Monday, December 16, 2013

Room Guide: Built-In's

When buying or building a home, consider how much storage you will need and what you will want on display. Built-in's are a great way to integrate storage into the floor plan without having to buy additional furnishings for your home. A built-in can be anything from a linen closet or kitchen cabinets to a window seat or book case, they all help to open up floor space and create additional storage needed to organize your home. Built-in's can creatively utilize all of the available square footage in dead spaces such as the space under the stairs or in under used closets. 

This Old House Magazine published an article by Joseph D'Agnese, "Built-in Storage Ideas", that displays some creative ways to utilize existing spaces with built-in's. 
Photo Credit:  Julian Wass Via.
Here are some built-in's designed by Visbeen Architects that provide functional storage and add to the overall ascetics of the home. 
This built-in bar is easily accessible in the passthrough between rooms. It allows for convenience and design appeal with the glass faced cabinets displaying the miniature refrigerator and barware. 
Framing a doorway with a built-in bookshelf is a clever way display your library and to add character to any room. 
 This corner built-in bookshelf fits in with the curves of the rest of the home. It provides storage while still allowing extra light to enter and brighten up the room.
 The e-space built-in provides a location for work without having to add the square footage of a full home office to the floor plan. 
 Having a built-in next to a fireplace is a creative way to store and display firewood. 
 For kitchens with limited cabinet space; a closet built-in with pocket doors creates storage that can be hidden to reduce visible clutter. 
This built-in reading nook is the perfect spot to curl up and read a good book   
 For all of the pet lovers out there, this is a great way to create a space just for your pet and avoid spilling the food and water on the floor. 

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Room Guide: Fireplace

With temperatures dropping as fast as the snow, I think we can all agree that winter has officially arrived in West Michigan. Love it or hate it, why not find yourself a cozy spot next to a roaring fire with a cup of hot chocolate to keep the chill of winter at bay. Your fireplace can be an accent feature to a room or can easily become the focal point. Check out some of the traditional, the modern and the ultra cool fireplaces that have been designed by Visbeen Architects.

The dark wood mantle of this fireplace creates a focal point for this lighter toned room
 Seeing double? This see through, two-way, fireplace has been placed in the middle of the living room in order to create two separate spaces while maintaining an open floor plan 
  A modern, low profile, fireplace gives way to the artistic to create their own unique space that warms the room
A more traditional fireplace with warmer tones that helps you feel right at home
Look again…Although you may not see it, this fireplace has 4 sides, some of which include storage for wood or blankets
This wide, modern, fireplace is the centerpiece that brings extra warmth to the vaulted ceiling room
A dramatically dark mantle of this fireplace along with dark accent pieces brings warmth into this large, multipurpose, living space
A two-way, see though, fireplace has been placed in the center of the room to be enjoyed from both sides in this costal home
For those warmer nights that you want to spend outdoors, why not spend them around an outdoor fireplace?
Do you know where this 4-sided, outdoor, fireplace is located?




Monday, December 9, 2013

2013 Design Home

It has been an exciting month for all of us here at Visbeen Architects. We have had two of our home designs featured in two different publications!  Emmett, located in South Haven, MI, was featured in the Michigan Blue Magazine and the Heartsworth, which resides in Ada, MI, is recognized in Grand Rapids Magazine as the 2013 Design Home. 

The Heartsworth is a one of a kind home built by Infiniti Custom Homes with interiors artfully designed by Lauren Greiner, interior designer, with Klingman's Design Studio

From start to finish this home has been all about the details. From the decision of how it would be placed on the property in order to accentuate the natural attributes of the nature preserve, to the X-style design incorporated in the interior and exterior details of the home. Enjoy seeing the interior and exterior details of this spectacular home. 







Thank you to all of those that helped this beautiful home to become a reality.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Michigan Blue: Winter Edition

The Winter edition of Michigan Blue Magazine has been released and is featuring one of our designs, Emmett. This lakefront home, located in South Haven, MI, is the final chapter of the Great Lake Story guide to finding a lakeside residence. 
This spectacular home was built buy Mike Schaap Builders and the interiors were designed by the talented team at Benchmark Design Studio led by Jodi Medina. 
This home was crafted to enhance the outdoor living spaces and to offer extraordinary, waterfront, sunset views. Read more about this charming lakefront home at Pier View Cottages and all it has to offer.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, December 2, 2013

Introducing Holly Stuut

Introducing the newest member at Visbeen Associates, Holly Stuut.
I will be taking over the blog and would like to take some time to introduce myself with a short bio. 
My name is Holly Stuut and I am the Office Manager at Visbeen Associates. I am 22 years-old and a recent graduate from Grand Valley State University. I moved to Grand Rapids from Southwest Michigan where I grew up. 
My duties at Visbeen range from social media management to office organization and client hospitality.  

Outside of work, I enjoy running, biking and spending time at the lake. My hobbies include cooking, reading, spending time with my family and keeping up with some of my favorite sports.