Another ideabook feature on Houzz.com included our design the Hasserton's master bedroom filled will purples hues deemed "enchanting."  We love the delightful description this writer composed about this violet room...

"This bedroom oozes glamour with its mix of purple hues and reflective materials and surfaces. The bulk of the palette is actually quite light and neutral, but with its mix of colors and textures, the space is eye catching while still feeling restful."

Dreaming in Color: 8 Enchanting Purple Bedrooms

Lie down with lavender or wake up to vivid violet for a bedroom that both calms and energizes

Jennifer Ott

Houzz contributor and owner/designer at Jennifer Ott Interior Design. I... More 

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Purported to be a calming hue, purple is an excellent color choice for a bedroom. Darker, cooler purples can feel a bit heavy in a space, so they need to be offset with a good amount of natural or artificial light. You can warm up cooler purple hues with a healthy dose of light to medium wood tones. Hotter raspberry hues pair well with cool neutrals like gray, or metallic accents like stainless steel or brushed nickel.

I've pulled together eight fetching purple bedrooms from Houzz, along with my favorite purple paint colors that you can try out in your own bedroom.

Jennifer Ott Interior Design

Purple paint picks for bedrooms (clockwise from top left):

1. Purple Haze KM3065-1, Kelly-Moore
2. Fragrant Lilac 4001-5B, Valspar
3. Lavender Lining 006-4, Mythic Paint
4. Violet Petal 1382, Benjamin Moore
5. Painted Sunset 29-9, Pratt & Lambert
6. Purple Rhapsody 244-6, Pittsburgh Paints
7. Blueberry Popover 610D-5, Behr
8. Vesper Violet SW6542, Sherwin-Williams

MANI & Co

This is my favorite shade of purple — a darker version with a good amount of cooling blue and gray. It's easy to pull off an intense shade of purple when you have such a fantastic space full of natural light and warm wood tones. If your bedroom is lacking ample windows, you can still use a similar purple hue, but perhaps limit it to a small accent wall or part of a wall so your room doesn't become cavelike.

Window Works

Here's another deep purple hue; this one is a bit on the warmer side, with some red in it. This shade looks fantastic paired with dark wood tones and light, warm neutral hues.

Inspired Interiors

Obviously, most of us do not have large floor-to-ceiling windows in our bedrooms to bring in natural light that offsets large swaths of bold wall color. Here's an example of how you can inject a subtler dose of purple. This is a great way to introduce a fun color in your bedroom even if your space lacks abundant light.

Blink.is Design

Another option is to bring bold purple hues into your bedroom via textiles, and then pick a lighter lavender shade for the walls. You'll get a nice hint of soothing color in your bedroom that relates to the bolder hues in the accessories.

This bedroom oozes glamour with its mix of purple hues and reflective materials and surfaces. The bulk of the palette is actually quite light and neutral, but with its mix of colors and textures, the space is eye catching while still feeling restful.

Visbeen Architects

Arlington Home Interiors

If you favor a plethora of cool purple in your bedroom, try pairing it with light, warm neutrals for some contrast. It will help break up the color for visual balance.

Kimberley Seldon Design Group

For those with an expansive bedroom space, lucky you! However, it can be tricky working a bold color into a large, open space. The color can all too easily become heavy and overwhelming. Instead of putting the bold color on all of your walls, select a few of your favorite purple hues and find bedding and other decorative accessories in those colors. You'll get a nice smattering of color throughout the room without having to stress about where to start and stop bold paint color on the walls.

Beach Chic Design

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Here's another example of taking a light and neutral space and adding drama via purple furnishings. And should your love for purple wane, you can easily replace some of the textiles and accessories without breaking the bank.

Who is in the mood for a fresh-out-of-the-flames, wood-fired pizza?  Mmmmm....sounds good right about now.  Especially after reading this inspiring houzz.com ideabook on this luxurious kitchen extra.  It even features one of our homes, the Reynard.

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it...

Kitchen Luxuries: The Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

If you love homemade pizza and are (ahem) rolling in dough, a wood-burning oven may be just the right kitchen investment

Anne-Marie Brunet, CKD, CBD

Houzz Contributor, Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer and the principal... More 

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Pizza and wood-burning ovens are a popular addition to high-end kitchens these days. Few meals beat the taste of a perfectly crisp pizza pie from one of these ovens, and they bake everything from bread to chicken, making them a bonus cooking center for your dream kitchen. In cold weather you can simply start a fire and invite friends and family over to relax while you cook in front of the open flame.

Could a pizza oven be right for your next kitchen?

Applegate Tran Interiors

Wood-fired ovens require careful planning and meticulous attention to detail. They require a concrete base to support the weight of the stone around the oven, which is a project best left to a professional mason. The oven's interior should be made of clay-fired bricks to stand up to high temperatures and hold the heat well. The exterior can be made of any other fireproof material.

David Phillips

Here a traditional stone exterior complements the warm tones of this kitchen cabinetry.

Billy Beson Company

I love how this wood oven has a few windows for visual interest when the oven is fired up.

TEA2 Architects

If you tend to do larger meals or a lot of bread baking, a rectangular oven ceiling offers more space for batch cooking and baking.

The French Tradition

Although you have to wait for the oven to heat up, once it's in full cooking mode, your food will actually cook much faster. Plus, it offers the bonus of radiant heating.

I recommend including a space below the oven to store wood and kindling.

Veranda Homes

It generally takes an hour to an hour and a half for a wood-fired oven to reach its optimal temperature. A conventional stainless steel thermometer can help you find the precise temperature; some models come with temperature gauges. Keep in mind that you'll need doors or some kind of barrier in front of the fire to help you get an accurate reading.

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design

Once the oven is heated, the heat is stored in the thick walls and radiates evenly across the interior dome. The floor of the oven stays a few degrees cooler, which helps give pizzas a crispy exterior and a soft interior. Don't forget to get a pizza paddle!

Visbeen Architects

Custom pizza ovens are a big investment of time and money. If you want one built onsite, you'll need to account for labor, material selection and the necessary chimney and fan (which can add another $2,000 to the cost). Overall I find them to be comparable in price to a custom wood-burning fireplace. There are portable and modular wood-burning-oven kits, which offer the same functionality without the custom look. These kits tend to range from $6,500 to $13,000, depending on the size and material.

Southview Design

If you don't have the option to include an indoor wood-burning oven, consider carving out a bit of space in the yard to build a smaller version. Regardless of whether you opt for an indoor or outdoor pizza oven, always check your local building codes and speak with the building inspector before starting your project. Some municipalities do not allow outdoor fireplaces or wood-burning ovens.

Cosmo Home Grand Rapids: Relax, Enjoy the View

The Autumn Issue of Cosmo Home Grand Rapids is out and has one of our designs as the featured cover story.  Read the background of what went into the design and building process of the Allenwood as a second home for not one, but two families.  This cottage was built by Ashby Builders with interiors by the talented Francesca Owings Design.

This issue also includes information on the 36 homes in this year's Fall Parade of Homes that just began over the weekend.  Be sure to come and tour our 3 homes - they are show stoppers!

Fall Parade of Homes

After two and a half weeks of our city being decorated with amazing sculptures, large installations and one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork, ArtPrize is coming to an end.  {{{ sigh }}}.  But it just happens to be a perfect time to explore another form of artistry - homebuilding!  Design and craftsmanship are at their finest as the best-of-the-best West Michigan architects, designers and builders team up to showcase our form of art in this year's Fall Parade of Homes.  We had the pleasure of partnering with two talented builders and interior designers on three amazing projects that will be open for touring during the Fall Parade...

Emmett  [ Parade #31 ]
872 Monroe Blvd • South Haven 
Lakefront living is not often luxurious and conscious of size.  The Emmett design achieves both of these goals in style.  Despite being ideal for a narrow waterfront lot, this home leaves nothing wanting, offering homeowners three full floors of modern living.  Dining, kitchen, and living areas flank the outdoor patio space, while three bedrooms plus a master suite are located on the upper level.  The lower level provides additional gathering space and a bunk room, as well as a "beach bath" with walkout access to the lake. Built by Mike Schaap Builders, Interiors by Benchmark Wood Studio




* Available for Sale * for purchasing information, please contact Josi VanHorn / Real Estate Firm at  269-673-7133 

Sheridan  [ Parade #32 ]
876 Monroe Blvd • South Haven
This beautiful shaker home would sit comfortably on many sites, particularly those with a view.  The main floor offers a wide variety of inviting areas to gather, including a large combined kitchen, dining, and living area, a cozy hearth room, and an expansive deck off the back of the house. Two separate upper levels provide space for sleeping, the quarters above the garage acting as a guest apartment.  Extra bunk beds, billiards, seating areas and access to more outdoor living can be found on the lower level, making entertaining easy.  Built by Mike Schaap Builders, Interiors by Benchmark Wood Studio

* Available for Sale * 
[ for purchasing information, please contact Josi VanHorn / Real Estate Firm at  269-673-7133 ]

Harvey  [ Parade #2 ]
5896 Whitworth Ct • Grand Rapids
This quintessential family home offers owners comfort, functionality, and a beautiful space to gather.  This home encompasses all of these qualities and throws in luxury and style, too.  Exterior details reflect the American Craftsman and Shingle styles of the late 19th century.  On the main level, the formal dining room flows into the living area and kitchen, offering more than enough space and seating for large groups of friends and family to congregate.  The well-appointed master suite is also located on the main floor.  Climb the turreted stairs to the upper level and you will find two bedroom suites, a guest room, laundry facilities, and a home office.  The lower level provides a guest suite, and a comfortable family and hearth area, as well as a refreshment bar and an additional office.  Built by Falcon Custom Homes, Interiors by Gallery Interiors

The parade begins tomorrow, October 4 and goes through Saturday, October 19 with hours as follows:
Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays:  1:00pm - 8:00pm

We hope to see you there!

Bed Designs Plans

Buying a bed can prove to be quite a headache to make a decision on. Since it is considered an investment, you would want it to last for years. Not only for its durability, but also for its versatility since you would want something that can go with the change of times and the growing needs of a family. A major consideration when buying a bed is its ability to transition over the years, Bunk beds have long proven to serve its purpose of saving space by providing more sleeping units for occupants and maximizing available bedroom space. Two twin beds, with one stacked up on top of the other a bunk bed has come a long way from its basic design over the past decades. Loft beds take on an entirely different concept on maximizing space. It is basically a raised bed with the space underneath utilized to house a number of functional features such as a desk, some shelving and drawers and even a convertible futon or trundle bed, A bunk bed is practical and efficient for families with young children. Its convenience proves its worth because you don't need to bother yourself with pulling out a bed or assembling and dismantling after each use. All you need to do is fix its linen and bedding. Kids and teenagers usually would like to have sleepovers and a bunk bed can be your saving grace. And as the years go by and you kids have grown and need a room of their own, these bunk beds can be transformed into a either a loft bed or two separate beds. Just remove the lower bunk, and reinstall the railings on each side of each bed, A loft bed on the other hand, has been designed for full functional use other than just for sleeping. It can carry a twin to a queen size mattress on the top bunk with the open space underneath used to integrate additional features. Loft bed design plans can include a sweet play with chairs and convertible futon or sofa, a work station complete with a chair, computer pull out desks, entertainment cubbies for a TV and whatever electronic thingamajigs. Some even have a mini closet with a clothes rack and drawers, and even a detachable chest. A loft bed's features provides a cozy nook for kids to play in and build their own little containment area. For a grown up, it's a perfect set up to study or catch up on some reading or just have a reason to get out of bed without having to leave your bedroom. Should you have some company over, loft beds that come with futons or a trundle can easily accommodate a sleepover guest or just prop up the futon for extra seating.

Bed Designs

Picking from the wide range of beds may not be easy for the person who is unfamiliar with the different styles and features available on the market. Many furniture stores seem to carry stock of predominantly traditional designs, and for those who aren't fans of these types of beds, it can be hard to know where to turn ,For most people, a wooden bed design will be what they end up choosing. Many do not even consider getting a metal bed, for instance. Wood certainly is the better choice for most people, as it is actually less energy intensive to harvest wood than to create metal, in most cases. It is also more comfortable to touch than metal, and has a degree of give that stiffer metal does not,Metal beds, however, remain superior in certain regards. A well-made metal bed will probably be stronger and more durable than a wooden bed in the same price range. Mass produced metal beds still feature strong joints, whereas many wooden beds have joints of questionable strength. From a pure design perspective, metal also offers more possibilities in terms of what can be done with the bed frame. This is especially pronounced in contemporary loft bed designs, but is also true of bunk bed designs and even platform bed designs to a large degree. Even those who are more attracted to traditional or antique styles may wish to get a metal bed made of bronze or featuring wrought iron decorations. From a purely practical standpoint, metal beds and in particular metal bunk beds may be preferred by parents with many or very rowdy kids. There's less worry about breakage that way, Many prefer something in the middle, which is perhaps reflected in the choices available in the showrooms of large furniture companies. Here, beds tend to be large and feature generous designs and construction. There's little of the feeling that these beds seek to emphasize their structure; rather, they generally project qualities like nobleness, luxuriousness, and other such things, Modern bed designs do tend to differ greatly from older bed designs, and many people will fall into one camp or the other. Whether wood or metal, the latest designs tend to be minimalist and feature clean lines and simple outlines. More traditional beds may also be relatively simple, but some can be downright gaudy, It's a good idea to consider purchases from a design perspective as design influences how we will feel when interacting with that object. Whether for bed designs