Peachtree Hills is a cozy, cottage style neighborhood located in Buckhead, just east of Peachtree Road, north of Peachtree Creek and south of Lindbergh Drive. Craftsman-style bungalows nestled among towering hardwoods and eclectic, colorful gardens dot the neighborhood streets. Development started in Peachtree Hills in the early 1900’s and continues to evolve today as homeowners renovate and enhance their homes.
Photo of Home After Renovation (above)
Dara and Arthur Povlot, residents of Peachtree Hills since 2005 recently sought to give their non-descript, small home a total redo transforming it into the Craftsman-style home so popular among their neighbors. With the help of local designer, Marni Ratner of Studio M Interior and architect Cathie Magnan Power of Magnan Power Architecture, the Povlot’s developed a major renovation plan for their home, both inside and out.
Before Photo (above)
Entire Second Floor Gutted and Rebuilt
The biggest component of the renovation plan was removing the second floor, which was only visible from the side and back of the house, and rebuilding an entirely new second floor, visible from the front of the house.
Before Photo from Side of House (above)
The home had an inconvenient layout with the master suite on the second level and the two boys’ bedrooms on the first level. By removing the existing second floor and roof and reframing, the contractor, Duncan Spears and Rogers King of Eumenean Construction was able to create a bedroom and bathroom for each of the boys, along with a family playroom, on the second floor. The new master suite is located on the top floor of a three story addition at the rear of the original house. The addition also includes a garage at the ground level and a Kitchen/Family Room on the main floor.
Major Home Renovation Considerations
In a major home renovation like the Povolt’s, Mr. Spears’ primary goal was to make the finished home look like it was intended to be a two story home all along. Mr. Spears adds that it’s also critical, with this type of major renovation, to ensure that the renovated home fits nicely into the existing neighborhood’s aesthetics. You want to be able to maximize and enjoy your additional space but not at the sake of an unappealing home in comparison to your neighbors.
Especially when adding a second story to an existing home, Mr. Spear points out that it’s not just about adding square footage, but adding square footage in the context of the home and existing neighborhood. A major renovation that results in a house that is proportionally larger than the surrounding homes will result in a lower resale value and lower renovation return on investment. In the Povlot’s case, many homes on their street had already been renovated to add an additional level.
An architect and contractor will work together to be mindful of issues such as zoning and setback parameters. “Maximizing your space within those parameters, particularly with in-town lots, can be a challenge,” states Mr. Spears. For a major renovation like the Povlot’s, a homeowner can contact an architect first to share ideas and to draw up a set of plans. Next, the homeowner can be referred to a contractor, through the architect or another source, to construct the plans. Alternatively, some homeowner’s contact a contractor they are already comfortable working with and ask the contractor to select an architect.
Exterior Products Used
For the exterior of their home, the Povlots were seeking ease of long term maintenance and longevity, but also wanted products that appropriately reflected the historical time frame of the early 1900’s when the Craftsman style was first popular.
For the home’s siding, the contractor chose Artisan Lap siding, from James Hardie, which offered a thicker profile (5/8” thick) with deep shadow lines providing a more genuine wood look, typical of craftsman homes. Artisan Lap boards are beveled on the back to lie flat against the wall ensuring stability. The tongue and groove feature means end joints fit tightly together for a precise fit and finish.
The stone walls at the front of the home enclose a new outdoor room. Originally, the front yard sloped down from the street to the house. The walkway to the front door was quite narrow. The new stairs and walk were pulled away from the house to allow for planting and to create a more gracious approach. Bluestone flooring at the front porch and steps finish the look.
Below are various photos of the home showing its Craftsman style features.
Low-Slung Roof
Craftsman style house plans often feature wood siding with a low pitched roof, and wide eaves. The low-slung roof often has multiple “built-in” features like the ones in the next two photos below.
Inviting Porch
Typically an inviting front porch with heavy square or round columns welcomes guests to a Craftsman style home.
Battened Door
Battened doors were typical of Craftsman style homes. A battened door is a wood door, without stiles, which is constructed of vertical boards held together on the back side of the door by two horizontal boards called battens. The door the Povlot’s chose simulates a battened door look.
