First impressions count when looking for a place to live.
David Koth and his fiancee, Joan Gilliland, fell in love with Crawford Creek in Evans because of its picturesque, winding entrance with a wooded area, bridge and walking paths.
Location counts, too.
"My idea was to get a house that's unique that I really like. It had to be close to the lake because I belong to the sailing club, and to town because we go to plays and operas. This is perfect," said Koth, a retired dentist and past commodore of the Augusta Sailing Club. The subdivision is minutes away from Thurmond Lake.
They were first drawn to their home's arched front entrance. The house was nicknamed "The Villa" by neighbors who said it reminded them of an Italian villa.
They also love the European style, open floor plan and rear courtyard with stone fireplace. The kitchen is framed by pillars that separate it from the living room. The 2,200-square-foot home has three bedrooms (one of which Koth has turned into a study), 2½ baths and a dining room.
The couple moved in last June. Koth downsized from his 4,000-square-foot home in Windmill Plantation because he no longer used half the rooms.
"The quality is much better than I had seen in other developments and the materials are better," Koth said about Crawford Creek.
He likes the kitchen because it has cherry cabinets with cathedral tops and granite counter tops.
A stickler for quality, he noted the bathrooms also have wooden cabinets. The master bathroom has a garden tub, shower, large cherry cabinet with walnut stain and intricate, detailed tile work on the floor and walls.
"Everyone just fell in love with it," Gilliland said about the tile.
One of Koth's hobbies is woodworking, so he has turned his garage into a workshop.
A red maple tree in the front yard looks like a red, upside down umbrella, Gilliland said.
Crawford Creek is divided into sections, with small to large houses and townhouses. The couple's home is located in The Villages.
"These houses have got small lots, which is ideal for me because I didn't like cutting half an acre of grass. This doesn't seem like a smaller lot because it's on the corner. That's another reason that I picked this house," Koth said.
"It really shows the house off," Gilliland added.
Koth said the developer, Atlanta-based Trillium Communities, plans to add a clubhouse, pool and fishing pond at Crawford Creek.
The couple also enjoys the close-knit community. Every few months, the neighborhood has an informal gathering at someone's home, though not many people have yet moved into the subdivision.
"Our warm, sweet home makes us two lovebirds very happy," Gilliland said.
Location: Off Hereford Farm Road in Columbia County
Schools: Lewiston Elementary, Evans Middle and Evans High
Neighborhood traditions: Neighborhood gatherings at different homes every few months
Current home listing prices: $174,900 to $342,900
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