A Family Enclave in the Woods

The front exterior of the Cooper, a Build On Your Lot plan

Date Built

Spring 2020

Build Type

Build On Your Lot

Plan Name

The Ricks Plan

Building one house – during a pandemic, no less – would seem to be a daunting enough task. But building two at a time?

That’s precisely what the Corum family did, as they created a multi-generational haven on Johns Island, building a space for their family of five and for a set of grandparents in their own house nearby.

With 43 wooded acres to work with, the Corums knew they didn’t want all the challenges of building a fully custom home, but still wanted to something that felt personal.

That’s why New Leaf’s Build on Your Lot was perfect.

The Corum family built the Ricks floorplan

The Corum family put their initials in the cement of their front porch

Starting May 2020, they took “raw, tree covered land” and cleared two lots. Landing on the four bedroom Ricks plan, the Corums (who had two children and were expecting their third during the building process), knew exactly what they wanted.

The result is a bright, sunny home that embraces casual, indoor/outdoor living. The roomy kitchen is anchored by a cadet blue island, which is the perfect place for kids and guests to hang.

That’s a running theme for the family. Notes Daniel, the biggest personal touch was their expansion of the original plan’s screened in porch. French doors open onto a fully screened veranda that stretches across the back of the house. “We eat out there, watch TV, hang with the kids. It’s become our family room,” he says.

The family landed on the Ricks plan after whittling down a number of choices (their parents chose to go fully custom with New Leaf). Notes Christina: “This is the first home we’ve had where we can really entertain. And that was a top priority.”

Also built by New Leaf is the parent’s home, a custom build, which is located on the same property.

“We faced some significant challenges during the build process, including supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and other factors, but throughout the process, New Leaf was forthright, accommodating and accountable,” says Daniel. “I don’t know what else we could have asked for.”