Thursday, January 2, 2014

While browsing Houzz the article "The 15 Most Popular Closet Luxuries on Houzz" caught my attention. Earlier this week we discussed the New Year resolution to be more organized, what better way to do that than to add a few perks to your existing closet or ideas for converting an unused room into an elegant and functional walk-in.  From us here at Visbeen, here is walk-in closet favorite from our award winning home, Hasserton. 



To see more walk-in closet organization ideas, follow the link to read the article on Houzz.


Monday, December 30, 2013

Every year, many people talk about the resolutions they are making for the upcoming year, many of which involve having better self discipline. One of the most common resolutions is to be more organized.

 With 2014 just around the corner, why not make it your resolution this year? A great way to help accomplish this resolution would be to add a home management or study space to your home. Whether it is a home in the process of being designed, an addition to your current home or simply transforming an, existing unused space into a zone of productivity.

Creating a home management space is a great solution to help get yourself and your family organized in 2014! Here is a little organizational design inspiration in these home office spaces designed by Visbeen Architects. 

Thursday, December 26, 2013

December 26th: Boxing Day

Happy Boxing Day, also known as Day of Goodwill. It is historically known as the day servants receive gifts from their bosses. Some people just take December 26th off to spend time with friends and family and to recover from the Christmas festivities. However, it is best known as one of the biggest shopping days of the year. However you choose to spend your day you should take a moment to check out this article from our friends on HOUZZ for some ideas for what you could do with your December 26th. 


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Wishing you a day full of love and joy. 
Merry Christmas from all of us here at Visbeen Architects.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Pier View Cottages

For those of you that have been following the blog this past year you will have seen the posts about the article for the 2013 'Great Lake Story' from Michigan Blue Magazine. It has been a pleasure to work with the team at Mike Schaap Builders to bring these lakeside visions from Visbeen Architects to life.

Located on a private beach in South Haven, MI, each of these spectacular homes have an unobstructed view of the pier and the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan. These award-winning designs are within walking distance of downtown South Haven, a premiere beach town in West Michigan. 
If you are looking for a lake home or you simply would like to see the product of two talented teams, visit the Pier View Cottages website to view these beautiful lake homes and the charming beach community in which they are located.


Thursday, December 19, 2013

Greenbuild Recap

A few weeks ago Wayne Visbeen traveled to Philadelphia, PA and met up with the folks from GAF to do live drawings, in their booth, at the Greenbuild Conference. It was very exciting to be able to partner with GAF this year as they - GAF - and the world of architects and builders prepare for the updated version of LEED standards. 
Wayne Visbeen talking with architecture students at Greenbuild. Read the article at the USGBC website
In case you do not know:
GAF is the largest manufacturer of commercial and residential roofing in North America and one of the very few manufacturers to be a USGBC Platinum member.
"LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is transforming the way we think about how our buildings and communities are designed, constructed, maintained and operated across the globe". 
Want to learn a little more about what we did at Greenbuild? Read the blog from the USGBC website to learn a little more about the happenings with GAF at Greenbuild 2013. 
Photo via. GreenBuild Website 

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.