The Octagon House is an eight-sided, two-story structure originally intended for residential use.

Structural members of the house are fastened by hand-forged flat nails and glue.

[2] At the time of its nomination, the house was painted all white;[2] however, its current occupants have since repainted the structure in a combination of yellow, burgundy, and olive.

The door frames and mouldings are hand carved in a simple medallion pattern.

Upon purchasing the home in 1951, the Hawley family added a small bedroom extension at the structure's rear southeast corner.