Heaven on Earth Home

Interior Designer, Margaux Drake, blogged about a design meeting with Wayne Visbeen and I thought you'd enjoy reading it here. What's your Heaven on Earth Home?

Wilcox Gardens

This May, the magnificent local Wilcox Estate may be toured as the Women’s Committee of the Grand Rapids Symphony presents its 2010 Symphony Showhouse. From May 1 to May 23 you can experience it for yourself and join us at our many special events.

Once part of the old Aspey Farm Dairy, the Wilcox Estate, which was built in 1923, was first used as a community house and summer estate for the Wilcox family and friends. The building with its three graceful arched entrances and intriguing features was designed by prominent Grand Rapids architect Kenneth W. Welch.

This major fundraiser to support the Grand Rapids Symphony will celebrate great music as well as great architecture. We also would like to thank our Honorary Chair Nancy Loeschner, a local East Grand Rapids resident for her many years of support to the Women’s Committee as well as the Grand Rapids Symphony.

The Showhouse is open:

Wednesday to Friday 11am-4pm and 6pm to 9pm.

Saturday and Sunday 12pm -5pm

Related to the Symphony Showhouse, there are five of the seven remaining Wilcox Gardens lots for which Visbeen Associates has completed preliminary designs. Lots 3, 4, 5, 6 & 8 are for sale through Katie Karczewski / Keller Williams and will be built by Jeffery Roberts Homes. Take a look!

Montrose Park

Grant Park

Hyde Park

Garfield Park

Lincoln Park

Great Lake Story

I hope you're following Great Lake Story in Michigan Blue magazine and enjoying Jim & Susan Buda's captivating journal entries. In Blue's Winter publication the journal entry refers to the sketches Wayne Visbeen drew in the first five hours of their initial meeting. They are attached below:

Initial Concept Front Sketch

Initial Concept Rear Sketch

Initial Concept Side Sketch

Initial Concept Driveway Sketch

Initial Main Level Sketch

Initial Upper Level Sketch

Initial Concept Lower Level Sketch

Initial Concept Family Room

Initial Concept Kitchen Sketch

Initial Concept Lower Level

Initial Concept Billiards Room

Final Concept Front Sketch

Final Concept Rear Sketch

Final Living Room Sketch

Wish Granted

Today I'm repeating part of a post from April where I featured Lily's Wish. Lily has osteosarcoma, a cancer affecting her bones, and was matched with Wayne Visbeen through theMake-A-Wish Foundation. Wayne sat with Lily back in January and designed her playhouse with her (she had a lot of ideas!) I just saw a photo of the finished house & thought you would like to see it too! Please continue to keep Lily & her family in your thoughts and prayers.