Special Bonus Issue: Cottages

We proud to share that our firm was the featured residential architect in the most recent Michigan BLUE magazine. This is a special edition of the magazine which is dedicated to cottages features some of Michigan's best teams to work with when building or remodeling a new home. 

The Laurel, located in South Carolina and a recent winner of the Best in the South Atlantic Region, was a home built to suit a variety of homebuyers. The vision for this home shows that good design is the best way to utilize all of the available space in a floor plan and to get "more bang for your buck".

We would like to congratulate Mary Burns, Owner of Gallery Interiors and Rockford Kitchen Design, and her team for being featured for their experience and excellence in interior design for retail and private homes. In addition, we would like to recognize the team at Mike Schaap Builders for their success in building custom homes. Both companies were featured in the new edition as well.

If you would like to see more photos of this charming South Carolina home and other homes designed by Visbeen Architects you can visit our website or find them on Houzz. You can read more about the vision of our firm in the article below.

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.

Houzz Tour of Sunset View: Elegance by the Lake

Houzz, a destination site for home design enthusiasts, professionals and homeowners, was kind enough to feature a home tour of one of our favorite lakefront designs, the Sunset View. Check out what they had to say about this beautiful lakeside abode.

Houzz Tour: Cozy Elegance by the Lake

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More»

Browse Home Office Products on Houzz- For Example:

Bulletin Board · Cable Management · Desk Accessories · Desks · Filing Cabinets And Carts · Task Chairs ·

South Haven Cottage For Sale

Visbeen Associates designed a cottage on Lake Michigan that is available for sale. Situated on Monroe Boulevard in the City of South Haven, this residence is nearly 3,000 sq feet on three floors and sleeps 8-12 people comfortably. The home's entry level includes a cozy kitchen with breakfast nook and pantry, a dining room with built-ins and a spacious living room with unobstructed, panoramic views of Lake Michigan, the pier and lighthouse. The mid-level of the home houses the master suite with "His and Hers" closets and a gracious master bath. It also boasts a bunk room with an attached bath and the laundry room. Entering the basement level of this cottage, you will find a lovely guest suite with attached bathroom and a covered patio for outdoor dining. This basement level is completed with a large family room with wet bar. The premier 1/3 acre Lake Michigan waterfront property offers no-bluff, private beach front and is within walking distance to shopping, dining and South Haven entertainment and nightlife. The Municipal Marina, biking and hiking paths are nearby. Currently under construction, this home will be completed in time for the new owner to enjoy their 2011 summer on the beach!

If you are interested in this property, please contact Chad Van Horn at 269-217-0122 or chad@erealestatefirm.com.

Expansive views of Lake Michigan

Walk right out the back door to your private, sandy beach

The Beach House

Kearney Hill is featured in the spring issue of Michigan Blue Magazine, on newsstands today! Read about Jim & Kim's journey through the design and building of their beautiful lakeshore retreat.

To read the full article, click here or to view more photos of this project, visit our website > gallery > residential > cottages > kearney hill.

Built by Insignia Homes

Interiors by Julie Holmes

The Cottage & Lakefront Living Show

The Grand Rapids Cottage & Lakefront Living Show is this weekend at DeVos Place. It's going to be great! Visbeen Associates, Falcon Custom Homes and Gallery Interiors have teamed up to present you The Birch. Here are some "under construction" photos & a short video clip as it's being built this week (over only four days!) in the convention center.

A Day at the Cottage

On Saturday Wayne & Marcia Visbeen graciously invited all of the Visbeen Associates employees and families over to their beautiful cottage and we had a wonderful time. We boated, played volleyball and ate a ton!

Angela Mulder and her family (Jonathan; Isaac & Charlotte)

David Lorenz's wife & daughter (Emily; Elena)

Megan TerVeen and her husband (Chris)

Wayne Visbeen, the grill master