:
by hookedonhouses on December 16, 2009
These homes are all in the same basic price range (around $300,000) in different parts of the country. Take a look and then tell us–which one would you most like to buy?
House #1: Historic Victorian Mansion in Weedsport, New York

The listing says:
5 BR, 2.5 BA, on nearly an acre. This Victorian Mansion, built in 1877 by O.W. Burritt, an inventor and leader in the Weedsport community, retains its old world character and original splendor. Century-old wallpaper, 10-foot high ceilings, pressed cork wainscoting and sliding pocket doors. A Porte Cochere sits on the west side of the residence next to the solarium and screened porch. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

I’m not sure whether the dolls come with the house or not, however:

#2: Log Cabin in Camp Dennison, Ohio
The listing says:
3 BR, 2 BA. One of a kind built log home, 2 story great room, exposed beams, stone fireplace, updated kitchen w/hickory cabinets & corian counters, 1/2 acre of privacy, backs up to greenbelt, sits on bike trail.


#3: Italianate Fixer in Galveston, Texas

The listing says:
5 BR, 1 BA, 3-story. Italianate style 1874 J. Mayrant Smith home. Possible B&B. Restored exterior, interior is a diamond in the rough! Woodwork and windows are all original!! Perfect restoration project.

#4: Yellow Cottage in West Palm Beach, Florida
The listing says:
This charming Key West style 2 bedroom, 1 bath house in the historic Grandview Heights neighborhood features an updated kitchen, updated plumbing and electric throughout, hardwood floors, front and back porches with double French doors, attic storage and a detached garage. Minutes to the beach and golf.


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P.S. If you think shopping for houses is fun, then check this out, too: Vote for Your Favorite House Style.