Thursday, February 13, 2014

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 hereTo 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


Monday, February 10, 2014

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.




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.


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 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.


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.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

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
Interior Designer:  Jeffery Roberts Interiors



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
Interior Designer & Merchandiser:  Benchmark Wood Studio
Developer:  Chad VanHorn
Land Planner:  Debest Landscaping

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

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.



Monday, February 3, 2014

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

Thursday, January 30, 2014

International Builders Show 2014

 As many of you know, next week is the 2014 NAHB International BuildersShow in Las Vegas.
Not only will we be attending the show, Wayne Visbeen will be speaking at the International Builders show in a Spotlight Session, "2014 Trends:  60 Design Ideas in 60 Minutes" on Tuesday February 4thWayne, along with many other leaders in the industry will be covering market trends for interior, exterior and outdoor living and how to get those looks on a tight budget.  This session will be located in room, South 223 at 10am on Thursday morning.
Wayne will also be giving a 1-hour design presentation on Wednesday afternoon covering the design challenges of the project site, exteriors, planning and interiors on 4 of our home designs. This presentation is at 3pm in room, South 224. 

In addition to speaking in the Spotlight session and the design presentation, Wayne will be participating in two plan review workshops in which the designers and architects will be spending 25 minutes in 1-on-1 sessions to review home plans. Wayne will be reviewing plans in two sessions:  The first is a Kitchen Design Plan Review on Tuesday at 1pm located in room, South 224. The second Plan review is the Interior Design Plan Review on Thursday at 1pm which is also in room, South 224
Follow our Facebook to keep up with our activities at the International Builder Show.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Last week one of our home designs was included in the Builder Magazine news letter. In the article "Four Plans:  4 Great New Plans for 2014", Harvey was the featured home plan under the 'Room to Expand Downstairs' category. Last week our home design, Harvey, was featured in the Builder magazine news letter as one of the "4 Great Plans for 2014". You can read the article here in our blog.
You can find more more photos of 'Harvey' on our Pinterest and Houzz pages. 
Built by: Falcon 


FourPlans: 4
Great New Plans for 2014

It’s all about versatility and surprising touches of luxury with these new plans. The layouts are designed to flex over time, which also means they will appeal to many different types of buyers now. Other up-to-date design features include outdoor living, lots of storage, and – of course – open kitchens.


Ideal for empty nesters who want to scale back, this 1,392-square-foot design has the soul (and amenities) of a much larger luxury home. Golf cart storage, an outdoor grill, and an open island kitchen add serious appeal. In the master suite, a large walk-in closet and access to the porch create a welcoming haven. Two more bedrooms make this design suitable for young families, too. See more images, information, and the floor plan.
Here's a unique, fun home with great indoor and outdoor spaces. The large family area opens via sliding glass doors onto a lanai with an outdoor fireplace. Conveniently located on the main level, the master suite opens to its own terrace and boasts a spacious bathroom and walk-in closet. A study doubles as a guest room and has access to a full bath with shower. Upstairs, two more bedrooms have use of the optional media room and huge bonus game room. See more images, information, and the floor plan.
Room to Expand Downstairs
Designed by Visbeen Architects, this home offers comfort, functionality, and beautiful spaces in which to gather. On the main level, the formal dining room flows into the living area and kitchen. The well-appointed master suite is also located on the main floor. Ascend the turreted stairs to find three more bedrooms, laundry facilities, and a bright home office. The optional lower level provides more space for guests, work, and play. See more images, information, and the floor plan.
The versatile layout inside this lovely home makes it a great choice for many different living situations; a couple, a young family, or empty nesters with frequent guests would be especially comfortable here. The open plan and first-floor master suite add convenience for the home owners. Upstairs, two bedrooms, a hall bath, and a massive bonus area that can be converted into a rec room are perfect for family or visiting friends. A study/fourth bedroom sits on the main level, along with a screened side porch just off the great room. See more images, information, and the floor plan.