The Barn at Full Circle Farm

Peter Conway's life has taken him all over the world.  Though his roots are in Cleveland, Ohio, he has taught and worked in administration in the education field in various states as well as in Australia.  When he was working at a boarding school in Asheville, North Carolina, roughly one-third of his students were from Charleston, leading him to make his first visit to the Low country.  Once he and his wife retired, they knew that they wanted to find a second home in the Charleston area.  In 2004 they bought their vacation home  and in 2010 made the move to the area a permanent one and now call Kiawah Island "home."

We became acquainted with Mr. Conway  a little over a year ago when he was exploring the idea of building a functional, yet aesthetically attractive, barn on some property he'd purchased off River Road on Johns Island.  In his retirement, Peter Conway began a new career in real estate, working with Akers Ellis Real Estate.  Seeing the current real estate trend of large plots of Johns Island farmland being developed into neighborhoods, he'd hoped to purchase property that could be used and maintained as a working farm.  When he and his wife first started out in life, they lived and worked on a farm in Vermont, which was the inspiration for the name given to his Johns Island farm.  They seem to have come full circle, thus the name given: Full Circle Farm. 

Architect Bill Marshall of Architrave, LLC designed the structure after Peter had gathered inspiration from various barns around the state.  The Conway's wanted a traditional red barn, with the center bay being large and open, and two flanking side bays.  Though the barn does hold equipment, there's a full kitchen in the center bay, and the covered bay that overlooks the pond contains an outdoor low country tabby fireplace, with a bar and plenty of seating for guests.  The interior and exterior boasts historic reclaimed wood on counter surfaces, the mantle over the fireplace, and on a gliding barn door.  In lieu of a hay loft, the Barn at Full Circle Farm has two-bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large great room that is open to the kitchen and an upper deck which overlooks the pond and a host of old live oak trees.

In addition to being a working farm, Peter and his wife, Mary, envisioned a place for their family and friends to gather.  Since it's completion at the end of the summer, the Conway's have hosted several private events such as their daughter's wedding, Sea Coast Church - Johns Island's Christmas party, and Sea Island Christian Youth's Spaghetti Supper in which Scotty Walker, who has ridden his bike across America to raise money for Water Missions International, came and spoke to the group.

As for his experience working with Crawford Contracting and Consulting, LLC, Peter states that Brain was recommended to him by both his architect and co-worker, Steven Ellis of Akers Ellis Real Estate. 

 "Being in real estate, I've been involved in buying, renovating, and building homes.  I'm pretty familiar with the building process and I'm realistic.  I know nothing goes the way you plan it." 

Peter says that Brian's approach, which is to be proactive with the project at all times, not only appealed to him but at the end of the project he can say without a doubt that Brian and the Crawford Contracting team delivered on that promise.  At times there were hold ups with the county, weather, change-orders, and sometimes the sub-contractors, but there was never a time when he felt that the project wasn't getting the attention it needed from his Brian and his team. 

With regard to the contract options that Brian provides to his clients - one which is a Fixed Fee, the other as a Cost Plus, and his invoicing process - Mr. Conway states,  "I think Brian is the most transparent of the builders I've worked with. I think it (his contracts) makes the trust factor go way up. 

"I have referred Brian.  I do refer Brian. And I will continue to refer Brian." ~ Peter Conway

On behalf of Crawford Contracting and Consulting, LLC., Thank You, Mr. Conway for allowing us to build the Barn at Full Circle Farm, thinking enough of Brian and his team to allow us to work with you on other projects, and giving Crawford Contracting a strong and positive reference in our community.  We appreciate you