Bringing Home Six Best in American Living Awards

Over the last couple days our firm has been featured in the Grand Rapids Press and on MLive in both the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo areas for our success in winning 6 national awards in the Best in American Living Awards (BALA) competition. We are very proud of the work our team was able to accomplish in designing these homes and we would like to thank all of the talented building and design teams that worked on these projects. 

Lake Style Cottages

The warm up yesterday gave me hope that spring will be here soon, however, as I am watching it snow (again) I cannot help reminiscing about warmer days spent at the lake...

When it comes to lakefront living there are few things to consider. Waterfront: Take advantage of the views provided by mother nature. Lot size and slope:  Both can impact the decision of the size of your cottage and the style. How will you use the cottage: Will it be a private retreat or are you interested in hosting large groups of people, will it be a single family home, have room to entertain or will it be a multifamily cottage? 

The Vision you have for your lake cottage will be executed perfectly when working with the team at Visbeen Architects. Your dream home will be drawn out on paper in detail and you will know exactly what you are getting before your home is even built. Check out these before and after images of lake style cottages designed by Visbeen Architects. 

Emmett:  Detached Garage to fit the narrow lot.

 Allenwood:  Multi-family cottage with dual master suites and room for guests.

Stoney Pointe:  The perfect size with plenty of outdoor entertainment space.

Tupelo:  Built on a steep slope resulting in a 20 foot drop from the front door to the second lower level.

Hasserton:  Single-Family modern lake home that takes advantage of the panoramic views.

West Wind:  Sitting on a narrow lot this home lives large by taking advantage of every square foot.

With the never ending fall of snow it is difficult to think that sumer will ever come... I am sure many of you have been dreaming of warmer days where the sun is shining and we don't have to wear our parkas and boots. Hopefully our home design Inverness can give us all a little hope to last us until summer comes. Go ahead, dream of those warm sunny days on the beach with your toes in the sand and nights spent sitting around a crackling fire. Enjoy!

Earlier this week, the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) featured our home design Hasserton in an article called "How They Did It:  Cleanly Executed". Working with Bekins of Grand Haven, MI gave these home owners a leg up on the competition with the technological side of their home and integrated it with good design. Featuring the media room in the lower level of this contemporary home, the article takes you through some of the ins and outs of the technological side of this home. Hasserton has also recently been featured in the Electronics Lifestyle Magazine and was recognized for winning Silver for technological design. To read that article follow the link here. To learn more about the technology that has gone into this custom home read the article below. 

How They Did It: Cleanly Executed

CEDIA

Feb 10, 2014

The idea of this media room was to make sure that the technology stayed consistent with the contemporary aesthetic of the space. Function and quality were important, but the audio and video had to blend with the look of the room.

CEDIA member Bekins of Grand Haven, Mich., used careful room layout and equipment selection to ensure that needs for both style and performance were met. The resulting media room earned the Silver Technical Design award for Media Room in CEDIA’s 2013 Electronic Lifestyles® Awards competition.

Technical Highlights:

To meet the client’s request for a clean aesthetic, Bekins selected all in-wall and in-ceiling speakers and remotely located the equipment in an adjacent closet.

The Crestron system allowed Bekins to customize the iPad interface. The customer wanted an app that worked like other apps that he was familiar with. Bekins’ programming skills enabled them to provide the swipes and scrolls the customer was used to.

Challenges:

The main wall on which the television and speakers were mounted, which was the focal point of the room, was made of tile. Bekins needed to find a speaker that not only performed well but also could be blended in with the tile. The television needed to sit as flush to the wall as possible, and there was no room for a traditional subwoofer. The system design process included more consultation with the designer than most projects, but in the end, the extra time paid off with a sleek, contemporary look.

Calibrations:

The Audyssey Room Correction & Calibration feature that comes with the Integra receiver was key to calibrating this room. Bekins’ CEDIA Certified technicians also used their knowledge base to tweak the calibration. In addition to the Audyssey Correction, Bekins used the Paradigm PBK, which allowed them better tune in lower frequencies and get the most out of the room.

Project Partners:

ArchitectVisbeen Associates
Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 285-9901

Interior Designer
Jeffery Roberts Design
Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 454-9490

Builder
Scott Christopher Homes
Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 784-4500

Last week Builder Magazine featured our home plan, Winfield, for the unique storage solutions it has to offer to the homeowner. When building a home it would be wise to consider the amount of storage you will need in order to keep your home free of clutter. Big or small, everything should have a home in your home. Check out the article to see the unique storage solutions each of these homes has to offer.

FourPlans: Unique Storage Solutions

Think outside the closet. These one-of-a-kind designs will wow your buyers with highly unusual features: think hidden closets, floor-to-ceiling cabinets, and even a drive-through garage that would be the envy of mechanics.

By Aurora Zeledon

Ultimate Garage for Car Enthusiasts

Underneath this lovely country home, you'll find an unusual drive-through storage area that can provide parking for up to eight cars – yes, eight! Click through to see a photo. On the main level, country charm is emphasized with the wrap-around porch and roof dormers. The spacious kitchen offers a large walk-in pantry, an island with seating for six, and generous cabinet space. Don't miss the roomy breakfast nook, the master suite's bay window, and the ample laundry room. See more images, information, and the floor plans.

Boat Storage on Lower Level

Designed by Visbeen Architects, this is a fun plan for a lot that backs up to water. The lower level can be finished to hold boat storage, along with a variety of entertaining spaces. Highlights of the main level include the two-story, light-filled living room with a wall of windows, an adjacent dining room perfect for entertaining with its own deck, and the kitchen's central island. The master suite includes a spa-like bath and a private deck. Upstairs, you'll find two bedroom suites and a kids' study. See more images, information, and the floor plans.

Floor-to-Ceiling Kitchen Cabinets

Floor-to-ceiling cabinets offer an outstanding amount of storage in the kitchen of this design, along with an island and the nearby utility room. Just outside, an optional extended porch and fireplace create a large outdoor living room. The master suite includes a spacious bathroom and a handy island in the large walk-in closet. Secondary bedrooms feature their own walk-in closets next to the Jack and Jill bath. See more images, information, and the floor plans.

Secret Room in the Master Suite

A “secret room” inside the master closet is one of several unusual features of this home. The others? Two first-floor staircases merge at a landing and continue as one to the second floor. A study/library offers up a wet bar that opens to the media room – perfect for making coffee while working at home, or serving up drinks while watching a movie. The upper level overlooks the great room. See more images, information, and the floor plans.

BALA 2013

We are proud to announce our 2013 Best in American Living Award (BALA) winners! 

Photography:  Dickson Dunlap

Laurel

Platinum for Detached Home 3001-4000 sq ft, Home Built for Sale

Best in Region, South Atlantic

Project Team:

Architect:  Wayne Visbeen

Builder & Designer:  Custom Classics, Bluffton, S.C.

Interior Designer & Merchandiser:  Low Tide Designs

Photography:  Michael Buck

Hasserton

Silver for One-of-a-Kind Custom or Spec Home, 4001-6500 sq ft

Project Team:

Architect:  Wayne Visbeen

Builder:  Scott Christopher Homes

Interior Designer:  Jeffery Roberts Interiors

Land Planner:  Stout Creek Landscapes, Inc.

Photography:  David Lorenz

Hawks Nest

Gold for On the Boards, Single-Family 

Project Team:

Architect:  Wayne Visbeen

Photography:  Ashley Avila 

Allenwood

Silver for One-of-a-Kind Custom or Spec Home up to 4000  sq ft

Project Team:

Architect:  Wayne Visbeen

Builder:  Ashby Builders 

Interior Designer:  Francesca Owings

Photography:  Megan TerVeen

Tupelo

Gold for Detached Home 3001-4000 sq ft, Home Built for Sale

Project Team:

Architect:  Wayne Visbeen

Builder:  Mike Schaap Builders

Interior Designer & Merchandiser:  Benchmark Wood Studio

Developer:  Chad VanHorn

Land Planner:  Debest Landscaping

International Builders Show

We are excited to share that our home design Tupelo has made the cover of the International Builders Show program! In addition, Tupelo is being recognized as receiving the Best in American Living Gold Award for a Single Family Home, 3001-4000 sq ft. 

With the help of Mike Schaap Builders, the design team from Benchmark Wood Studio and Debest Inc. Landscaping company, we can say that this amazing lakefront cottage is truly one-of-a-kind. Tupelo is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in South Haven, MI and offers panoramic views of the water. This four story beach front cottage has been artfully designed to accommodate large families or groups of friends. 

Additional photos and information about Tupelo can be found at Pier View Cottages or contact Broker, Chad VanHorn of Real Estate Firm.

The New American Home 2014

THE NEW AMERICAN HOME® is set to debut this week at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas, NV. Every year a team of talented professionals design, build and decorate the New American Home. Located at 2256 Sunrise Ridge Court, Henderson, NV, this years home and has been deemed "the greenest New American Home in history". At 6700 square feet the home is able to accommodate large groups without overcrowding one another while offering a contemporary home with green energy solutions. 

The New American Home was designed by Jeffery Berkus Architects and built in just 10 months by Element Building Co. With the design conscious technology this, stunning, one-of-a-kind home makes the living experience more luxurious while the green energy helps to make energy management and consumption, well, manageable. With home products from a multitude of suppliers, this home is decked out with the latest design trends and top of the line fixtures and appliances from the leading suppliers in the industry to create a one-of-a-kind custom home (Follow this link for a complete list of suppliers). To see more photos of this beautiful home visit the NAHB website.

Photos Via.

With a spacious two story floor plan, this New American Home is able to easily accommodate 12.  

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan