Five Points for this Craftsman-Style Home

Natural light pours in from the arched transom windows above the living room of the Woodruff residence, flooding the interior with a bright ambience. It’s one of many design components working into the owners’ philosophy that everything in their Five Points home should serve a purpose.

Standing proudly in the Five Points neighborhood of Athens, Georgia, the Craftsman-style house was newly completed in 2020. Utility and comfort are equally important to owners Dave and Nancy Woodruff, who were hands-on during the construction and decoration processes.

Snuggled tightly against quaint homes with petite flower gardens, the Woodruff residence contrasts the smaller properties that surround it. Nevertheless, the house fits in well with the rest of the suburban street. Davis knows the importance of completing every project with care; the construction ultimately took about 16-18 months, Davis said.

“Whether it truly is or not, people like to think of it as their forever home,” Davis said. “It’s where they lay their heads.”

Sep. 2022

Snapshot

Residents: Nancy and Dave Woodruff and their dog, Molly. Both Dave and Nancy graduated from the University of Georgia and decided to raise their family in Athens, Ga. Minutes away from their alma mater, Dave indulges his woodworking hobby while Nancy tends to her garden.

Location: The Five Points neighborhood of Athens, Georgia. The location posed a challenge for builder Tyler Davis, who had to adhere to the county’s strict rules of residential construction. Many builders are reluctant to work in Five Points because of the firm policies the county has in place, Davis said. These issues did not deter him, however, and he obliged with the floor plans designed by architect Richard Dooley. Davis said he is not one to turn down building projects due to roadblocks because he knows the importance of building a house for a family. 

Size: 8000 square feet. Four beds, six baths.

Year built: 2020

Design team: Athens Building Co., Atlanta architect Richard Dooley

Architectural style: American Craftsman

Favorite architectural elements: Nancy loves the high ceilings and transom windows, while Dave highlights the alternative and hiding doorways for increased space. Each architectural component of the house has its own job. The hidden doorways in the downstairs hallways and kitchen area act as a space saver and allow Dave to move his woodworking projects throughout his home and into his state-of-the-art, custom-built workshop. The windows are tasked daily with lighting the main common areas of the home’s interior, but their efforts are not in vain, Nancy said. “It’s a pretty bright house,” Nancy said. “Even on dark days, it still feels pretty comfy.”

Interior design style: A mix of Craftsman and traditional style. “I would describe my design style as comfortable,” Nancy said. “I don’t want you to feel like you can’t take your shoes off or take a nap on the bed.”

Favorite interior design elements: Mahogany doors with family-made stained glass designs are Nancy’s favorite decorative elements. At the height of the pandemic, Dave indulged his passion for woodworking and hand-made the artisanal components of the interior’s decor right at home in his workshop. Everything in the home is intentional and he prefers every item in the house to be useful. “Everything in here has an absolute purpose,” Dave said. Each hallway features some kind of alternative door structure: hidden, double and sliding doorways allow for furniture and wood projects to be moved easily around the house.

Favorite room or favorite item: For Nancy, the sitting room beside the main living area serves as a quiet space for reading. Much of the design planning was family-oriented, according to Nancy. She kept the idea of future grandchildren in mind when preparing a nursery-like playroom, another well-loved space stocked with picture books and glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling. Nancy put the room together herself, noting that, despite the catalog-like sophistication of her home, she has no problem taking on DIY projects. “I’m not afraid to look at something at Ikea and say, ‘I can add something to that,’” Nancy said. “I’m a messy person anyway.”

Resources: Many of the items in the home were sourced from Dearing Antiques. There is also a plethora of handmade wooden pieces by Dave, as well as family decor and heirlooms selected carefully by Nancy. Davis had a hand in equipping the kitchen with amenities fit for a social family, with large griddles hidden underneath removable cutting boards on the stovetop.

Decor tip: Nancy advises that decorators put care and thought into their choices and remember that it takes patience to create a home. The magic is in the details, according to the homeowner. Leathered granite in the kitchen may seem like an upscale addition to the residence, but Nancy, ever the hostess, chose the material based on its ability to hide dirt and stains.