A term that originated from the Middle Ages, a "cottage" referred to the dwellings of agricultural workers, or cotters, and their friends a family. Cottages were smaller peasant units, usually on the property of larger plantations or estates. Today, cottages most often refer to buildings used as second homes or weekend getaways for city dwellers. The architectural style aspects of cottages were inspired by medieval styles of the English countryside and became popular with American architects in the 1920s and 1930s. Although not required characteristics, the common features of...
Runway for Charity
A.K. Rikk's, Design 1 Salon Spa, Aura Cosmetics, The Matthew Agency and our firm, Visbeen Architects, are bringing Grand Rapids the must see fashion show of the summer, called Runway for Charity. All proceeds from the event benefit the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. The last event in 2011 (formerly known as the Design 1 Fashion Event), had over 500 attendees and raised upwards of $25,000 for Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. But they have upped the ante this year. The goal is to raise $100,000, so the event is going to be bigger and better than all the previous years combined!...
Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program Looking for Next Class
As you may or may not have known, Wayne is a part of the first class graduating from the Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring (JEM) Program. It offers small business leaders / entrepreneurs in West Michigan the opportunity to be mentored by other successful business and community leaders to enhance their businesses. In a recent article on MLive.com, Wayne was interviewed about the process and his experience as a mentee, as the program is opening for the next class of mentors / mentees. The image gallery of the article also gives a sneak peak at JEM's office, which just happened to be...
A.K. Rikk's Takes Home an ARE Award for Outstanding Merit
On April 16, 2013, the Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E) Design Awards were given out at a ceremony in Downtown Chicago at the Hard Rock Cafe. The 72 winners were awarded for excellence in all aspects of retail design from 51 projects all over the world. With a record breaking 2,000+ entries, the prestigious winners had to beat out the highest number of entries ever to take home awards in 23 categories. One of the most significant design projects in our recent history, A.K. Rikk's, was recognized for Outstanding Merit in the Specialty Store over 25,000 square feet category....
The Blaine with a little Sweet Southern Comfort
The Blaine has a new look! One of our classic designs, the Blaine, was just built on the beautiful Lake Lanier in Georgia with a little different, "Sweet Southern Comfort" flavor. Check it out!What fun seeing our work going up across the count...
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blaine,
visbeen architects
Cabin Life: Dreams on Paper: Northwest Cabin
The May issue of Cabin Life Magazine is out and includes a unique, contemporary little cabin we designed called the Northwest Cabin. This modest lodge, at just over 500 square feet, uses simple forms to create a cabin that lives large despite it's petite size. For ease of reading, click here to view the full article on our websi...
Labels:
Cabin Life,
dreams on paper,
lodge,
northwest cabin
Building Less Than Meets the Eye
Wait...less, you say? That's right.In Builder Magazine's Business Update last week, they included an interview with Wayne discussing the design of the Warren Residence, an infill home and winner of the Best in the Midwest from the Best in American Living Awards, which offers eye-popping aesthetics while staying simple -- and affordable -- to bui...
Grand Rapids Magazine Design Home 2013: First a house then a home
"Long before it can become a cherished home, it all starts with a superbly built house."The story of the Heartsworth continues in April's issue of Grand Rapids Magazine. The "bones" of the home are described in this chapter - selections of the lumber, foundation walls, siding, stone and roof shingles. See what foundational elements are going to make this house the canvas for a truly magnificent home.For ease of reading, please click here to view the article on our websi...
Architectural Tutorial: Timber Frame
A residential construction method used commonly in the 17th and 18th century, timber framing did more than just create sturdy structures. It has impacted design elements and details that have been incorporated into architectural styles for years beyond. Today, we most commonly see elements of timber framing in mountain, lodge and adirondack style homes. Originally, it was a form of carpentry that involved taking large pieces of wood and joining them together with woodworking joints. Wooden pegs, braces and trusses were employed. In modern construction, these elements...