Private Quarters: Rustic, mid-century design highlights Druid...

Home and Garden

Private Quarters: Rustic, mid-century design highlights Druid Hills tour home

About 2,800 square feet, four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths

The waterfall view and original art give homeowners Mary Emma and Dan McConaughey and their guests plenty to enjoy in their home, which is on the 2016 Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens on April 22-24. A wood block print, "Orpheus", by Ben Smith of Atlanta is displayed on the 22-foot stone fireplace. Text by Lori Johnston/Fast Copy News Service.

The mid-century modern home was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. The home was designed by the late architect Herb Milkey, who integrated the architecture with the landscape.

A whimsical welcome chime will greet visitors to the rustic mid-century modern home, which is on the 2016 Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens on April 22-24.

The Steinway piano holds a prominent spot at the entryway. Homeowner Mary Emma McConaughey's mother passed down the piano, which Mary Emma used in her earlier singing career. Now, her grandchildren practice on it.

The antique musical instruments near the piano belonged to various members of homeowner Mary Emma McConaughey's musical family. Her husband, Dan, a retired attorney, is author of the law books.

Mary Emma and Dan McConaughey currently use this multipurpose space for activities, such as studying French, doing projects and crafting with their grandkids. But they could eventually move their bedroom from the second level to this first-floor room with an ensuite full bath.

Floors made of crab orchard stone from Tennessee ground the living area and its beamed, vaulted yellow pine ceiling. The 22-foot fireplace is made from stone from north Georgia and the walls are made of wormy chestnut.

The home's mid-century modern design includes built-in seating, such as this gray upholstered couch.

The living room's glass wall offers a panoramic view of a 120-foot waterfall on the 5-acre property Dan and Mary Emma McConaughey own in Atlanta's Druid Hills neighborhood.

Throughout the 5-acre property, there are places to stop and sit to admire the waterfall view. Dan and Mary Emma McConaughey, who purchased the former grist mill property in 1965, hold a conservation easement from the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust, which will protect the land from future development.

The cherry wood table, built by Rocky Collins of Jasper, can expand from four to 14 seats when the leaves are added. He also built the chairs for the dining table.

The dining room's placement met both Mary Emma and Dan McConaughey's needs when they built the Atlanta home in the late 1960s. She wanted a room separate from the kitchen; he wanted an area open to the living room

Original and local art, as well as music, fills the Druid Hills home. A ceramic wallhanging by Robert Westervelt, formerly with Agnes Scott College and now living in Gainesville, depicts Stone Mountain from three perspectives as you ascend the mountain.

Pottery by Georgia artists Robert Westervelt and sculptor Diane Kempler are on display in the dining room.

The homeowner's son, Warren McConaughey of HammerSmith, added a downstairs bedroom and full bath with elements such as a honed granite vanity, so that his parents could age in place in the home.

The handicap-accessible bathroom, with a curb-less shower and grab bars, helps the homeowners prepare to age in the home.

Several years ago HammerSmith, a renovation company owned by the McConaughey's son, Warner McConaughey, renovated their kitchen. All of the appliances were updated, a door was removed to open the kitchen into the family room, and the Sub-Zero refrigerator was recessed to make more room.

Stainless steel countertops and honed granite countertops on the bar were added when the kitchen was renovated in the Druid Hills home.

The staircase winds up to the second floor bedrooms, which now are used by the couple's grandchildren and as an office for Dan McConaughey, a retired attorney who continues to write legal books.

Homeowner Dan McConaughey wanted to be able to see the view throughout the home, including their master bedroom. Years ago, Amish crafters in Ohio made the cherry wood bed, which the couple commissioned. A Navaho rug is framed above the bed.

One of retired lawyer and homeowner Dan McConaughey's favorite pieces of furniture is his roll-top desk, which was built at the turn of the 20th century and belonged to his grandfather.

The master bedroom balcony is one of five spots where trees are growing through the decks. They've had to cut the holes in the flooring wider as the trees have grown, says homeowner Dan McConaughey, smiling.

The sunken tub -- inspired by homeowner Dan McConaughey's time living in Japan decades ago -- looks onto a meditation garden. The bathroom walls are made of wormy chestnut.

Mary Emma and Dan McConaughey wanted to stay in the house as they aged. Their builder son, Warner McConaughey, added onto the home to give them a first-floor bedroom and bathroom without sacrificing its rustic aesthetic.

A ramp made from the same stone as the rest of the home leads to the side addition in Mary Emma and Dan McConaughey's Druid Hills home. The addition by their son, Warner McConaughey of HammerSmith, is aging-in-place friendly and was designed to fit with the existing rustic character.

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The waterfall view and original art give homeowners Mary Emma and Dan McConaughey and their guests plenty to enjoy in their home, which is on the 2016 Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens on April 22-24. A wood block print, "Orpheus", by Ben Smith of Atlanta is displayed on the 22-foot stone fireplace. Text by Lori Johnston/Fast Copy News Service.

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