Architectural Tutorial: Stairs

“There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs.”

-anonymous

(http://thinkexist.com/search/searchquotation.asp?search=stairs&page=3)

But which type of stairs lead to success? In today's architectural tutorial, we will be outlining the various types with pictorial examples from Visbeen Associates' home designs so you can judge for yourself!

1. Straight Run Stairs: have no turns, as the name implies. (http://www.build-home-building-house.com/stair_types.html)

The Sinclaire's straight run stair with open tread

2. L Stairs: has one landing at some point along the flight of steps.

(http://www.build-home-building-house.com/stair_types.html)

The Westchester's L stair

3. U Stairs: may be constructed either as wide U or narrow U stairs. Both have two flights of steps parallel to each other with a landing between. (http://www.build-home-building-house.com/stair_types.html)

The Amblewood's U stair with some great details

The Blaine's U stair with a built-in booth on the landing - a detail like this really sets a common type of stair apart

4. Spiral Stairs: wind around a central pole. They typically do not have an inner handrail, just the central pole. (http://www.allwords.com/word-spiral+staircase.html)

The Pentwater's spiral stair with open tread

The Leland's spiral stair with open tread - what a great way to get up to the tower level!

5. Circular Stairs: do not have a central pole and there is a handrail on both sides. These have the advantage of a more uniform tread width when compared to the spiral staircase.

(http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Stairs)

Torrey Pines' circular stair makes for a grand entrance

The Pinehurst's circular stair takes you from the basement all the way to the upper level

Two Creeks' stair circles around a fantastic chandelier in the entry

Updating a Classic

The story behind the dresser in our bedroom 

is that my Father in Law got it back in 1930 something

We've had this dresser for over 25 years

and my husband used it everyday when he was growing up

I'm sorry that I don't have a before picture 

but trust me when I say that it was in need of an update
but
A quality piece of furniture never goes out of style
A little paint and new hardware

can transform a classic piece of furniture

I had to really talk my Husband into letting me paint it 

of course, my favorite color,

Black

but I added these really pretty glass knobs that I found at Home Depot

that just sparkle when the sun comes into the bedroom

Now, this is and has always been my Husband's dresser

although, he does allow me to put some of my things on top of it 

I do not have anything in this dresser

And

He has a tray on top of the dresser for the items that come out of his pocket

which, he swears is going back in his pocket the next day

which, never seem to.......

This dresser is not perfect

one of the glass knobs will occasionally come loose

and it still has some dings in it

but it has been such a part of our home for so many years

that I truly cannot imagine us without it

It is our comfort dresser

How about you - do you have comfort furniture?

I am joining the fun over at Kim's Boring to Better Party

Thanks!
Traci

Updating a Classic

The story behind the dresser in our bedroom 

is that my Father in Law got it back in 1930 something

We've had this dresser for over 25 years

and my husband used it everyday when he was growing up

I'm sorry that I don't have a before picture 

but trust me when I say that it was in need of an update
but
A quality piece of furniture never goes out of style
A little paint and new hardware

can transform a classic piece of furniture

I had to really talk my Husband into letting me paint it 

of course, my favorite color,

Black

but I added these really pretty glass knobs that I found at Home Depot

that just sparkle when the sun comes into the bedroom

Now, this is and has always been my Husband's dresser

although, he does allow me to put some of my things on top of it 

I do not have anything in this dresser

And

He has a tray on top of the dresser for the items that come out of his pocket

which, he swears is going back in his pocket the next day

which, never seem to.......

This dresser is not perfect

one of the glass knobs will occasionally come loose

and it still has some dings in it

but it has been such a part of our home for so many years

that I truly cannot imagine us without it

It is our comfort dresser

How about you - do you have comfort furniture?

I am joining the fun over at Kim's Boring to Better Party

Thanks!
Traci

My Stuff

My Mom always comments on how much I love stuff

And she is right....I do love stuff

I wanted to show you some of my most most favorite stuff

I love this goose that sits on top of my Hoosier cabinet

There is a funny story about this goose, my Mom and I saw this in the store
we both were like "we love this duck" and the salesman would say
"Yes, this is a great goose"
I guess that we said duck so much that when we got in the car and looked
at our receipt - he had written "Two ducks"


That always makes me smile

I love my stackable boxes in the corner of my dining room
they have every name you would ever call chicken feed

my favorite is Pullet Grower and Egg Maker Grain

You can see part of the huge
tobacco basket
that my Sister n Law and I found in an antique store

It is also my favorite

I love these pictures that I brought back from Greece

It amazes me each time I see these pictures
just to know that I walked down this same street
and saw these same buildings

And they haven't changed!

I love my Groceries sign in my pantry

I love the self portrait

of my son while in kinder garden

He is now 27

He has about 20 fingers and lopsided ears


I love the Chicken and Hen
sitting on top of the jelly cabinet
in my kitchen

I love this black shelf my Mom gave me
it fills up a large wall in my kitchen

My lamp in my bathroom makes me feel special

I simply love the accessories
that are on top of my armoire
in my bedroom

A fern on its side fills up a lot of space
two of the cutest rabbits
stacked toile hat boxes
and a metal scroll

I know the New Year is always about eliminating stuff
that you don't need or love

And although, as Mom says,I have a lot of stuff

I do purge quite often

Even though wall colors may change, 

these are some of the things that I love and will probably always have around

What kind of stuff do you love?

I am joining in the fun over at Marty's for  Table Top Tuesday

My Stuff

My Mom always comments on how much I love stuff

And she is right....I do love stuff

I wanted to show you some of my most most favorite stuff

I love this goose that sits on top of my Hoosier cabinet

There is a funny story about this goose, my Mom and I saw this in the store
we both were like "we love this duck" and the salesman would say
"Yes, this is a great goose"
I guess that we said duck so much that when we got in the car and looked
at our receipt - he had written "Two ducks"


That always makes me smile

I love my stackable boxes in the corner of my dining room
they have every name you would ever call chicken feed

my favorite is Pullet Grower and Egg Maker Grain

You can see part of the huge
tobacco basket
that my Sister n Law and I found in an antique store

It is also my favorite

I love these pictures that I brought back from Greece

It amazes me each time I see these pictures
just to know that I walked down this same street
and saw these same buildings

And they haven't changed!

I love my Groceries sign in my pantry

I love the self portrait

of my son while in kinder garden

He is now 27

He has about 20 fingers and lopsided ears


I love the Chicken and Hen
sitting on top of the jelly cabinet
in my kitchen

I love this black shelf my Mom gave me
it fills up a large wall in my kitchen

My lamp in my bathroom makes me feel special

I simply love the accessories
that are on top of my armoire
in my bedroom

A fern on its side fills up a lot of space
two of the cutest rabbits
stacked toile hat boxes
and a metal scroll

I know the New Year is always about eliminating stuff
that you don't need or love

And although, as Mom says,I have a lot of stuff

I do purge quite often

Even though wall colors may change, 

these are some of the things that I love and will probably always have around

What kind of stuff do you love?

I am joining in the fun over at Marty's for  Table Top Tuesday

Introducing...Lori Potter

As a mother of three and part-time Designer for Visbeen Associates, Lori Potter has her hands full. The 34-year-old Grand Rapids native received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kendall College of Art and Design, with an emphasis on Interior Design. She joined VAI in 2000, and has specialized in interior and Computer Aided Drafting design for the past ten years. Potter is currently focused primarily on additions, remodels, and modifications of the firm’s residential designs. Her proficiency in CAD makes her extremely competent in completing projects for Visbeen Associates.

Outside of work Lori likes to sew, scrap book, and spend time with husband Jay and boys Logan, Nathan and Colton. The Potter family enjoys camping, hiking and doing projects around the house during their time off.

Wilcox Gardens: Chapter Six

Learn all about the quaint city of East Grand Rapids as the Wilcox Gardens story continues in Grand Rapids Magazine's January issue. Check it out below or click here to read the full article!