Private Quarters: Oakhurst craftsman renovation

Home and Garden

Photos: A look at Derrick and Rachel Gervin's Decatur area home, Feb. 2013.

Derrick and Rachel Gervin bought their three-bedroom Oakhurst home two years ago, drawn to the neighborhood and Oakhurst Elementary School district. - Text by Lori Johnston

Three contrasting exterior colors — Night Owl by Sherwin Williams for the body, Lincoln Home Beige by Porter for the trim and Cedar Grove for the sash — help the architecture stand out. A wood Craftsman-style door replaced the existing door. - Text by Lori Johnston

Since the home was livable, although small, they took two years to develop a design and plan for renovating the property. - Text by Lori Johnston

“People that saw the house before we did the renovation are dumbfounded,” Rachel says. “We have had people pull up and call us, saying, ‘I don’t think I’m at the right place.’ ” - Text by Lori Johnston

The couple is fond of the playroom for their daughters, which is half pink (Sherwin Williams’ Charming Pink) and half lavender (Sherwin Williams’ Spangle). The chandelier was donated by neighbors. The space, which connects the girls’ bedrooms, was created when the pitch of the roof was adjusted. - Text by Lori Johnston

‘We wanted to get into the neighborhood and become a little more familiar with it and what we liked about the lot and how we could maximize any renovation or new construction,” Derrick says. - Text by Lori Johnston

The renovations to this “snug” Decatur home added bedrooms and much-needed closet and storage space for a family of four. - Text by Lori Johnston

The family moved out of the home, which had about 1,200 square feet, on Memorial Day weekend 2012, and moved back into the new 2,800-square-foot residence before Thanksgiving. - Text by Lori Johnston

How do they define their style? Modern and personalized, with their collection of African-American art on display. - Text by Lori Johnston

The home was taken down to the foundation and studs. A second floor was added onto the home, which also was expanded in the back by 16-18 feet. - Text by Lori Johnston

“It’s modern but not minimalist. It’s not traditional,” Rachel says. “We don’t have a lot of decoration or embellishment.” - Text by Lori Johnston

“We did not want the big mansion look on this street and this particular neighborhood. We wanted to really fit in and keep the look of the house as much as possible,” Derrick says. - Text by Lori Johnston

The deep front porch, which has ceiling fans, is a hit. Although the original house had a porch, it did not span the full width of the house, Derrick says. - Text by Lori Johnston

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Derrick and Rachel Gervin bought their three-bedroom Oakhurst home two years ago, drawn to the neighborhood and Oakhurst Elementary School district. - Text by Lori Johnston

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