GRACIOUS SOUTHERN HOME, OCEAN FRONT, CARRIAGE HOUSE, POOL

We rented from Mike and Suzanne in August 2011 for our family reunion and it was perfect. I can't imagine a better fit for our gathering. From the moment we called to ask about the house, to the day we left, the owners were incredibly gracious and helpful.
The layout of the house works really well for a large family or friend gathering, as everyone has their own 'space' - bedrooms & bathrooms being on each side of the house. The game room was not used a whole lot, so I can't say much about it; the Living Room, the cupola (360 degree views!!!!) and the kitchen were where we spent most of our time.
The kitchen appliances are all top-notch - we cooked for 26 every night and never had a problem. The dining area seating is set up for 20, which was not enough for us, but the deck space is so large that we were able to use it for overflow while the kids ate, and then the adults would sit and eat and kids would go back to whatever they were doing. The restaurants on Topsail were the one disappointment, so think about doing your own cooking.
The pool is a great respite from the beach (temps were in the high 90's all week with 90% humidity) and the hottub was a treat at night. The carriage house is also a great additional perk for anyone who needs a little extra solitude from the main house - perfect if you have infants or toddlers who need to take it down a notch from time to time. The stairs in the mainhouse are steep, so keep that in mind if there are little ones who are still learning. There is an elevator, which was great because one of our party has limited mobility.
Anything we needed, no matter how small, was either provided by Mike or he put us in touch with folks who could help us. The owners are just wonderful people - I can't say enough about them. I am confident that they really strive to work with people to ensure that they have a great time at the house.
The location is great too - the only thing that would be better is if the house was right on the beach because you have to cross the road to get to it. This wasn't a big deal (even in August), but it does mean setting ground rules with the kids so they know to watch before they cross when going to the beach.
The beach itself is beautiful - only a few houses have access there so it feels like a private beach.
We had an incredible time there and you should definitely give Mike & Suzanne a call if you're heading to Topsail.