Cabin Life: Dreams on Paper



The April issue of Cabin Life once again features one of our designs - a cute little cabin we call the Tamlane.  This 1,800 square foot abode makes the most out of the home's modestly-sized space both inside and out, featuring outdoor living at its finest.



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

WJRW Talk Radio Interview

If you were listening to WJRW 1340 a little over a week ago and thought you heard the voice of Wayne Visbeen, you are right!  He had a phone interview with Steve Gruber to talk about our business, what we do and why we love what we do.  Check out the sound clip here...


Michigan Blue Magazine: Portraits of Michigan and Great Lake Story Begins

Michigan BLUE Magazine's special bonus Cottages issue is out and is just as lovely as it sounds.  From articles on vacation rentals, to the beginning of a Great Lake Story, to profiles on builders, architects and designers who make lakefront living look good, this issue is jammed packed with goodies!  All meant to get us in the spring and summertime mindset, since mother nature isn't cooperating with the weather in our neck of the woods.  Here is some delightful content we think you should check out.....

Great Lake Story: Chapter 1
Taken from the project journal of the talented builder of the project, Mike Schaap begins the story of our design with a little glimpse into it's picturesque setting.  Pier View Cottages in South Haven has the best of both worlds when it comes to location: a personal sense of place and privacy on Lake Michigan within a quintessential beach town community, walking distance from vibrant shops, restaurants and parks, the city pier and marina.


The Carefree Cottage
Looking for more haven, less hassle?  Try a slice of "same time next year" or buy into a bigger piece of Michigan's varied vacation pie.  And where can you get a slice of vacation pie in West Michigan?  Look no further than The Beach House, a property in Holland we designed and Bouwkamp Builders built that offers fractional ownership.
To read the full story, click here to view it on our website.

Portraits of Michigan
BLUE was kind enough to include Visbeen Architects in this feature on Michigan-based industry experts who bring a personal passion for crafting cottage havens our clients have dreamed of.  Read about builders, an architect (ahem, you might know who this is :) ) and designers who take waterfront homes to the next level.
To read the full story, click here to view it on our website.

Detroit Home Design Award Winners!

Last week Thursday, the ninth annual Detroit Home Magazine Design Awards Gala was held in Sterling Heights, Michigan to honor the best and brightest building and design professionals in the Detroit Metro area.  During the ceremony, held at the GM Heritage Center, 57 categories of awards were given out to the innovators and designers that are pushing the envelope in residential and commercial design.  Visbeen Architects was honored with three of these prestigious awards, including first place in Commercial Architecture for the design of AK Rikks, bringing our Detroit Home Design Award total to over 40 in the last seven years.








AK Rikks
1st Place - Commercial Building/Architecture
Architecture, Interior Architecture & Store Design by Visbeen Architects, Built by Lamar Construction, Interior Design by Jeffery Roberts

Our other awards included the following...














Pinecliff
2nd Place - Contemporary Architecture (under 4,000 square feet)
Interior Design by Julie Holmes

AK Rikks
3rd Place - Retail Interior Design
Architecture, Interior Architecture & Store Design by Visbeen Architects, Built by Lamar Construction, Interior Design by Jeffery Roberts

The rest of the award winners can be seen in the Spring 2013 edition of Detroit Home Magazine.

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


Cottage & Lakefront Living Show: Grand Rapids

Summer in The Great Lakes State is all about spending time on the water.  Start your dreaming and planning now, as the only show in West Michigan devoted entirely to cottages and homes on water returns to DeVos Place – March 15-17, the Cottage & Lakefront Living Show!  Wayne will be there sketching LIVE in our booth all weekend long (#2310).

This is the Show for everyone looking to rent, buy, build, improve, or simply to enjoy a home on the water.  It’s the only show that features products, services, and special presentations covering every aspect of the “Cottage Lifestyle.”

You’ll find architects (like us!), lakefront builders, developers, and realtors; log and timber frame home builders; boats, docks, and lifts; home furnishings; landscaping and home improvement businesses, and hundreds of other goods and services. 

We hope to see you there!  Don't forget to stop by, say hi, and get your chance to "ask the expert" about your waterfront project.

Grand Rapids Magazine Design Home 2013: This Adventure take a Village

Get an in depth look at the design process and material selections going into the gourmet kitchen of the Heartsworth in this month's issue of Grand Rapids Magazine.  From flooring to countertops to appliances to fixture finishes, every minute detail has been thought out and planned.  Take a look...


GR Business Journal: Visbeen snags Best in the Midwest award


Did you read Monday's Grand Rapids Business Journal?  You may have seen our name appear in the Change-Ups section for our Best in American Living Awards!  We are so proud of this achievement and are honored that the Business Journal shared in our excitement by spreading the news.  They even included an image of one of our award winners, the Cambridge.

Thanks for the props, GRBJ!


For ease of reading, please visit our website to view the full article.

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Unique, Unusual, Original & Custom, Handcrafted Wood Gifts, Home Decor

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MLive: Available Lakeside Living at its Finest

MLive.com featured an article last week about one of our lakefront designs going up in South Haven.  This spec home is available for sale, perfect for someone who is lover of lakeside living and beautifully crafted architecture.  Read the full article here...



Million-dollar homes: About $2M gets you a great view of the big lake in Van Buren County 

Al Jones | ajones5@mlive.comBy Al Jones | ajones5@mlive.com 
on February 26, 2013 at 8:00 AM, updated February 28, 2013 at 9:19 AM
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Van Buren County Home
EnlargeMillion-dollar homes: Here is a look at the highest-priced listing in Van Buren County, a 3,987-square-foot house that is under construction at 742 Monroe Boulevard in South Haven. It is listed for $2,685,000. --- Courtesy of Real Estate FirmVan Buren County Million-Dollar Home gallery (10 photos)
This is the third installment in a six-part series showing the highest-priced homes for sale in Southwest Michigan.
SOUTH HAVEN, MI – Chad Van Horn and his firm are so confident in the market for high-end, lake front homes that they recently broke ground on two houses that will be priced in excess of $2 million.

“What has happened in the world of luxury real estate is that the market has returned to days of the past," said Van Horn, whose company, Real Estate Firm, is involved in the development, rental and sale of homes in Southwest Michigan.

He said that although it has been difficult for many people to sell homes in much lower price ranges in recent years, it is not tough to sell homes priced over $1 million as long as it is in a great location and priced correctly.

He said location is of utmost importance and “There is plenty of demand in the marketplace for luxury real estate on Lake Michigan.”

There was a significant uptick in sales activity last year for low-bluff waterfront property on Lake Michigan and the only drop in prices for high-end homes that he said he has seen is for those that were inappropriately priced at the start.

“The typical sophisticated buyer likes to feel as though they are getting a good value,” he said. “If the product is priced right, the buyer will pay the price to get what they desire in premium luxury real estate.”

Van Horn represents the highest priced residence among active listings in Van Buren County – a 3,987-square-foot house that is under construction on the Lake Michigan shore. It is listed for $2,685,000. That is according to data provided by in the Southwest Michigan Regional Informational Center, which provides information on available real estate in South and West Michigan.

At 742 Monroe Boulevard in South Haven, the house will have five bedrooms and five bathrooms on just under 4 acres of land.

Designed by Wayne Visbeen and built by Mike Schaap Builders, the beach house is expected to be ready for occupancy by the spring. It will have a spacious kitchen with Viking appliances, custom cabinetry and built-ins throughout. A walkout level will feature a kitchenette and provides access to a private beach without the need for stairs.

The house will have decks, patios and a courtyard terrace, and is being built with an abundance of natural building materials, including American cherry floors, mahogany doors, copper roofing and custom millwork. The floorplan includes a vaulted Great Room, an exercise room with a sauna and dressing room, and a master suite with an office and a lake front deck.

A guest wing has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a media room. Rooms on a lower level will include a recreation room.
The property is designed for leisure, comfort and function, making it a good investment as a rental income property during the fair-weather months.

What makes it worth $2.6 million?

“Location, location, location,” Van Horn said, as well as requiring no steps to the beach, “unobstructed views of the pier and lighthouse and the convenient short walk to the quintessential beach town of South Haven.”

He said it has high-end finishes and no detail is compromised.

Who does he expect will ultimately call the Monroe Blvd residence home?

“It likely will be a second home for someone coming in from a large metro area such as Chicago or Indy,” he said. “However we don't rule out the locals. There are plenty of those around that are very capable of falling in love and acquiring the best of Lake Michigan living.”

Van Horn may be contacted at 269-673-7133 or via chad@erealestatefirm.com

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