Cabin Life: Dreams on Paper: Hawk's Nest

August's issue of Cabin Life magazine features a cute little chalet we designed called Hawk's Nest.  It takes advantage of great views with only a small footprint, perfect for lots with mountainous terrain.  Check out the feature, rendering and floor plans in Cabin Life's Dreams on Paper section...

For ease of reading, please click here to view the full article on our website.

Grand Rapids Magazine Design Home 2013 Gala

The story of our 2013 Grand Rapids Magazine Design Home, the Heartsworth, will soon come to a close and the final product will be revealed.  Want to tour this beautiful estate during a swanky party that benefits a good cause?  Please join us for the GRDH 2013 Gala on August 22, 2013!

Since 2003, Grand Rapids Magazine has been showcasing the region's premier custom home builders, architects, designers, furnishers and suppliers via the Design Home program.  We have had the pleasure of being a part of six of those Design Home teams.  All the while, Design Home open houses and VIP events have helped raise over $140,000 in charitable contributions to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Camp Blodgett, American Red Cross, and for 2013 -- Bethany Christian Services.

Date: 
August 22, 2013

Time: 
6-9pm


Tickets:
$125 per person
or $800 for VIP Hope Scene package
(benefitting Bethany Christian Services)

Location: 
875 Skyevale, Ada, MI

View Larger Map

Here is the official invitation and you can CLICK HERE to visit the event page to purchase tickets:

Oh and did I mention The Verve Pipe's Brian VanderArk will be performing for your listening pleasure during the event?  You won't want to miss it.

Hope to see you there!

Did you miss any of the Design Home 2013 story?  No worries!  Catch up on your reading here...
January: The Adventure Begins
February: Wow! What a Design!
March: This Adventure Takes a Village
April: First a House, Then a Home
May: The Adventure Heats Up in the Master Suite
June: Distinctive Details Make the Difference 
July: Destination in Sight

Taking home the ARDAs!

The American Institute of Building Design's (AIBD) National Convention was held last week in Pasadena, California, where Visbeen Architects attended the American Residential Design Awards (ARDA) banquet celebrating the best and brightest in today's residential designs.  We were honored to receive 11 awards, including the prestigious Global Choice Award that we had implored you to cast votes for us over the last few weeks.  The Hasserton received nearly 1/3 of the total votes cast, so from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for the support!

Ten of our other projects were awarded for excellence in a variety of categories - here is the full list of our award-winners:

Hasserton

1st Place - Global Choice Award

Built by Scott Christopher Homes

Interiors by Jeffery Roberts Design

Tupelo

1st Place - Model Home (2,501 - 4,000sf)

Built by Mike Schaap Builders

Interiors by Benchmark Wood Studio

Andover

1st Place - Model Home (4,001sf & above)

Built by Tim Schollaart Builder

Interiors by Dwellings

Barron

1st Place - Published Design (2,501 - 4,000sf)

Built by Myers Builders, Inc

Highfield

2nd Place - Published Design (4,001sf & above)

Built by Falcon Custom Homes

Interiors by Ashley Cole Design

Shelburne

1st Place - Conceptual Design (2,500sf & under)

Tamlane

2nd Place - Conceptual Design (2,500sf & under)

Kismet

1st Place - Conceptual Design (2,500 - 4,000sf)

Dandridge

1st Place - Conceptual Design (4,001sf & above)

Multi-unit complex

2nd Place - Conceptual Design (any size)

Essex, Lennox & Brooklyn (River House Condominiums)

1st Place - Multi-family Design

Built by Falcon Custom Homes

Congratulations to the teams involved in making these projects award-worthy.  And thanks to everyone again for the votes!

Beating the Heat

We have been experiencing quite the scorcher in our neck of the woods lately.  Looking for a way to beat the heat?  Visit one of West Michigan's coast town splash pads, designed by our talented colleagues at GMB a+e!

Their most recent "urban beach" project can be found in downtown Grand Haven.  Completed in 2011, this project was provided for by the Rotary Club of Grand Haven, Grand Haven Area Community Foundation and community donations.  The fountains are activated by motion sensors and are solar powered.

Pictured below and situated in downtown Holland, just a few steps from GMB headquarters, you will find another great place to cool off this summer.  Designed and built along with the Plaza East building, this splash pad and fountain have become quite popular with the locals.  The sounds of gleeful children cooling off can be heard daily from GMB's front door.

Be sure to check them out this summer!

Grand Rapids Magazine Design Home 2013: Destination in Sight

This is the home stretch.  The final details and design elements of the Grand Rapids Design Home 2013 are coming together.  Lighting is being installed, walls are being painted and furniture will soon be placed in this 7,500 square foot residence, turning what was once just an idea into a home.

Check out July's issue of Grand Rapids Magazine for all of the final details as they come together...

For ease of reading, click here to view the full article on our website.

Room Guide: Outdoor Shower

It's mid-summer and we are enjoying beach days aplenty here in West Michigan.  But with lovely days lounging at the beach and splashing in the waves of Lake Michigan comes sand.  Lots of it.  Ending up...well...everywhere.  In your bathing suit, in your hair, in your bags, in your car.  

A home solution for the summer sand conundrum (albeit a good problem to have!)?  The outdoor shower.  This handy design element allows home/cottage-owners and guests the ability to wash off the sand from the beach or chlorinated water from a pool before stepping foot in doors. 

Here are a few fun examples of outdoor showers we have designed for clients in the past...

Duneside's low shower station has a foot washing station as well as a hand-held shower nozzle.

One of the preliminary design sketches for the Allenwood included a free-standing outdoor shower.

Carlton Shores' long walkway and staircase from the beach was designed to include a rainfall shower for use both coming back from the beach and from using the infinity pool on the patio.

The Stafford's amazing outdoor living space includes a large pool and recreation space surrounding it, so an outdoor shower near the back entry to the house is a must.  The laundry room is also located just inside the back door to keep wet beach towels in their proper place.

Horizon View is a modestly sized residence with a simple outdoor shower located on a patio between the front and side door of the home.

Just outside of Kearney Hill's beautiful retractable screened porch is a foot washing station.

Aronimink's lower level was designed to include an outdoor shower with door and transom window atop directly adjacent to the entrance to the lower level from the beach.

Georgia On My Mind

"Georgia, sweet Georgia, no peace I find

Just an old sweet song 

Keeps Georgia on my mind

Other arms reach out to me

Other eyes smile tenderly

Still in peaceful dreams I see

The road leads back

It always leads back to you."

~ Ray Charles

You can't help but sing that song to yourself when you look at this lovely Georgian style home we designed in the state of Georgia.  The home just exudes dignity.  Symmetry and attention to detail contribute to the authenticity of the exterior design.  Upon entering the home, the main floor foyer leads into the formal dining area.  Open kitchen and living spaces sit adjacent to the private study and the master bedroom suite.  The upper level offers four additional bedrooms, two of which are full suites and two of which share a large ensuite bathroom.

Project Team:

Designed by: Visbeen Architects

Built by: Ron Lucas Construction

Tupelo

This four-story cottage bungalow is designed to perch on a steep shoreline, allowing homeowners to get the most out of their space.  The main level of the home accommodates gatherings with easy flow between the living room, dining area, kitchen, and outdoor deck.  The midlevel offers a lounge, bedroom suite and the master bedroom, complete with access to a private deck.  The family room, kitchenette, and beach bath on the lower level open to an expansive backyard patio.  At the top of the nest is the loft area, which provides a bunk room and extra guest bedroom suite.

This beautiful home is currently for sale, so please visit the listing page for more information if you or someone you know is interested!

Project Team --
Designed by: Visbeen Architects
Built by: Mike Schaap Builders
Interiors by: Benchmark Wood Studio