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Creativity Alive and Well on the Edge of America Jana DiResta loves Folly Beach because of its individualism and relaxed atmosphere. It is the perfect place to practice her passion of many years: designing, renovating and decorating homes. Since 1993, Jana has made Folly Beach her favorite place to do just that. She has become known on Folly as a creative force in beach home design and restoration. She has worked her magic on nine beach homes to date - each one different, with its own personality. Jana and her late husband, Ed, first bought property at Folly Beach in 1993. "Everyone thought we were making a mistake. The attorney didn’t want to close the purchase," she said, "but just look at what Folly has become. It is the place where everyone wants to be!" Jana’s knack for creativity became evident in her early teen years when she began modeling, a path that eventually led into a successful acting career in television commercials. While in New York between acting assignments, she became interested in the architecture of homes and began studying building codes and home decorating techniques. Jana’s newfound interest soon evolved into her own design firm. Jana stated, "I was doing design projects for other people, but now I’m doing it only for myself - it gives me great enjoyment and personal satisfaction." Taking an existing home and giving it a fresh, new look is a tall order - and it’s one that Jana takes very seriously. "I like to look at an older home and visualize how to preserve its essential character, while making it unique, different and dramatic," Jana said, "in other words, do things no one else would do." A fine example of Jana’s ingenuity is "Don’t Miss The Boat" at 9th and East Arctic. She acquired a shed that was resting on top of two boats. One boat was a sleeping boat with six bunks; the other had a kitchen and a bathroom; and the shed housed a bedroom and bath. "My goal was to make the structure useful and to maintain the boat’s character," she said. The result was a delightful six bedroom/four bath home with whimsical features such as the Captain’s Room, The First Mate’s Room and The Brig. Jana’s work is sprinkled throughout Folly, and there is no doubt she has other projects on the horizon. Artistry of this caliber ensures that the spirit of The Edge of America will shine for many years to come. views from the edge, Copyright 2000, Keith McCann |
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