Greenbuild Recap

A few weeks ago Wayne Visbeen traveled to Philadelphia, PA and met up with the folks from GAF to do live drawings, in their booth, at the Greenbuild Conference. It was very exciting to be able to partner with GAF this year as they - GAF - and the world of architects and builders prepare for the updated version of LEED standards. 

Wayne Visbeen talking with architecture students at Greenbuild. Read the article at the USGBC website

In case you do not know:

GAF is the largest manufacturer of commercial and residential roofing in North America and one of the very few manufacturers to be a USGBC Platinum member.
"LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is transforming the way we think about how our buildings and communities are designed, constructed, maintained and operated across the globe". 

Want to learn a little more about what we did at Greenbuild? Read the blog from the USGBC website to learn a little more about the happenings with GAF at Greenbuild 2013. 

Photo via. GreenBuild Website 

Read more »

Roofing Wizard

Is your home in need of a new roof?  Are you unsure of where to start when it comes to shopping for shingles?  Our friends over at GAF Roofing have a great new resource called the GAF Roofing Wizard that can help!  It allows a homeowner to both educate themselves on the GAF Lifetime Roofing System and explore the shingle designs and color options that are available.  It also walks you through the process of selecting different roofing and warranty option to fit your style and budget. 

The Roofing Wizard can be used on their website -- click here -- or is also available as a free app for the iPhone or iPad through iTunes.  Here is a little glimpse of what the wizard can do...

The startup screen allows you two paths to choose:  1) Help me choose a shingle, or 2) I know the shingle I want.

Once you put in your zip code to know what is available in your area, you can explore browsing by shingle color family, exterior home color palette, or by home style.

 If you search by home style, you may or may not recognize some of the images. (hint, hint!)

Once you select a shingle, it will walk you through the warrantees available and accessories offered for that particular shingle.

Voila!  Roofing selections made simple.

Read more »

Style Guide: Cottage

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 a cottage style home may include...

• Steep roof pitches, often gable or gambrel with cross gables
• Arched doors
• Casement windows with small panes
• Brick, stone, stucco, or natural shake siding

The look of a cottage can vary greatly, since a variety of styles can fit into the "cottage" category.  The local vernacular often determines which materials and style features are emphasized, so location can have a look of it's own:

1.  Nantucket: Rustic meets elegant in Nantucket style cottages.  Utilizing mostly natural architectural elements on their exterior, their natural colors of greys, whites and blues make a striking statement against the bright blue sky, lush green landscape and white-capped waters of the surrounding ocean.

via

via

via

via


2.  The South:  The image that the words "Southern cottage" calls to mind is one of a wrap-around or double stacked porch.  Often called Low-country, a major influence on this this style is the hot and humid weather of the Carolinas and deep South.  These cottages often have a raised first floor to accommodate floodwaters and to allow breezes to circulate throughout the home.  Architectural elements like louvered shutters and metal roofs are also indicative of this style.

Our low country cottage design, the Laurel

via

via

3.  Michigan:  For us Michiganders, a cottage usually is a summer residence up north near or on a lake.    This is a style for which we here at Visbeen are very familiar, since it is a good portion of our custom residential business.  We combine a variety of styles to create our Michigan cottages, from Shingle and Victorian, to Arts and Crafts and Bungalow.

Here are a few products that we often use in cottage-style residences...

Roofing:  GAF Roofing has a great product called Camelot II Lifetime Designer Shingles, which add a luxury look to a cottage style residence for only pennies-a-day more than standard architectural shingles.

Retractable Screens:  Nothing ruins a summer night like mesquites here in Michigan.  We would all love to sit on open porches overlooking a sunset on the water, but sometimes that is not possible.  And then there are some evening that are perfect for it.  Great solution for this debacle? Retractable screens.  They turn an open porch into an enclosed screened porch in moments.  Companies like Phantom Screens make the top of the line in retractable screen products.

Kearney Hill has a great example of Phantom Screens in use.


Movable glass doors:  On that same note, movable glass doors are another great way of turning a cottage into an open air oasis.  A company called Solar Innovations makes high-quality folding glass walls at a fraction of the cost of some of the other big name companies making similar products.

Sources:
http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/exteriors/curb-appeal/house-styles/#page=8
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage
http://www.ehow.com/about_6371669_cottage-style-architecture_.html

Read more »

Style Guide: French Country

French Country is an Old World style of design that emerged in the US after the first world war when soldiers were coming back from Europe and building homes inspired by the cottages and manors of the French countryside.  French Country style homes have steeped pitched rooflines and place the main entrance of the home front and center.  Such symmetry is a common element both in exterior elevations and floor plans.  The materials used in this style reflect pastoral elements, like stone, wood, straw and botanicals.  Even the colors are naturally inspired, like lavenders, blues, oranges and reds.  The style combines the rustic and the refined, which can.  Ceilings may have rustic wood beams while wood furniture and elegant architectural elements may have hand carved details.  Its partly the dichotomy of those two ideas that make this style so sophisticated, yet comfortable and inviting.

A few Visbeen Architects' designs with French pastoral flair...

Montrose:  This incomparable Old World European home sets a new standard for design details and construction artistry.  Inspired by the palace halls of French royalty, this masterwork is unique in every way.  From the rugged permanence of the stone and brick walls to the decorative copper and wrought iron accents, the curb appeal of the home is immediately apparent.

Claremont:  The charm of this single-level country-inspired design begins with the covered porch and continues as you step through the welcoming front door.

Muirfield:  Luxury reigns in this French-inspired estate, with its distinctive Mansard roof, European-style stone façade and copper detailing.

Parkland:  The best of European cottage style is apparent in this charming five-bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home.  The exterior features stone accents, dormer windows and picturesque wooden shutters.

Penhill:  This picturesque yet luxurious design exhibits Old World details including stone, shingle, a charming cupola and wooden shutters similar to those found in cottages throughout the countryside of Europe.

Barrington:  Pitched and gabled rooflines and shuttered French doors point to this distinctive design's French origins.  Close your eyes and you may think you're in the south of France.

Oakhurst:  Built around a stunning central courtyard, the three-bedroom, four-bath Oakhurst is a stand-out when it comes to style.

Hot off the press: This stunning European-inspired residence boasts stone archways, wooden architectural details and steeply pitched rooflines that pay clear homage to manors of the French countryside.

If you are looking to achieve the look of a French Country manor, here are a few products to consider...

• Roofing:  GAF Roofing has a Sienna line of shingles with rich appearance and clean lines that add distinction to any home at a fraction of the cost of traditional slate or wood shakes.  It has a custom color palette, stain guard protection and a lifetime ltd. warranty called Smart Choice.

• Shutters:  One of the key elements that give many French County homes their distinctive style is wood shutters.  Timberlane offers a variety of custom made, wood shutters that fit perfectly with this style, especially, their board and batten designs. 

• Doors:  Craftsmen in Wood has been blending old world craftsmanship and original design for over forty years, creating some of the finest custom wood doors and hardware in the business.  Their products represent quality and timeless beauty.

• Exterior Lighting:  Since 1945, Bevolo has been manufacturing the highest quality traditional, antique, and custom designed hand-made lighting fixtures out of the French Quarter of New Orleans.  Today, they are the largest manufacturer of hand-made, open-flame copper lanterns in the world.  We have been spec'ing their lights for years because we know they add an authentic touch of style to the exterior of our French Country designs.

Read more »

Style Guide: Mediterranean

As the name suggests, the Mediterranean style originated in European countries north of the Mediterranean Sea - Greece, Spain, and Italy.  Most of the preeminent architects of the age were primarily known for painting and sculpture, skills which they often put to good use in the decoration of the palaces they were designing for their wealthy patrons.  Bramante was to distinguish himself in ecclesiastical architecture enjoying papal patronage for his long career.  Sangallo, Michelangelo, Rafael, Michelozzi and others executed many domestic designs for palaces in both urban and rural environments to complete a resume that includes both public and private architecture.  Private courtyards were a defining feature of the urban palaces of the time in an effort to reproduce in miniature the grand gardens of the country estates.  The style is characterized by visual elements like arched windows and doorways, low-pitched roof lines covered in tiles, and stucco walls.  Intricate stone details can also be found throughout interior and exterior elements.

Take a look at a few famous modern day mediterranean style homes you may recognize....

 via

Okay, so maybe this isn't exactly "attainable," but Cher's massive Italian Renaissance Malibu estate is a good example of modern day Mediterranean architecture.  It was up for sale a few years back for a whopping $45 Million.

 via

Michael Douglas' ex-wife Diandra Douglas resides in the Mediterranean style home built in the 1920's that the couple had purchased in 1979 for $275,000 in Montecito. 

 via

A villa-style home designed by Reginald Johnson in 1915, the renowned architect of the Biltmore Hotel.

And here are a few Visbeen Architects' designed Mediterranean abodes...

 The Domenico

 Legacy Woods

Star Coast Villas, a development in China

If you are looking to achieve the Mediterranean style, here are a few great products to consider:

• Roofing: GAF Roofing has a designer shingle line called Monaco.  It gives you the look of a genuine European tile roof at a fraction of the cost with the added bonus of a lifetime ltd transferable warranty with Smart Choice Protection for the first ten years.

• Fireplace / kitchen hood details: Tartaruga Design Inc. offers historical European-inspired mantelpieces and kitchen hoods, impeccably crafted and hand-sculpted.  They offer nearly unlimited combinations of design variations, material choices and hand finishes, making each piece as unique as the properties they are made for.

• Stone details:  Haddonstone is the leading manufacturor of cast stone building materials, making elements like quoins, keystones, balustrades, coping and capping, etc.

• Windows: Loewen windows offers a variety of window lines and even custom designs to perfectly fit every architectural style, including Mediterranean.

Read more »