Professional Builder Magazine Cover

One of Visbeen Associates' designs, the Hampshire, made the cover of Professional Builder Magazine last month. Check out the cover photo of the Hampshire's beautiful kitchen! To see more photos of this home design, visit the gallery of our website (www.visbeen.biz) > Residential Projects > American Neighborhood > Hampshire.

Become a Blog Follower/Subscriber!

If you haven't done so already, we encourage you to follow/subscribe to our blog by submitting your email address in the space just to the right of this post. You will be kept up to date on anything new we post here on our blog with a simple email.

Why subscribe, you ask? Here are a few reasons...

1. All things VAI: you will be kept up to date on all things related to our firm - where you will find us when we are in the news, trade shows where we will have a booth, our award winning designs, the social side of our firm (we have one, we promise!), any happenings with our staff members as well as many other items of special interest regarding our firm.

2. Extensive view of our projects: we post renderings, sketches and photos of projects recently started, currently in progress or already completed. See the variety of styles and types of work we do on a regular basis and how we might be able to help with any design needs you may have!

3. It's educational: we not only post items of special interest regarding our firm, we also try to offer an educational spin on the architecture we do. Learn the meaning of architectural terms you never knew you didn't know in our monthly Architectural Tutorial. Get design tips from Wayne Visbeen on a variety of topics that will make your house a home. Read about local vendors we work with regularly during the design and construction process.

4. Contests: we have contests/quizzes on items posted on our blog, so if you subscribe and participate in them on our facebook page, you will be sure to win some prizes!

Here are a few things NOT to expect from subscribing to our blog...

1. Spam emails: you will not be signing up for emails from anyone but us. We have never and will never share your information with any company outside of Visbeen Associates.

2. Emails asking for something: this blog is meant to offer information to you, its free and meant to be fun, so we hope you just sit back and enjoy. The only thing we will ever ask for is your participation!

If you would like to keep up to date on all of these fun items of interest, enter your email address in the blank on the right side of our blog and click 'Subscribe.' You will be sent an email within minutes from FeedBurner to verify your email address before your subscription is activated, so be sure to check your inbox and spam folder for the email. Click on the link in the email that is sent to you and you will be all signed up. It's that easy!

Licensed in 6 States

Did you know that Wayne Visbeen is a licensed architect in 6 states? Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey and, most recently, Illinois. We regularly work with clients on projects out of state and have never found distance to be an issue during the design process. One of our out of state clients recently said,

"The high level of accuracy and detail in the project documents avoided many of the issues that often raise questions, cause delays and result in extras. When questions did arise, Paul Fikse and the rest of Wayne’s team presented solutions that met the design intent, supported the project budget, and were provided in a timely fashion. As a result, we never found the geographic distance between us to be an issue. In fact, we often commented that we got faster results from Michigan than we were able to get from our local architects."

If you or someone you know is in need of architectural design services locally or outside of the state of Michigan, please contact our office today!

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu!

Our controller for many years, Marcy Stellin, recently left her position at Visbeen Associates for another great career opportunity. So we bid farewell to Marcy in true VAI style this week - with a party! Here are some photos from our little get-together at Brewery Vivant.

Marcy - so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu! We wish you the best in your future endeavors and thank you for your many years of faithful service here at VAI!

Party just getting started

Getting ready to try some of Brewery Vivant's fantastic brews

Our venue for the party, Brewery Vivant, a new pub/brewery located in an old funeral chapel

Food, drink and fellowship!

Hugs goodbye!

Farewell speech from Wayne

We surprised her with a little going away present

Framed renderings of her beautiful, VAI-designed home!

2 East Fulton Design Concepts

What used to be the Junior Achievement Building on the corner of Fulton and Division in downtown Grand Rapids has been purchased by Locus Development with plans to fully renovate the property. Visbeen Associates is the design architect working with Locus and Tower Pinkster (architect of record) on the design of this project - check out these conceptual watercolors recently rendered by the talented David Lorenz. We are very excited about the project and the potential for this downtown diamond-in-the-rough!

Vote for Paul Fikse!

Our Vice President, Paul Fikse, is currently running for Byron Center Public School Board in the upcoming election on May 3, 2011. Paul is involved in the community through his three children currently attending Byron Center schools. You may have seen him at one of many equestrian, swimming, volleyball, baseball and other sporting events that he has been involved with and attended over the years. Fikse has most recently added participation in the Watch Dog Dads program to his contribution to the school district. According to Fikse, "it is undeniable how important the education of our children is. The knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom and in extra curricular activities will serve each student in developing the framework for the rest of their life. This is noteworthy both as a parent and for the community at large." He has always been a big proponent for public education after growing up in a large school district in the suburbs of Chicago. Fikse says, "I've always worked towards excellence, and given the opportunity to join the school board, I will work with that same goal in mind while also being a positive influence on the education system in Byron Center." Vote for Paul Fikse on May 3, 2011!

Architectural Tutorial: Shingle Style

The Shingle style is an architectural style that is uniquely American. Simply defined, it a style in which the entire building is covered in shingles. It developed in the late 1800's out of the Stick and Queen Anne styles because of a revived interest in colonial American architecture from the 17th century. The style is characterized by having a picturesque or rustic look, with irregular roof lines including hipped, gabled, or gambrel, free-flowing floor plans, open porches, and less variety in color and materials.*

Over the years, we have become known for our work in traditional residential architecture, including the numerous shingle style homes we have designed. Take a look at a few of our designs as well as some of our uniquely original variations.

This dramatic design, called the Westchester, takes its inspiration from the past but retains the best of the present.

Our most recognizable design - the Ingleside. The challenge of this modern version of the shingle-style was to recreate the classic look while avoiding the pitfalls of the original materials.

Touches of the ever-popular Shingle Style – from the cedar lap siding to the pitched roof – imbue the Wainsborough with all-American charm without sacrificing modern convenience.

Filled with traditional accents, this Shingle-style design, called Cypress Pointe, features a stylish exterior and a thoroughly livable interior.

The Blaine was inspired by both the relaxed aspect of the Shingle Style and the all-American Four Square found around the country.

Ideally suited for property across the street from a lake, this distinctive, shingle-style home is designed for primary viewing from its expansive wrap-around porch and myriad front-facing vantage points.

*sources: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/540781/Shingle-style,

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=9251&term_type_id=3&term_type_text=things&letter=S