Kessler

The Kessler is a contemporary dream come true. This sprawling two-story home is distinctive in design and aesthetic. Utilizing simple shapes, clean lines, and unique materials, the exterior of the home makes a strong impression.

Large, single-paned windows light up the interior spaces. The main living area is an open space, including the foyer, sitting room, dining area and kitchen. Also on the main level are a screened porch, dual patios, exercise room, master bedroom and guest suite.

The lower level offers two additional guest suites, an entertainment center and game room, all with daylight windows.

For more photos of this project, please visit the gallery of our website - www.visbeen.biz > gallery > residential projects > estates > kessler.

Built by Bouwkamp Builders

Grand Rapids Cosmopolitan Home: Space to Play

In their late summer issue from last month, Grand Rapids Cosmopolitan Home Magazine did a cover feature story on one of our designs, the Andover.  The homeowner said, about their experience designing a home with Visbeen Architects, "I met with Wayne to talk about what I had in mind and he took it from there.  He immediately started sketching while I talked, and eventually came up with this design.  He is truly an artist."  Check out the full story and photos of this great home with "space to play."

A job well done to the entire team that brought the design to life!

For ease of reading, click here to view the digital issue of the magazine.

Also featured in this issue are the award-winners from the Spring Parade of Homes, including three of our designs; Pine Valley, Warren (architecture & interior architecture) & Eagles End (Meadowview) (hardscape architecture).

Fall Parade of Homes

It's that time again!  The Fall Parade of Homes starts tomorrow and we have a couple show-stoppers for you to see!

The hours of the Parade of Homes are as follows:

October 5 - 20 
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
1:00pm - 8:00pm

We look forward to hopefully seeing you there!

Grand Rapids Magazine: Building Your Dreams

"They give you the 'wow' factor that you're looking for...[Wayne] drew the front of this house, freehand, in like five minutes while we talked, and the minute he drew it, I knew it would be fantastic."

This is just a little glimpse into the design process with Visbeen Architects according to Stacey Rendon of Infiniti Custom Homes.  In the latest issue of Grand Rapids Magazine, the journey through our design of Infiniti's Spring Parade Home, the Domenico, is detailed from the plans to the preliminaries to the practical luxuries of this fabulous speculation home.  Read about the process, the finished product and the new homeowner's love for this Tuscan-inspired design with a twist.

For ease of reading, click here to view the full article on our website.

Building Hope

You're Invited!  Our design, the Hasserton, will be the setting of a worthy fundraising event called Building Hope, offering an exclusive sneak peek of this beautiful waterfront home.  The event is on Wednesday, October 3 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm and will include a strolling dinner, cocktails and live entertainment as you experience lake living at its' best.  Tickets are $125 per person and all proceeds will support the vital cancer and neurodegenerative disease research that the Van Andel Institute is doing.  We are proud to be a sponsor of this great event and hope you can join us in supporting Van Andel Institute's ongoing commitment to improving the health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations.

For more information on this event, please visit Van Andel Institute's website.

West Michigan home building groups team up for Fall Parade of Homes tour

The HBA Fall Parade of Homes is right around the corner and mLive.com did a nice write-up on the event, including a spotlight image of one of our parade homes on Silver Lake in Rockford, the Hasserton.  Thank you mLive!

Stay tuned next week for a preview of our designs in the Fall Parade this year!

West Michigan home building groups team up for Fall Parade of Homes tour

Published: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 3:15 PM     Updated: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 5:29 PM

 By Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com 
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Courtesy renderingThis $1 million-plus home on Silver Lake near Rockford is one of 27 new homes featured on the Fall Tour of Homes. Designed by Visbeen Associates and Jeffrey Roberts, this home is being built by Scott Christopher Homes.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Two West Michigan home building groups announced Thursday they will display 27 new homes, two remodeled homes and two “conceptual” homes on their Fall Parade of Homes this year.

The parade, which will run from Oct. 5 through Oct. 20, will feature homes in 17 different communities, including Ada, Algoma, Allendale, Alto, Blendon Twp., Byron Center, Fennville, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Hudsonville, Lowell, Nunica, and Rockford.

The annual Fall Parade of Homes is being presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids, the Lakeshore Homebuilders Association and Lake Michigan Credit Union. It's a new collaboration between the homebuilders.

“We are very excited with the new partnership between the two associations," said Emily Seibert, executive officer of the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids. "We have homes all around West Michigan, from lakefront properties to downtown Grand Rapids”

The parade will feature residences in 17 different communities and prices of the houses will range from $100,000 to more than $2 million. The entries will feature the latest trends in building styles, green practices, custom details, unique floor coverings, wall treatments, quality products, and landscaping.

New homes will be open for touring on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Remodeled homes will be open for touring on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tickets for the parade are available for $10 in advance when purchased at a Lake Michigan Credit Union branch. Tickets can be purchased online for $11 or for $12 when purchased at a parade home. Children 12 and under are free.

Ticket purchases will include the official Parade Guide with maps, a coupon for five dollars in gas from Meijer Inc. and admission to tour any home in the Kalamazoo Parade of Homes. Tickets purchased online or at Lake Michigan Credit Unions will also receive 20 percent off dining at select Gilmore Collection restaurants.

Standale Interiors, radio station Star 105.7-FM and the home builders also are sponsoring VIP bus tours on Oct. 10 and Oct. 17.

For more information on the Parade of Homes, contact the HBAGGR at (616) 281-2021, or view the Parade online at www.ParadeOfHomesMi.com. 
E-mail Jim Harger: jharger@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JHHarger

Are Architects Still Worth It?

There is a very interesting discussion happening on Freakonomics' website about whether or not architects are economically valuable to the housing industry.

Well, I'm sure you know what our answer would be - of course we are worth it!  We talk to potential clients every day about the value of our services.  We strive to provide efficient floor plans, aesthetically pleasing designs and, most importantly, a home that works for exactly how our clients live.  We can save clients the cost of our architectural services just by eliminating inefficient space in a floor plan that doesn't work how the homeowner needs it to.  A few years ago, we had an ad slogan that read "you can't afford not to hire us."  When you put the pen to paper, if we can save you 500 square feet of wasted space, that could save you anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 in construction costs.

So to answer Marc Krawitz' question - are architects still worth it?  Yes.

[To view the full discussion on Freakonomics and join the conversation, click here.  There are some great answers provided by members of the industry]