Story by Art Department / October 3, 2016
We caught up with owner Jodi Crosby of Crosby Creations Home Designs to learn about one of her most recent projects in Ravenel that involved a very large topiary obstacle. Jodi’s passion is home design and she cares deeply about her clients as well as our beautiful Lowcountry surroundings. She strives to setup proper expectations and to deliver a superior design, not only to her clients, but also to the builders, engineers, and sub contractors that depend on her to provide correct and adequate information. Learn how Jodi designs a solution that benefits a local homeowner while preserving a beautiful piece of Lowcountry history.
1.Tell me a little about the Jacobs Point project in terms what inspired you?
The clients wanted a Coastal/Casual design and I believe we were able to provide it for them. My inspiration in designing the home derived from the 39″ live oak in the center of the lot and the beautiful marsh views beyond.
2. Why did you find it so important to save the 39″ live oak that is placed in the center of the lot instead of cutting it down to make room for the home?
The clients had obtained a variance to remove the tree because they didn’t believe a house would even fit on the lot. And of course if you’re looking at stock plans on the internet, it is unlikely you would find anything to fit this very unique site. Once I laid my eyes on that beautiful and significant tree I knew I had to do everything I could to save it. It is the most beautiful tree in the entire neighborhood and it would have been a shame to cut it down.
3. What were some of the extra steps you had to go through to make sure the project would work?
I approached the Town of Hollywood’s Board of Zoning and Appeals (BZA) to obtain two more variances for the rear and side setbacks. I also requested to withdraw the previous variance to remove the live oak. My husband and I actually went to the site one morning and got very creative in measuring a main leader of the tree to ensure the roof of the house would materialize below it.
4. What is the most significant obstacle you had to overcome during the project?
Ensuring I gave my clients exactly what they wanted out of their home without sacrificing the integrity and health of the live oak. We brought in an arborist early on to pre-treat the live oak and prepare it for the shock of construction and the future weight of a house sitting within it’s critical root zone. It didn’t make sense to save the tree, only for it to die in the end because we didn’t care for it properly.
5. What advice would you give someone trying to design a home while saving portions of their landscape that is important to them?
The most important piece of the puzzle is to have a current survey; including topography, tree’s, and the significant landscaping they may want to preserve. The survey is the starting point to any project we do. Not only do we use it, but so will the landscape architect when he/she is designing the landscaping and drainage plan.
For more information, call Crosby Creations Home Designs at (843) 514-7354 or visit crosby-creations.com. Also, check out Crosby Creations Home Design’s 90 5 star ratings and reviews on on Houzz! http://www.houzz.com/pro/
