Architectural Tutorial: Craftsman Style

Architectural Tutorial: Craftsman Style
The Craftsman Style, otherwise known as Arts and Crafts, was based on the Arts and Crafts movement in Europe led by English architect William Morris in the early 1900s. At the time, art, furniture and residential architecture reflected the Industrial Revolution and Victorian Era, where machines introduced mass production. The Craftsman Style intended to combat this by focusing on a simpler lifestyle, centered around handcrafted elements, natural materials and straight lines, both horizontal and vertical. Built-in furniture, staircase details, stained glass windows and many other elements were...

Infill Home Designs

Infill Home Designs
The first question you may have is, what is infill? Infill is simply defined as, "the use of vacant land and property within a built-up area for further construction or development, especially as part of a neighborhood preservation or limited growth program."1 In recent years, we have seen a shift from urban sprawl to downtown residential development. Metropolitan areas are once again becoming the epicenter for work and entertainment, so instead of building homes in the suburbs, people are moving closer to where the downtown action is happening. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 80% of Americans...

Carlton Remodel

Carlton Remodel
This remodel is evidence that an ordinary home, given a few tweaks, can be turned into something extraordinary. The original floor plan of the “Carlton” was unimaginative and closed off. The new design opened things up, and improved the flow by moving the dining room from the front of the house to the newly renovated kitchen area.Around the curving staircase sits the window-lit family room. High ceilings, which leave the area open to an upstairs loft, give a spacious feel, while custom woodwork and the large hearth maintain a homey atmosphere. A large main floor master bedroom, bathroom and walk-in...

MiBiz Article: MoDiv's Motive To Offer Downtown Retailers Options

MiBiz Article: MoDiv's Motive To Offer Downtown Retailers Options
Read this recent artcle in MiBiz on our project with Rockford Construction for the space in the Peck Building in downtown Grand Rapids, called MoDiv:MoDiv's Motive To Offer Downtown Retailers Optionssource: www.mibiz.comBy Joe Boomgaard | MiBiz | jboomgaard@mibiz.comGRAND RAPIDS — Developers of a proposed retail incubator for downtown Grand Rapids hope to break down current barriers to retail expansion in the city’s core.Rockford Construction Company Inc.’s plans for space in the Peck Building at the corner of Monroe Center and Division Avenue call for turning the vacant space into a vibrant...

AIBD Global Choice Award: Calling for your Votes!

AIBD Global Choice Award: Calling for your Votes!
We have entered one of our projects in for the American Institute of Building Design's (AIBD) Global Choice Award, so we are asking for your votes! Anyone can vote once per computer for their favorite design (Visbeen Associates' design, we hope - hint, hint). Here is how to cast your vote:Step 1: Click HERE to view the 2011 entries & cast your vote!Step 2: Click on the link to our entry, titled "1E -11-005" which will take you to a YouTube video of our projectStep 3: Go back to the AIBD website and click "Click to VOTE"Step 4: Enter your name and state information (remember, you can only vote...

Fetching & Functional Built-Ins: Part Three

Fetching & Functional Built-Ins: Part Three
In part three of our fetching and functional built-in series, we will focus on built-ins that enhance entertainment in the home. Entertaining friends and family and the preparation that goes into their visit can be a streamlined and improved experience when elements are built-in. Check out these Visbeen Associates' designed built-ins that make throwing a party a delight instead of a chore.Let's start by looking at built-in bars, some of the most fun built-ins for us to design.The flow of Inverness' built-in bar and lounge into the lower level family room creates an open entertaining space where...

Stoneybrook Remodel

Stoneybrook Remodel
How do you take a bland, 1980’s contemporary home, and turn it into the embodiment of the French country style? That was the challenge presented to Visbeen Associates with the Stoneybrook.The ominous original exterior was transformed into a charming, inviting cottage. Double dormers were added in the sloping roof, while gray siding was exchanged for yellow, framed by cream-colored trim and a quaint stone facade.The interior was as much changed as the outside of the home. Extreme attention to detail enabled a complete metamorphosis of the inside spaces. In addition, the home was expanded in the...

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