Meet the Owner
Joel Kirby
Landscape Architect & Founder, Curly Willow Designs
Joel Kirby
Owner & Registered Landscape Architect
A Life Built Around Design
Joel Kirby has always believed that design is more than a profession — it's a calling. After earning his Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from Clemson University, Joel spent 8½ years with Arbor Engineering honing his craft before founding Curly Willow Designs, LLC in 2001.
From the very beginning, Curly Willow Designs reflected Joel's dual passions: the artistry of landscape architecture and the magic of event design. As a registered Landscape Architect, Joel has spent over two decades creating warm, inviting outdoor spaces and producing unforgettable events — always with the same guiding philosophy: help people make their dreams a reality.
Education & Credentials
- • B.S. Landscape Architecture — Clemson University
- • Registered Landscape Architect
- • Founder, Curly Willow Designs, LLC (est. 2001)
A New Chapter
Saluda, NC & The Saluda Inn
When COVID-19 brought the events industry to a standstill in 2020, Joel — like so many in his field — found himself navigating an uncertain stretch. With events canceled for nearly a year and a half, the pause became an unexpected invitation to reflect, reset, and reimagine what came next.
That reflection led Joel to the mountains of western North Carolina and the charming small town of Saluda, NC. Drawn by the beauty of the Blue Ridge foothills and the warmth of a tight-knit community, Joel embraced a new venture: co-founding the Saluda Inn alongside business partner Jay Burriss.
The Saluda Inn is a natural extension of everything Joel has always stood for — creating spaces where people feel welcomed, inspired, and at home. It's a place where design, hospitality, and the beauty of the natural world come together in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Visit the Saluda InnThe Saluda Inn
Saluda, North Carolina
Co-owned by Joel Kirby & Jay Burriss
Nestled in the Blue Ridge foothills, the Saluda Inn blends Joel's lifelong passion for design and hospitality into a welcoming mountain retreat.
thesaludainn.com"I just love design — it's my life. I feel like I was put here to help people facilitate and make their dreams a reality.