Currituck

Summer House : Your Home Away From Home

by Robin Arnold

     Walking through a dream is one of the most enjoyable activities of living. If you breeze by Summer House in Currituck near Carolina Club Golf Course you are taking part in Melody Clopton’s dream which brings “the eye” to Currituck. “The eye” is what someone has when they spot a bit of charm in any type of décor that when placed in your own home, forces people to remark of how unique and stylish YOUR home is. When passing by Summer House, many stare at this old charming building that has more stories than a library, and say, “I am so glad they did something like that with the building that the truck hit.” Yes, it was hit by a truck…a big truck. Quite the story a few years ago. It began, though, as a general store. Picture almost 100 years ago, a gathering of farmers and fisherman swapping stories of the day around their primary heating unit, a woodstove. The building has had the privilege of being a gas station, hot dog place, and an antique mall. Many changes have taken place on the property, but recently, the owner, knowing the potential for this building and its history, chose to remodel and place it up for rent. Thankfully, Melody Clopton saw the opportunity to put something nice together for locals and passer-byers.

     The location of the store dips down on the corner of the Caratoke Highway, in the Grandy vicinity. The front has such an appealing nature. Flags wave to celebrate the seasons, and the items for sale begin to lure you deeper into the building. Since Summer House contains indoor and outdoor décor for the home, Melody clusters items thematically and lets a shopper’s mind have a foundation to decorating a home. When this approach is used, a person can immediately step to part 2 of shopping, letting the creativity of one’s own personal flair piece and shape his or her own ideas. The old general store style windows contain displays apparent in department stores which make customers stop and study.

     Speaking of studying, it is what started the venture for the business owner in the first place. Melody was a student at VCU in Richmond, her hometown. She majored in art design with an emphasis in fashion. She thought she wanted to be a buyer for a major department store and ended up working for Miller and Rhoads. However, she didn’t like the absence of the “artistic” end of her position, and began searching for new career avenues.

     An ongoing appreciation for the Currituck and Outer Banks area, Melody accepted a job in Corolla working for an interior designer. Although she found the position fulfilling, she wanted to see what other options were out there. That is when she accepted a position at Outer Banks Hospital. She interviewed and hit it off really well with the Hospital’s president and became the first employee of the new hospital. Even though she enjoyed the people oriented position of Director of Human Resources, she still had the artistic edge driving her somewhere. As she happened to be driving down Caratoke highway, she noticed the sign. Since then, one year ago, she has enjoyed orchestrating the Currituck store and has nothing but the most pleasant comments of the locals of Currituck. “Even though I live in Kitty Hawk, I have never felt more a part of a community. The locals are wonderful,” she shares. Melody explains she gets a lot of business, but a lot of the customers are locals. She said she had a great fall and winter and felt a true part of the retail world by having a record day of sales on the day after Thanksgiving.

     The best part about Melody, besides being one of the nicest people you should ever meet, is that she gives local art and talent their “showcases.” Chris, Lisa, and Mitch Kreisel, a family that has a great deal of involvement in the community, have mosaic work that is breathtaking. Bean Drop Coffee and Melissa Matusko, local jewelry designer, have items to sell that are very fitting for the ideas presented by Melody.

     “It’s a mix of old and new. I wouldn’t call it antique, it’s more vintage. “ She likes to try to be different and offers ecclectic decorating ideas with that honest down home connection to Currituck treasures. Melody can reincarnated furniture and displays decorative items that make you feel an appreciation for simplicity and personality. She really jazzes up the inside of the old general store. Summer House offers on-site printing with quick turn around, and unless you look at her samples, of graduation invitations, party invitations, and stationary, you wouldn’t believe the talent right here in Currituck.

     Melody states, “Just the experience of making a dream come true, even if it closed tomorrow, is what it’s about. I read a quote that I love,’Leap and the net will appear.’” and that’s what she did. With all of the traffic during the interview, she definitely has the net. “I just want a nice, fun community place for everyone to visit. It reminds me of a summer home. That’s why I named it Summer House.”

     May 12th marked her 2 year anniversary and if you get a chance, just drop in. It’s more than what you think. The store even has a mascot, Sophia the cat. You can contact Melody and the Summer House at 252-453-0965 or on the website www.summerhouseonline.com

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© 2009 NE NC News.