Home buyers fall into two categories .  .  . those who love old homes and those who love new homes.  Most of us can appreciate beauty in all kinds of homes, but we’re usually drawn to one type or the other. 

In the Topsail area, old home people tend to love the rustic beach cottages, some hailing back to the 1940s and 50s with knotty-pine paneling and generous screened porches.  Many of these cottages have been completely renovated, and in recent years some have added additional floors or wings onto the original home to accommodate larger families or the trend to want more space.  Remember most of the island’s original homes were never designed for year-round living.

On the other hand, in the last couple of years, new homes are being built in the Topsail market at a record rate.  The typical beach home today ranges anywhere from sophisticated and elegant to spacious and full of high-end appliances and décor.  More and more people are moving to Topsail permanently and they’re building homes to meet those year-round needs.  Others are building their dream vacation homes with the idea of sharing them with family, renting them out, or eventually retiring to the island.  With all these special needs, the variety of homes on Topsail has multiplied tremendously, and the best way to get a peek inside is at the Home Tour 2007 on Saturday, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Don and Judy Groff 

“We’re definitely new home people,” said Judy Groff.  She and her husband Don took their time designing their gorgeous Cape Island home that they are generously opening up to the public, not only for the tour but also for the Preview Tour and Party being held on Friday, the night before the tour, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the individual and corporate sponsors, as well as the other participating home owners.

“Everything—ticket sales, sponsors, and of course the many volunteers and home owners— helps us raise money to support the Missiles and More Museum,” said Dot Cotman, one of the organizers of this year’s event.  All profits from the tour will go to the museum located in Topsail Beach.

“People are wonderful about sharing their homes for such a good cause,” said Kathy Burchfield, who also serves on the committee with her husband Rand, along with Marsha Jenkins.  “The tour is a great way to support the community and the museum, and get a lot of terrific tips from some of the island’s lovely homes.”

The Groff’s agreed to give us a sneak peek of their Cape Island home and we’re sharing a sampling of photos here to whet your appetite for the tour.  “It was definitely teamwork,” says Don explaining the process of going from wanting an island home to actually living in one.  “Judy and I spent a long time deciding what we wanted in a house before we ever talked to a builder or contractor.”

“And once we actually started building, we worked as a team, as partners, with all the people involved,” agreed Judy.  “It was actually a great experience.”

 

 

 

 

 

Like many people who move or retire to Topsail, the Groff’s had visited the area many times and had even owned a place at Villa Capriani in North Topsail Beach.  It seemed a natural move to buy a lot on nearby Cape Island when the time came for them to build a home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We love the history of Cape Island, the history of the Topsail area,” said Judy.  “And we’re thankful we were able to get the last lot available from the developer, because it’s the perfect place for us.”

 

 

The Groff’s home is unique in many ways, inside and out, but especially because their home has spectacular views from every direction—from the Intracoastal Waterway to the distant Atlantic Ocean, to the estuaries and sound, even a view of the high-rise bridge leading from Topsail Island to Sneads Ferry.  The only way to describe it is breathtaking.

“It is a fun house to live in and after all the hard work I can definitely say that our home has surpassed our expectations,” said Judy.

And that’s exactly what Home Tour 2007 hopes to do—surpass your expectations.  So whether you’re old home people or new home people, you’re sure to find something interesting to see when you’re welcomed into this year’s tour of homes on Topsail.

Article and photography by BJ Cothran.

Event information: