Shore Magazine: Gull Lake home designed for lakeside living and entertaining

9:54 AM – by 0
Shore Magazine did a nice piece on our Gull Lake design, the Highfield.  If you haven't heard the story behind the design yet, check it out here...



GULL LAKE HOME

Gull Lake home designed for lakeside living and entertaining

February 19, 2013 12:00 am  •  Jane Ammeson
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When it came time to design the house replacing the 3,000-square-foot summer home they’d enjoyed for 15 years, Mary and Kevin Beyer knew they wanted to take full advantage of their waterfront property on scenic Gull Lake in Hickory Corners, Michigan. But Mary Beyer wanted a home with a street presence while her husband opted for a home with a definitive lake presence.
“They talked to different designers before working with us,” says Angela Mulder, director of sales and marketing for Visbeen Associates Inc., a Grand Rapids and Chicago based architectural firm which won 12 American Residential Design Awards (ARDA) last year.  “They weren’t happy with their ideas.”
Wayne Visbeen, the AIA and IIDA certified president and founder of Visbeen Associates, was able to combine both visions to design Highfield, a $1 million 5,297-square-foot summer home built by Falcon Custom Homes and featured in the2012 Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo’s 22nd Annual Parade of Homes.
“The home was created for entertaining and to maximize the view of the lakes,” says Mulder about the five bedroom and four and a half bath house. “The couple have adult children so to give them privacy there’s a two bedroom   apartment over the garage.  Outdoor living is enhanced with screened in porches and Wayne designed a boat bar that literally looks like the rear of a boat complete with a fog machine where smoke comes out of a pipe. There’s also another boat bar outside.”
The boat bar, with its rich mahogany features, is a homage to the vintage watercraft of yesteryear before the advent of fiberglass. Other special touches include five stall and three stall garages as well as one with space enough to accommodate the necessary toys of lake living such as boats, fishing gear and watercrafts such as jet-skis. Two of three bedrooms have walk-outs and the master bedroom features a private deck overlooking the landscaped garden fronting the water. A screened in porch connects the dining room to the lakefront without impeding the view.  The kitchen, with its two level island, is great for entertaining and a walk-in pantry with its sliding door can hold all the viands necessary for feeding large crowds.
The yard fronting the water has a stone pathway leading to the docks and almost every room in the home’s upstairs has a view of the lake. High ceilings, large windows, granite counters, white trim and warm toned colors accented with nautical themes which tie into the owners’ love of water make the home inviting rather than baronial. Heated hickory wood floors are a stylish way to keep feet from getting cold.
Though the original property was a heritage home, it also was definitely just for warm weather having no central heating and, awkwardly because of the way the ground slopes down to the water, access to the front meant walking down steps. The new home instead is multi-leveled with an indoor bridge providing easy access from the guest quarters and main street entrance to the lakeside living and entertainment areas.
“It’s a unique design even for us in the custom home business,” says Mulder. “It certainly is perfect for what the couple wanted.”

Houzz Ideabook: 10 Ways to Entertain Kids on Rainy Days

12:55 PM – by 0
Have you ever experienced kids "bouncing off the walls" when the weather outside is less than desirable?  In Michigan, we know this too well and let's be honest, it's not a pretty sight.  Here is a fun Houzz.com ideabook with options for indoor activities and locations in the home that will cure your kids cooped up feeling on a rainy day.  Be sure to check out our very own Kearney Hill stair nook that landed on this list!


Room Guide: Master Suites that Up the Romance

1:37 PM – by 0
It's Valentines Day, which means most people are turning up the romantic volume in their life.  Does your master suite reflect that same va-va-voom?  A romantic room doesn't have to be filled to the brim with flowers and candles (although keep in mind, guys, those are always a good idea).  Here are few tips on upping the atmosphere of your master sanctuary.

"I'm going to surround myself with wood.  Wood, Jerry! Wood!"  (please tell me there are some Seinfeld lovers out there who know what I'm talking about)
Ok, so we aren't really talking about wall to wall, floor to ceiling wood, although that could work in the right circumstances.  We are referring to the power of wood architectural details and trimwork in a master suite design. Granted, we are an architectural firm, so perhaps we are a little biased, but we believe the introduction of wood textiles to the pallet can have a very calming effect.  Plus it looks gorgeous, and what's more romantic than that!

Curvaceous-ness
We love a curved wall or barrel ceiling.  We especially love a curved wall or barrel ceiling in the master suite.  They add an element of whimsy, which can feel very fairy-tale-like and enchanting.  Now there's a way to live happily ever after!  

Take advantage of the views
If your master bedroom or bath have great views, embrace it!  Position the bed to make the most of the view and let nature make the ambiance.  The hues of a sunset are some of the most romantic light God created.


Textures 
From mirrors to wallpaper to fabrics to furniture, the texture of the decor can reflect a sense of sophistication and relaxation.  Using a mixture of woods, natural fibers, and leathers all evoke a calm that turns the master suite into a retreat.  Metallics can often reflect beautiful light patterns in the room which are especially gorgeous by candle light. 



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