2 E. Fulton Building's Fate Decided

Remember the building on 2 E. Fulton St that was blogged about a month or so ago? The one David Lorenz from Visbeen Associates designed concepts for and submitted as a piece to vote for during ArtPrize? Here's a quick refresher. Recently, the 2 E. Fulton St building (and its renderings) was discussed in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, which announced that this city "eyesore" will finally be renovated by Locus Development. Vacant since 1998, Locus Development will be investing $4.5 million into "historically redeveloping" this building.

While they are not giving out too much information just yet as to which business specifically will be occupying the space, John Green and Andy Winkle of Locus Development did reveal that the top floor will be occupied by an office tenant, and the ground floor will be a new restaurant. What type of restaurant is coming has yet to be said, but Green did say we do not have "this type" of eatery yet in Grand Rapids.

Green stated that he hopes for construction to begin near the end of the first quarter of 2012 and have the work finished before ArtPrize starts up again in September.

Staff Post by Jonathan Lorenz

For the next couple of weeks, we will be featuring blog posts from the rest of the Visbeen Associates staff. Let's get started with a post from Jonathan and his idea to beautify Eastown:

My attempt at blog contribution is to take notice of the unremarkable but highly trafficked areas of our city and produce a quick concept sketch that will hopefully show a way architecture can improve the location. So here is my first one, the location is found in Eastown on the corner of Giddings and Wealthy, which is currently home to a do-it-yourself car wash. Car washes are incredibly bad for the environment, our Grand River, and all else down stream. The other fault of this type of commercial application is that one business with only one employee is using all the potential space that three or four businesses could easily occupy and employ a handful of neighborhood denizens. There are many more nuances for first selecting this site (e.g. unsightliness, night crime, environmental concerns as I mentioned earlier, etc.), but I think the economic benefit is truly primary here the others are an amazing benefit to creating truly sustainable buildings.

Keep in mind this is just sketching for fun. This building is not the start of a real project in any shape or form, but just for fun I would love to hear some comments and thoughts on what businesses could occupy the building. It could be anything; the sky is the limit. Personally, I would like to see a Jack-of-All-Trades take the corner unit and a classy P.I. above! Also what could happen with the streetscape that will tie this idea to the westerly residences and the rest of the commercial corridor to the east? Could a similar building be mirrored across the street in the vacant lot? Don't forget that Grand Rapids doesn't have a parking problem; what we have is a walking problem, so next we should fill in the parking lot with a real building! Let's get our DENSITY ON!

Before: The current view of Wealthy St with the car wash

After: Sans car wash, but a beautiful building in its place

Keep checking back to see more posts from the rest of the staff!

Meadowview Transformed

Meadowview's patio area recently underwent an outstanding renovation. Check out these before and after photos to see how Visbeen Associates transformed this area to be an amazing, cozy getaway, just outside the resident's doors.

Before:

After:

Haverhill and Broadway "After" Pictures

Here we have the latest "after" photos of the Haverhill Residence and the Broadway Residence. You still have the opportunity to experience these in person at the Fall Parade of Homes, going on now through this Saturday, the 22nd! Click here to view the guidebook, and be sure to come out and enjoy these designs by Visbeen Associates!

The Haverhill Residence (listed #20 in the guidebook):

The Broadway Residence (listed #9 in the guidebook):

Olivia Grace TerVeen

Congratulations to

Chris & Megan TerVeen

on the birth of their beautiful daughter,

Olivia Grace!

Kalamazoo Parade of Homes

Along with the Grand Rapids Parade of Homes, the Kalamazoo Parade of Homes is also going on right now, where you can experience this residence designed by Visbeen Associates:

Pine Cliff

Exterior 3D rendering of the Pine Cliff

The “Pine Cliff” is a unique solution to a common problem in waterfront property: a narrow lot. What it lacks in width, this home makes up for in height and length, maximizing the available space and taking full advantage of what are sure to be expansive views from each of its three stories. Featuring porthole windows and outdoor upper decks, the “Pine Cliff” exudes a distinctly nautical air, perching on its steep grade like a great docked ship.

The entry-level functions as the main living space, featuring a half bath, entry area, kitchen, dining, and living room. One floor up is the laundry, bunkroom and master suite. The basement level is home to another bedroom suite and office space. Across the way, through the covered patio alcove, is the lower level family room, complete with kitchenette and walkout access to the water.

You can visit this residence at the Kalamazoo Parade of Homes, which is running from October 7 - October 22

Fridays: Saturdays: Sundays: Wednesdays:

4-8 p.m. 1-8 p.m. 1-5 p.m.* 4-8 p.m

*Please note that not all homes are open on Sundays.
*Remodeled and Showcase Homes are Open October 21-22 Only

For a guidebook, you can click here to download the PDF version. The "Pine Cliff" is listed as home number 2 on page 4 of the guidebook.

FOX 17's Interview with Wayne

Take a look at this interview Wayne did with Fox 17 about the Fall Parade of Homes:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—
The annual "Fall Parade of Homes" kicked off Friday, in Grand Rapids. The event allows home builders to show off their latest and greatest designs, and try to sell a few models. However, 75% fewer homes are on display this year compared to 2006.

"The beauty of this particular condo, it’s a 4,000 square foot and it's a fabulous condo, it's a penthouse condo," says architect Wayne Visbeen. He spent the day showing people the million dollar unit inside River House Condos, in downtown Grand Rapids. It’s one of 25 homes on display, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids. In 2006, 110 homes were a part of the tour.

"Well the market has been really tough," says Visbeen. "In 2008, Visbeen had 11 homes that were in the parade, with about 6 or 7 different builders, and this year we have two," the architect adds. He says two is actually a good number. “Because a couple years ago, we were down to none and one,” says Visbeen.

Architects and builders have a drop in building permits to blame. That means people can’t or don’t want to buy new. Emily Siebert with the Home Builders Association says those permits took a nose dive after 2006. ”There’s just not as much activity obviously in the building industry, it follows the economy. It follows all of those other metrics,” Siebert says.

“I think people have been really hesitant to spend money and build new homes. They’re all kind of holding back trying to watch what’s going on in the market place. But I do think that you’re starting to see people gain confidence in the market place,” Visbeen says optimistically.

With 25 homes to look at, builders say those who go on the parade have a better chance to see every single house along the route. They’re hoping to make a sale or at least spark some interest. Are you interested in the tour? http://www.hbaggr.com/events/parade-of-homes.html

Click here to see the story on Fox 17's website and watch the clip from the news broadcast.

Metal Window for Room

Metal Window for Room like curtains, blinds whether made from metal or wood can Colors of the walls are the chief elements of any home interior decorating ensure that privacy in your home is kept,are basically three type of color schemes, warm, but they also looking for something that will create a focal point in a room Metal Window for Room then allow orange and their combinations.to control the levels of light entering into the rooms from outside. As you will soon discover going for custom made metal blinds is something to be considered there are a number Metal Window for Room of with such a broad array of infinite colors, choosing the one for Metal Window for Room walls advantages to be had from installing.

 Metal Window for Room

 Metal Window for Room 2011

Metal Window for Room are some companies who create an image on the inside such blinds compared to many muted and cool. Warm colors include red, yellow,other as the sun setting over the sea which will make the room look and feel different of window dressings.

room window air conditioners

Another solar room window air conditioners device is the plantation shutter - well named Before adding any of the wall painting design ideas for its ubiquitous use in the tropics. These interior shutters the walls of provide a substantial look for some interiors. Their scale, and the size room, you must color the room window air conditioners walls with the basic color. of the blades provides a nicely strong element to a more fixed window treatment There are certain rules of applying paint to the walls,Although they are variable, they are more room window air conditioners time-consuming to adjust, even if you are painting them and so we often use them in places were the decorative element is a more 

 2011 Room window air conditioners

 Room window air conditioners

Room window air conditioners permanent effect, and is used to screen an unwanted view as a part of wall art. Here are some of the basic They are very useful as window treatments in powder guidelines to apply paint to the walls of a room rooms and other places where privacy is an issue.

cheap room air conditioners

There cheap room air conditioners a lot of unique Other elements in our palette are venetian blinds wall painting designs which can help you enhance the looks and overall appearance privacy. They come in many colors and finishes to blend with many design schemes This technology is over cheap room air conditioners years old of the room. There are wall painting designs for kids it was prevalent in Europe and America even during our revolution! as well as And in the right places,cheap room air conditioners we still think blinds look impressive and fresh cheap room air conditioners wall painting designs for girls, so that you can decorate They are also adept at being easily through the semi-open vanes.

 cheap room air conditioners

 cheap room air conditioners 2011

cheap room air conditioners and still allow a certain degree of controllable, can allow breezes to pass the kid's bedroom in a great style We are less fond of the slimline blinds for most applications Read more on wall paint ideas they just look too commercial.

room window darkening film

Back room window darkening film the shades themselves. It is possible to have neutral idea, you can try out the ever popular, simple but effective color combination idea. Beige shades that are room darkening or ones that are woven and maroon, white and lime green, purple and cream, orange and light yellow, gray and dark room window darkening film blue, or perforated to allow some or very little vision to the outside cream and beige, white and black, etc. are all very neutral They come in a variety of tones to blend with any decor.and very room window darkening filmpopular color combinations that you can use to paint your kids'  The are not as decorative as sheers, but often can provide rooms.

 Room window darkening film

 Room window darkening film 2011

Combinations can be taken to be walls and room window darkening filmfurniture or a more tailored look to suit contemporary interiors simply the walls. Have simple designs like circles or stars painted using the contrasting and in combination with decorative draperies.colors from these combinations for a better effect.

Window Room Design in 2011

Window Room Design systems are both remarkable and complicated butterflies look extremely cute. Since the butterflies have to be the main attraction, choose but provide the possibility of almost infinite controls that a light pastel shade as a base.can answer some challenging requests. Different times of day Window Room Design can either have tiny butterflies require differing positions of open or shaded windows, which vary as the sun moves painted on all the walls or around a house. They can provide automatic controls which are based pick one wall,Window Room Design  and have a string of butterflies painted on the time of day and the exposure of the house. They also take a great dea in a slanting manner. 

 Window Room Design

Window Room Design in 2011 

Window Room Design The size of the butterflies can reduce of planning and design, but in the end provide a wonderfully from top to bottom as you paint them. Use bright and intense colors. Add a bit of glitter responsive and controlled interior environment on the wings if your girl likes it.

Window Treatment for Home

Window Treatment for Home of the tools we have to assist with room darkening Another idea you can try is, a classic beige and brown combination. Paint all walls beige and one coffee are solar shades.Window Treatment for Home These are roller shades and may be either manual brown.  or electronically controlled. With our large projects and houses with On the coffee brown wall, get only the stencil many windows in many rooms,Window Treatment for Home it becomes very attractive to have a motorized the Celtic Tree of Life painted. 

 Window Treatment for Home

 Window Treatment for Home 2011

Window Treatment for Home feeling a little bold, system installed so that when one departs for a period of time or you can inverse the idea. Paint all the walls brown and on the beige wall, returns from an absence the house can be closed have the or opened with the touch of a single button Tree of Life painted in coffee brown.

Living room window design with Room interior

Living room window design with Room interior wall behind the headboard of the bed, Let's talk about the issue of providing a darkened room can hang a huge painting that has a lot of vivid colors in it. Abstract art will work best for this.for better sleeping. One of the ways of providing this is to install and elegant at the same time, a combination "blackout lining" on the draperies. This is quite common and red and black is a great idea.Living room window design with Room interior You can have alternate walls painted is quite effective in darkening a room. But there will still be light in red and black, have a single black line running vertically leaks at the bottom and sides of most drapery installations.

 Living room window design with Room interior

 Living room window design with Room interior 2011

Living room window design with Room interior down a red wall or vice versa or you can have a huge black rose since the fabric hangs loose and is not tightly painted on a red wall sealed to the edges of the opening.

room window tree pic 2011

Looking for a fun tree wall decal for your kid's bedroom or playroom The living room of the house room window tree the first impression that people have of your home. So, you need to make There are also fun options you a very fun woodland animals motif not this that will add a bit of flair to their play area. room window tree it look as elegant as possible. As far as wall painting designs Add some butterflies or birds to a completed look room window tree create your own for a living room are concerned, the best advice would be to stick to simple outdoor scene that they will find imaginative and fun.

 room window tree pic 2011

 room window tree

Room window tree can often yet modern wall paint designs find sets of wall decals that will include trees and animals giving Simple does not translate to boring. You can try out the ideas given below unlike the theme of snow white or sleeping beauty.

office room window tree

A cherry blossom tree office room window tree design can be ideal for a sitting room Gone are the days when a house was painted in a single color to maintain uniformity. Today, the number or even to adorn the Perhaps you have a hallway that is in need of a little something more wall in a kitchen or bathroom office room window treeof wall paint colors and wall and the tree design appeals to you for that. You can use a simple painting techniques available is mind-boggling. Interior painting relief style tree design with branches and leaves to add a similar touch office room window treedesigns has taken a whole new approach and it has to any room. Tree wall decals can also feature to a wall mural or be combined with other decals add an additional design definitely worked to make a custom wall mural. 

 office room window tree

Office room window tree 2011

Office room window tree have already chosen to for the better. Let us, in the sections below, see some decorate with a garden theme or an outdoor theme then ideas for painting the walls of the different rooms in your home  adding a tree to the room will be a fun and creative addition.