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2012 Recap

2012 has been a great year for Visbeen Architects.  We look back at the ups and downs and cannot help but be thankful.  Thankful for the opportunities we have had, the people we have met, the clients we have served and the projects we have worked on.  We have shared what has been happening along the way in our little corner of the architectural industry, so we thought we would give our own little countdown and recap of just some of our events of 2012 on this, the eve of a new year...<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Top Five of 2012</span></b><br /><br /><b>5.  MoDiv</b>:  Our project with Rockford Construction for a retail incubator downtown opened it's doors in January and finished off the year by winning the Ideation award from the ABC Construction Awards for Innovation.  It was a pleasure to be a part of such an innovative retail design in the heart of our hometown.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5lbSdHqdelo1I2H0v1UDkjajbNi35DaremSumWl7dKEkyZ2kUfWOL04fKoCU_qthZqXJbvJBSJCA2ad4DIjARgXhB8poEl3WOcwY4GaLKlkpTbKYhlgZEj9GLKiAzvBISYN203tqKzRF/s1600/MODIV-EXT-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5lbSdHqdelo1I2H0v1UDkjajbNi35DaremSumWl7dKEkyZ2kUfWOL04fKoCU_qthZqXJbvJBSJCA2ad4DIjARgXhB8poEl3WOcwY4GaLKlkpTbKYhlgZEj9GLKiAzvBISYN203tqKzRF/s320/MODIV-EXT-15.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><i>Read more here: </i><br /><i>MoDiv's grand opening - <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/01/modiv-grand-opening.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/01/modiv-grand-opening.html</a></i><br /><i>MoDiv is a hit! -<a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/01/modiv-is-hit.html"> http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/01/modiv-is-hit.html</a></i><br /><i>Ideation Award - <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/11/modiv-wins-2012-ideation-award-from.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/11/modiv-wins-2012-ideation-award-from.html</a></i><br /><br /><br /><b>4.  The Parades</b>:  This past Spring and Fall Parades proved to be shining moments for our business.  We had six stellar projects in the Parades here in the Greater Grand Rapids and in Kalamazoo.  Between the six projects, we took home 14 awards of excellence from the HBA!  What an honor!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzGc9sjPZaNuzkeMpqU0Y-AJC_Hk0eJeItv6kxlouxJWsPfdE-sKp_Hhb7UB3-zeRIxtA7t2zEn9w06MT-v6zfimzZgX5LZFSCyipr59uFacJHbq5XmJIKA8_86zNnSbQFTKxk4RyhMSX/s1600/Parades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzGc9sjPZaNuzkeMpqU0Y-AJC_Hk0eJeItv6kxlouxJWsPfdE-sKp_Hhb7UB3-zeRIxtA7t2zEn9w06MT-v6zfimzZgX5LZFSCyipr59uFacJHbq5XmJIKA8_86zNnSbQFTKxk4RyhMSX/s320/Parades.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Read more here:</i><br /><i>Grand Rapids Spring Parade of Homes - </i><br /><i>   <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/05/gr-spring-parade-of-homes-domenico.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/05/gr-spring-parade-of-homes-domenico.html</a></i><br /><i>   <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/05/gr-spring-parade-of-homes-pine-valley.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/05/gr-spring-parade-of-homes-pine-valley.html</a></i><br /><i>   <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/05/gr-spring-parade-of-homes-warren.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/05/gr-spring-parade-of-homes-warren.html</a></i><br /><i>Kalamazoo Spring Parade of Homes - <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/06/kalamazoo-spring-parade-of-homes.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/06/kalamazoo-spring-parade-of-homes.html</a></i><br /><i>Spring Award Winners -</i><br /><i>   <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/06/spring-parade-of-homes-award-of.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/06/spring-parade-of-homes-award-of.html</a></i><br /><i>   <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/06/highfield-brings-home-four-awards.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/06/highfield-brings-home-four-awards.html</a></i><br /><i>Fall Parade of Homes - <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/10/fall-parade-of-homes.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/10/fall-parade-of-homes.html </a></i><br /><i>Fall Parade Winners - <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/10/awards-of-excellence-winners.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/10/awards-of-excellence-winners.html</a></i><br /><br /><b>3. AK Rikks</b>: Visbeen Architects had the great pleasure of designing one of the most significant projects of our company history this year - AK Rikks.  This retail powerhouse was really a dream job for us and when we were able to see our vision come to life, with it's doors opening in August, it really doesn't get much better than that!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAmyL2JQ02nHZCQwS2JtB6EKlYpzzZ_MPfvV5tZadpoSsTpTMEU6ltiCPyZCCtlbBH_dDkVBoDS8VhonnKqfbLOgCsdNYWX3aJw4LcqOQh5ED-c68C2ADVJRq_LTQ9rPGKxEoQpRTsnsx/s1600/272027_10151123536009079_1375031182_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAmyL2JQ02nHZCQwS2JtB6EKlYpzzZ_MPfvV5tZadpoSsTpTMEU6ltiCPyZCCtlbBH_dDkVBoDS8VhonnKqfbLOgCsdNYWX3aJw4LcqOQh5ED-c68C2ADVJRq_LTQ9rPGKxEoQpRTsnsx/s320/272027_10151123536009079_1375031182_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>Read more here:</i><br /><i>The Project Announced - <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/05/big-news-for-grand-rapids.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/05/big-news-for-grand-rapids.html</a></i><br /><i>Fashion's Night Out - <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/09/fashions-night-out.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/09/fashions-night-out.html</a></i><br /><br /><b><br /></b><b>2. Happy Anniversary to us!</b>:  We celebrated twenty years of business this past June.  For twenty years, we have had the pleasure of doing what we love to do, creating beautiful, functional, impactful architecture for the clients that have kept us in business.  Thank you again to everyone who has impacted our business!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TvQAmTO9d904JNEySxINPvLfte-AFoUXeCAyzvZcKzsbGD42b22cRe64DPxIKlnGr5A_deabsRgEQ59r8hpWLYnDsI6VKcLS0GkoGWf0UECWoZkLrsoXKvD4qilJos0jzk3OwKxUauza/s1600/292101_10150863156882098_1446486137_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TvQAmTO9d904JNEySxINPvLfte-AFoUXeCAyzvZcKzsbGD42b22cRe64DPxIKlnGr5A_deabsRgEQ59r8hpWLYnDsI6VKcLS0GkoGWf0UECWoZkLrsoXKvD4qilJos0jzk3OwKxUauza/s320/292101_10150863156882098_1446486137_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>1.  VAI + GMB = VA</b>:  The biggest news of 2012 by far has been the merger of our company with GMB Architecture + Engineering.  In July, the two became one and Visbeen Associates, Inc. became Visbeen Architects.  We could not be happier to become a part of such a great company and look forward to the great things we can do together as an integrated team.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqqNaIgnVxOpmidFPRVFW3kp717hEP-7sN7VPLQ7y-YLirmdx-W60wM_LODDq4Zp3sedFnzm_UQET5BE5BYDJmStc77NlQ0hqKvALfgKioECSWskt6WF7TGZ1Es_DUXU-GzuVz4n3_3yQ/s1600/VA+GMB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqqNaIgnVxOpmidFPRVFW3kp717hEP-7sN7VPLQ7y-YLirmdx-W60wM_LODDq4Zp3sedFnzm_UQET5BE5BYDJmStc77NlQ0hqKvALfgKioECSWskt6WF7TGZ1Es_DUXU-GzuVz4n3_3yQ/s320/VA+GMB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>Read more here:</i><br /><i>Visbeen and GMBae Join Forces - <a href="http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/07/visbeen-and-gmbae-join-forces.html">http://visbeen-associates-architects.blogspot.com/2012/07/visbeen-and-gmbae-join-forces.html</a></i><br /><br />Looking back, 2012 has been a great year and now looking into the new year, we cannot wait to see the exciting things that 2013 will bring. <br /><br />Happy New Year to you all and we look forward to doing business with you in the year to come!<br /><br />

2012 Recap

2012 has been a great year for Visbeen Architects. We look back at the ups and downs and cannot help but be thankful. Thankful for the opp...

2:29 PM

I'm dreaming of a....warmer location

I hope you all are enjoying lovely celebrations with family and friends during these holidays.  Here in West Michigan, our white Christmas came a day late, but we are looking at a snow covered landscape now!  Let's be honest, raise your hand if the thought has crossed your mind wishing you were in a tropical location right about now (I know you can't see me, but my hand is up).  If you are looking to get away from the ho-hum after the holidays funk, even if it is just in your mind, here are some images of our design of a resort in Costa Rica that might assist you with your day dreaming. <div><br /></div><div>I may be wearing a wool sweater right now, but after looking at these beautiful images, in my mind, I'm lounging in one of those beach chairs sipping a Piña Colada in front of that pool!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbmIpsTliNLgjCJGrSyprSEYdkgFDKIY8XMMHKKSGualFmIygSWq3DR_cc4B4beL4h4yXFEjOxrfcjTob2qmOxNlxJxD2xsK9TrMDwuW1VjLNoINXO2_AWwfVRLHKMM64MfP_NEU2qNTM/s1600/R1.1+-+Entry_LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbmIpsTliNLgjCJGrSyprSEYdkgFDKIY8XMMHKKSGualFmIygSWq3DR_cc4B4beL4h4yXFEjOxrfcjTob2qmOxNlxJxD2xsK9TrMDwuW1VjLNoINXO2_AWwfVRLHKMM64MfP_NEU2qNTM/s320/R1.1+-+Entry_LR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcOonW_gSRzwEqOYXHjZ_h1prf9CmrTOg3rXcJMKFIzpMzTEVOTRTgMySgSB1_feLJn8gHFTvQlDdyMVWBFJoWfrzLLnO1gMxVov6PmIIainFk8V_d-7XyEqDJAaR-vvoSxVZmAGvY6Rj/s1600/R1.2+-+Waterfront_LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcOonW_gSRzwEqOYXHjZ_h1prf9CmrTOg3rXcJMKFIzpMzTEVOTRTgMySgSB1_feLJn8gHFTvQlDdyMVWBFJoWfrzLLnO1gMxVov6PmIIainFk8V_d-7XyEqDJAaR-vvoSxVZmAGvY6Rj/s320/R1.2+-+Waterfront_LR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTH-0arZrhxS8tm8bffvT4F0FSsJc3mqcjRedGTqSk5gLs9DAE0wZdhvGN9f6bQ2Eb91tJMdvOlpWYni7fwVLeHt-FBTxqA6EwFiD4KXSiVLaRHZjnyMBqAgG_MBhANnkhdfjXLe25GS5/s1600/R1.3+-+Front_LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTH-0arZrhxS8tm8bffvT4F0FSsJc3mqcjRedGTqSk5gLs9DAE0wZdhvGN9f6bQ2Eb91tJMdvOlpWYni7fwVLeHt-FBTxqA6EwFiD4KXSiVLaRHZjnyMBqAgG_MBhANnkhdfjXLe25GS5/s320/R1.3+-+Front_LR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd0z5eA22piyafi4LhL7NALRngq3U84tB0S1oaUxRVBbemhKjpzewCvJhUl6wJYdPogIU6FiiDpUHqwASHDi9-u4AI6cEpix7SZK55m5ZXUu5RRw8CbFIbUDPjjLs7c_b5bllzFACjQFW/s1600/R1.4+-+Poolside_LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd0z5eA22piyafi4LhL7NALRngq3U84tB0S1oaUxRVBbemhKjpzewCvJhUl6wJYdPogIU6FiiDpUHqwASHDi9-u4AI6cEpix7SZK55m5ZXUu5RRw8CbFIbUDPjjLs7c_b5bllzFACjQFW/s320/R1.4+-+Poolside_LR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiA8mMlUREhUkY4cl-p8rumKTOezrx5NkDaD0tkMi2CIwy2tvIYPEMYMMD33SIbkjsGy4L49wwvCO1ziwUqcFFgi75o4rGvKJWOqZ40gLfRlpzS8ra-sszVQTd8lWPw_i_yWhmtg7Z0ns/s1600/photo-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiA8mMlUREhUkY4cl-p8rumKTOezrx5NkDaD0tkMi2CIwy2tvIYPEMYMMD33SIbkjsGy4L49wwvCO1ziwUqcFFgi75o4rGvKJWOqZ40gLfRlpzS8ra-sszVQTd8lWPw_i_yWhmtg7Z0ns/s320/photo-5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_L-fsm7QAq5T4DR2w7tTzvGXy2g36x0WfDIppkk5deJDxuVz-9f1BiUHLPzrmv8gbfc-wkpW3NmcZ8soMwJBdFAIUBg64zWcyM_wlaUsi8JKsJ4wmmNBt2JnjX2Lmli_FtyfnWzg3E2fs/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_L-fsm7QAq5T4DR2w7tTzvGXy2g36x0WfDIppkk5deJDxuVz-9f1BiUHLPzrmv8gbfc-wkpW3NmcZ8soMwJBdFAIUBg64zWcyM_wlaUsi8JKsJ4wmmNBt2JnjX2Lmli_FtyfnWzg3E2fs/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m3I_dOgZCIoqb3KDRxvXXNPzpXnmJj_zNcwxuqcVOeOBquGGE2hUtkOXEaLM1lxUq3P3pCvrCxpqxFYfMvV7JAAVj_kkT9Pvf3TpA2THZqnul0I9b2YUfWu-W52Yb-sAGASwOMIv4cak/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m3I_dOgZCIoqb3KDRxvXXNPzpXnmJj_zNcwxuqcVOeOBquGGE2hUtkOXEaLM1lxUq3P3pCvrCxpqxFYfMvV7JAAVj_kkT9Pvf3TpA2THZqnul0I9b2YUfWu-W52Yb-sAGASwOMIv4cak/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxcIOsgBkubvsMsmcOUPrWjCJ2BPxlk7CuDRkeZaKDRrrRkpCJ3Y_MsOn0Jk7igCXB59uHcmVatUNY68HrrkQGxGqk4umvpHK8TpWJPxByIHGDm_byWDCdqeDv2wtRKkeV1aDJnONCRAk/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxcIOsgBkubvsMsmcOUPrWjCJ2BPxlk7CuDRkeZaKDRrrRkpCJ3Y_MsOn0Jk7igCXB59uHcmVatUNY68HrrkQGxGqk4umvpHK8TpWJPxByIHGDm_byWDCdqeDv2wtRKkeV1aDJnONCRAk/s320/photo-4.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaCqxGUjr2Y9uH81tTd9T9Log1Ugnmh0MQuHb98pbxyF5EtW6BS3yhAg6wkSQpijIUjgM59u_IqbzuFmJHHBzW4zUVgBjQvmO_xNpRdXiLMske3U9aIkRfntP4zA9Tfcvtpr76jpwyGkK/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaCqxGUjr2Y9uH81tTd9T9Log1Ugnmh0MQuHb98pbxyF5EtW6BS3yhAg6wkSQpijIUjgM59u_IqbzuFmJHHBzW4zUVgBjQvmO_xNpRdXiLMske3U9aIkRfntP4zA9Tfcvtpr76jpwyGkK/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXpoCsh07E5ugoslH6qQjmvFJ1SdfGrCyWRQzE_RthRmvCMCSqjdQH3PmvrhGfNF2F6Os6LbidWpxSUOyUM4QzsQTGNu2h82oErsb_jtaVhPbN3H0_JLSz7WtkcUwgaVvWGu2f9grg9ZR/s1600/photo-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXpoCsh07E5ugoslH6qQjmvFJ1SdfGrCyWRQzE_RthRmvCMCSqjdQH3PmvrhGfNF2F6Os6LbidWpxSUOyUM4QzsQTGNu2h82oErsb_jtaVhPbN3H0_JLSz7WtkcUwgaVvWGu2f9grg9ZR/s320/photo-6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For more information about this beautiful resort, please visit <a href="http://www.daystar-properties.com/diamante-del-sol.php">DayStar Properties' website</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>

I'm dreaming of a....warmer location

I hope you all are enjoying lovely celebrations with family and friends during these holidays. Here in West Michigan, our white Christmas c...

1:07 PM

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

7:00 AM

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwbbbxHybMmhO_5nHhPGB4epJWNQapbsuTiOwNewrQ80WTTEuna0bd1m_JVWnwTbbNinT13Wp8OlExMAXO8TYkHNy1Orrf0auNe8S815JAuy_DyYdMVDsa8GC4CaKMIJ5dt5g_uh7wT8I/s1600/Lincoln+Park-Xmas-MR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwbbbxHybMmhO_5nHhPGB4epJWNQapbsuTiOwNewrQ80WTTEuna0bd1m_JVWnwTbbNinT13Wp8OlExMAXO8TYkHNy1Orrf0auNe8S815JAuy_DyYdMVDsa8GC4CaKMIJ5dt5g_uh7wT8I/s320/Lincoln+Park-Xmas-MR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-family: comic sans ms, HELVETICA, ARIAL;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: left;">'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house</div><div style="text-align: left;">Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;</div><div style="text-align: left;">The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,</div><div style="text-align: left;">In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The children were nestled all snug in their beds,</div><div style="text-align: left;">While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;</div><div style="text-align: left;">And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Away to the window I flew like a flash,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></span></span></td></tr><tr><td><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow</span></div><span style="font-family: comic sans ms, HELVETICA, ARIAL;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: left;">But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">With a little old driver, so lively and quick,</div><div style="text-align: left;">I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.</div><div style="text-align: left;">More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!</div><div style="text-align: left;">On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!</div><div style="text-align: left;">To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,</div><div style="text-align: left;">When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,</div><div style="text-align: left;">So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,</div><div style="text-align: left;">With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof</div><div style="text-align: left;">The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.</div><div style="text-align: left;">As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;</div><div style="text-align: left;">A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!</div><div style="text-align: left;">His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!</div><div style="text-align: left;">His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;</div><div style="text-align: left;">He had a broad face and a little round belly,</div><div style="text-align: left;">That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></span></span></td></tr><tr><td><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,</span></div><span style="font-family: comic sans ms, HELVETICA, ARIAL;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: left;">Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And laying his finger aside of his nose,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.</div><div style="text-align: left;">But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', HELVETICA, ARIAL;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"</span></span><span style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"</span></span></span></div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house...

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by t...

2:00 PM

Holiday Cheer

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's blog is just meant to be a little eye candy with holiday decorating inspiration.  We are all busy this time of year - finishing up last minute Christmas shopping, getting the house ready for out-of-town guests over the holidays, and businesses are finishing up their 2012 business calendar.  It's time for a little relaxation, pictorial tour style.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So sit back and just enjoy these residential gems decked out for the holidays.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHnX1ntaRNu-jAzsy_j1nXefQ1EFqF1a5Zbht67Q-2BK_7BUQfpFVoJ6RgplTa7lqyJEPG6iqhEXSAU1ABTKfBLSAZ8B3gDyquGANtstZOxgXTfv2kkrrc01p5m9LtNMiLLWuyO9nnrmZ/s1600/BWXmasExt_1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHnX1ntaRNu-jAzsy_j1nXefQ1EFqF1a5Zbht67Q-2BK_7BUQfpFVoJ6RgplTa7lqyJEPG6iqhEXSAU1ABTKfBLSAZ8B3gDyquGANtstZOxgXTfv2kkrrc01p5m9LtNMiLLWuyO9nnrmZ/s320/BWXmasExt_1c.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="219" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXFw3HTmo5OG7axpt0DE-0b5zubdwxJuiVc1nWZzByl4uHi8_q9r5n-IY8uJHgSHRSBsKQIXWAsEfwsia89zzjU0UzHBHoZtl-knxmkPA2ubBdMFFZ-SpgGC0ckQrJiQyqiSs2ybZkO8z/s1600/BWXmasInt_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXFw3HTmo5OG7axpt0DE-0b5zubdwxJuiVc1nWZzByl4uHi8_q9r5n-IY8uJHgSHRSBsKQIXWAsEfwsia89zzjU0UzHBHoZtl-knxmkPA2ubBdMFFZ-SpgGC0ckQrJiQyqiSs2ybZkO8z/s320/BWXmasInt_11.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENprbk8VM2AvHc_Wpip7Juhw4cQxjwefRnD3ZfK-mEjkiHBot0USsz5h3HAX707M20stgjFmpZfQb7NRd3I5MpDC-yDiDSPdBF7IfNL0JcnoLYV4HpnGbHH5GHDG34tEB9WYChDdf7tIR/s1600/BWXmasInt_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENprbk8VM2AvHc_Wpip7Juhw4cQxjwefRnD3ZfK-mEjkiHBot0USsz5h3HAX707M20stgjFmpZfQb7NRd3I5MpDC-yDiDSPdBF7IfNL0JcnoLYV4HpnGbHH5GHDG34tEB9WYChDdf7tIR/s320/BWXmasInt_2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiT10pLU_vWcshistHkDhyphenhyphenlmyK8ZKwUsUqNBxZfohAEAGUEu0_eNBgzd81c3aHhmmdp1gwaBy5CKKdQfQZhyphenhyphenyIkZk3S_i1FAzfo2RxiLqfr1lInG6e1GcGzWY6iruGEC67Y1QVrCByjHCM/s1600/BWXmasInt_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiT10pLU_vWcshistHkDhyphenhyphenlmyK8ZKwUsUqNBxZfohAEAGUEu0_eNBgzd81c3aHhmmdp1gwaBy5CKKdQfQZhyphenhyphenyIkZk3S_i1FAzfo2RxiLqfr1lInG6e1GcGzWY6iruGEC67Y1QVrCByjHCM/s320/BWXmasInt_3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpxIBRzzCe0bLWhaJk6b7e_18ifiNJwfakl4GWmc56YuuHe1mPgt7zMDW2Mjw1spdBZID-fLpEQ3tG2p1iiKjCAN9vv8qc8vS0RGOSNb4vS7xhso3Fqs9uac-mjZx0ih8c4KOEkl2PiiD/s1600/BWXmasInt_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpxIBRzzCe0bLWhaJk6b7e_18ifiNJwfakl4GWmc56YuuHe1mPgt7zMDW2Mjw1spdBZID-fLpEQ3tG2p1iiKjCAN9vv8qc8vS0RGOSNb4vS7xhso3Fqs9uac-mjZx0ih8c4KOEkl2PiiD/s320/BWXmasInt_5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcuFQgiaXI-ksxPKTM8UbZyI72-QuyPQYK_Duoxs3eJAwu2Aq0qW3OU-R-HsB2bBV0L-gBZm2SHUuVF4rpfkY6AwIRYD9z5O7h8GnFRGT4p0a58um8BAAhtsg3i3a816Zj4PDWg_MdEEY/s1600/BWXmasInt_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcuFQgiaXI-ksxPKTM8UbZyI72-QuyPQYK_Duoxs3eJAwu2Aq0qW3OU-R-HsB2bBV0L-gBZm2SHUuVF4rpfkY6AwIRYD9z5O7h8GnFRGT4p0a58um8BAAhtsg3i3a816Zj4PDWg_MdEEY/s320/BWXmasInt_6.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAWES7VX65PsJkW283hMxJ737VmzjrWmy0spaEoNOK0YIkyODo7nOO7zbXn7UALvTamUmusExWTbe5rdYdOxpGsLi8oSikkq0Z4kMRDiQyg5SqtuEKAMB2Pm6E27jNes7oV2Y9rLAmZQV/s1600/BWXmasInt_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAWES7VX65PsJkW283hMxJ737VmzjrWmy0spaEoNOK0YIkyODo7nOO7zbXn7UALvTamUmusExWTbe5rdYdOxpGsLi8oSikkq0Z4kMRDiQyg5SqtuEKAMB2Pm6E27jNes7oV2Y9rLAmZQV/s320/BWXmasInt_8.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxYn5nZyt5bBIIplXBdO7zlWszhw9lX8JOkfHvlC9M8lEFhiaZPciHRdYFE7e8w5WVhHWsYlACm3wnRgtZa7Yx-QoU4iCYf0WFCq3P_tLGIO6SIOwhZ1kemDQYbemA06d8-D5fiM8qE-z/s1600/BWXmasInt_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxYn5nZyt5bBIIplXBdO7zlWszhw9lX8JOkfHvlC9M8lEFhiaZPciHRdYFE7e8w5WVhHWsYlACm3wnRgtZa7Yx-QoU4iCYf0WFCq3P_tLGIO6SIOwhZ1kemDQYbemA06d8-D5fiM8qE-z/s320/BWXmasInt_9.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTErENUFRuf2Lw0aZsibhyoknMnW2_rSFfAH46b0hk2GTZElsmurcsB1x7d6hjpG006EDWE88VvSbc79gJoaQhgrgPSyVLet3mgYT_v57hxthuZ0Ce4Mlhr95qx38P1rrEKi87BvzslNn/s1600/BWExterior_6winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTErENUFRuf2Lw0aZsibhyoknMnW2_rSFfAH46b0hk2GTZElsmurcsB1x7d6hjpG006EDWE88VvSbc79gJoaQhgrgPSyVLet3mgYT_v57hxthuZ0Ce4Mlhr95qx38P1rrEKi87BvzslNn/s320/BWExterior_6winter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-0dOGs7vtrhFC-4Q13Q30ZjN2FYysEDel6-NT6gUlkNvQuBkNCjvbQOQfZrQt2dGLYw_3ad43_IjEMv1Bdjx36aX8UlPqCP_HskOyZ8ZJGwy39xgnoqBeyW6TdRlCElmRBIedpU_rkTX/s1600/BWXmasModel2_2c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-0dOGs7vtrhFC-4Q13Q30ZjN2FYysEDel6-NT6gUlkNvQuBkNCjvbQOQfZrQt2dGLYw_3ad43_IjEMv1Bdjx36aX8UlPqCP_HskOyZ8ZJGwy39xgnoqBeyW6TdRlCElmRBIedpU_rkTX/s320/BWXmasModel2_2c.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18F9_wy0HqwbvB8pbxw91bZP2ZzzGHQbw8Sj1TnO1oLQXgRThibCZg8WDDdERMT7M9OD-pDdnhW4dxxFTIcnEbuNQwWzwWvyGsfykdnHC6PVjRqOvZduUK0jPVvx_QFb68woTg_VMY7Ee/s1600/BetzInt_2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18F9_wy0HqwbvB8pbxw91bZP2ZzzGHQbw8Sj1TnO1oLQXgRThibCZg8WDDdERMT7M9OD-pDdnhW4dxxFTIcnEbuNQwWzwWvyGsfykdnHC6PVjRqOvZduUK0jPVvx_QFb68woTg_VMY7Ee/s320/BetzInt_2b.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Holiday Cheer

Today's blog is just meant to be a little eye candy with holiday decorating inspiration. We are all busy this time of year - finishing ...

2:02 PM

Cosmopolitan Home Grand Rapids: Awards of Excellence

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupfd_yHUc1HQnTPSzPc2tJNi1WUUrGfNGBk1gnoMjVXFLR7NePogUFkW8FrwQd89d3KYebG07NFwbzITuSoNieQCXld6KQPFQ-6wHRmeNRWPco95HUe8S9a1s38JtL-7kFnFxKc_XIiB5/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupfd_yHUc1HQnTPSzPc2tJNi1WUUrGfNGBk1gnoMjVXFLR7NePogUFkW8FrwQd89d3KYebG07NFwbzITuSoNieQCXld6KQPFQ-6wHRmeNRWPco95HUe8S9a1s38JtL-7kFnFxKc_XIiB5/s320/Picture+1.png" width="246" /></a></div>The early winter 2012 digital edition of Cosmopolitan Homes Grand Rapids just came out and has a nice feature on our fall parade home on Silver Lake that swept it's price category for HBA's Awards of Excellence and even won People's Choice! <br /><br />Thanks again to all who voted and visited it during the Parade!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GXZ1WMOsqcJcTMvfNogVMK5xYc-qKJCOUqdHTPF_D0Rb086lrhpzK3cK1kxCDrFBGIk5RjxxdbkoBt1xx3ABOq21oV5VjQFztrDKapwGgMBsJYvJluZzvCqzW6by294IzetO9lPIj7qx/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GXZ1WMOsqcJcTMvfNogVMK5xYc-qKJCOUqdHTPF_D0Rb086lrhpzK3cK1kxCDrFBGIk5RjxxdbkoBt1xx3ABOq21oV5VjQFztrDKapwGgMBsJYvJluZzvCqzW6by294IzetO9lPIj7qx/s320/Picture+2.png" width="246" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZpat4ualMMNEQI7UYx1M2EzNo-8WEo5TU9-332xHXGv4kYbrpL1yYciSMtNjxanPNU6wx2YiB7hRzvSVLTgCqb63gDRIt0pfUQ1eoFCmmDcPXKd0d4B0LGth7S5yP3uAGzpPDgTKyOyI/s1600/Picture+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZpat4ualMMNEQI7UYx1M2EzNo-8WEo5TU9-332xHXGv4kYbrpL1yYciSMtNjxanPNU6wx2YiB7hRzvSVLTgCqb63gDRIt0pfUQ1eoFCmmDcPXKd0d4B0LGth7S5yP3uAGzpPDgTKyOyI/s320/Picture+4.png" width="246" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4XuRRbTklgqQNQJ-jCdwrvE2ULRVJ0Pc9yErdANp4b41buwxSNOP_8wBySTuF2_szQGYq1COIF_2tbkA13R2bQrsSOxHvYXC2lW2atC_arx7o1fU0mBS_gZE1MU-JF95aHVMnV7BVEyh/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4XuRRbTklgqQNQJ-jCdwrvE2ULRVJ0Pc9yErdANp4b41buwxSNOP_8wBySTuF2_szQGYq1COIF_2tbkA13R2bQrsSOxHvYXC2lW2atC_arx7o1fU0mBS_gZE1MU-JF95aHVMnV7BVEyh/s320/Picture+5.png" width="247" /></a></div>For ease of reading, <i><a href="http://issuu.com/cosmopolitanhome/docs/late_winter_cosmo?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222">click here</a></i> to see the full digital edition of Cosmopolitan Grand Rapids.<br /><br /><br />

Cosmopolitan Home Grand Rapids: Awards of Excellence

The early winter 2012 digital edition of Cosmopolitan Homes Grand Rapids just came out and has a nice feature on our fall parade home on Sil...

1:55 PM

Deck the Halls with Ugly Sweaters

Over the weekend, <a href="http://www.visbeen.biz/">Visbeen Architects</a> and <a href="http://www.gmb.com/">GMB Architecture + Engineering</a> celebrated our first Christmas party as a joint team.  We cleaned out our closets, borrowed from family/friends and visited thrift stores to find some of the ugliest Christmas apparel you ever did see for the occasion.  The evening was full of food, fun and plenty of merriment, and though the sweaters may have been frightful, the company was delightful.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzGlVa0RElxRz9RgomZwvtf0TqIMPmLXQ7ecX_0lDyTGFRAPVZ_bG-muHj0JBOH3Muwm8Umeido5LfLrEKdV6iP2-mnJ4exm2U3iNf_8Vj47uYj442VMT9hSmWGLFgR1cfTe5BO4cfh4K/s1600/IMG_8082-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzGlVa0RElxRz9RgomZwvtf0TqIMPmLXQ7ecX_0lDyTGFRAPVZ_bG-muHj0JBOH3Muwm8Umeido5LfLrEKdV6iP2-mnJ4exm2U3iNf_8Vj47uYj442VMT9hSmWGLFgR1cfTe5BO4cfh4K/s320/IMG_8082-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our venue for the evening, The Cultural Center</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTar3QBTL79f0Uy7uMTEyjw_-ABO2-e-X2ZU__XanMQpJbDV9bQiEJ4-fUJh4pjQJdY-jR8yWQvmbboDkHNvQ1fpCY8JdWsCekDsOyuT7-pb_cITNxOrmBeJfZpOjO8-JHadm3GkSC-ixT/s1600/IMG_8092-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTar3QBTL79f0Uy7uMTEyjw_-ABO2-e-X2ZU__XanMQpJbDV9bQiEJ4-fUJh4pjQJdY-jR8yWQvmbboDkHNvQ1fpCY8JdWsCekDsOyuT7-pb_cITNxOrmBeJfZpOjO8-JHadm3GkSC-ixT/s320/IMG_8092-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Visbeen table</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4eRpgjLxlzpOMg4GwhdVo3HpGkTvJ5EZx6IeaNkdUBgD53an4AvQTp-7OSNo3BA1WqfzhxhvpFs8LDqQU75mMylY2WohRnSArEKFxaFqK4w9zmnIb5Eb5IrhG7Kr9IF_e9vobZtfgv67/s1600/IMG_8086-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4eRpgjLxlzpOMg4GwhdVo3HpGkTvJ5EZx6IeaNkdUBgD53an4AvQTp-7OSNo3BA1WqfzhxhvpFs8LDqQU75mMylY2WohRnSArEKFxaFqK4w9zmnIb5Eb5IrhG7Kr9IF_e9vobZtfgv67/s320/IMG_8086-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The judges of our ugly Christmas sweater "parade"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUqB6SGroaAvG9VOBJ7Mx_gBnQBfg0RXxmEJcbf6_09xe73smvgJEY2C-dN4S6eOzKbAmBClqpGUGMw4gLJBY6nHovICCP9ZwhWvi6PRrZWuP7p3BroJWW9r0obgcjYsYJs_ELZlYzRln/s1600/IMG_8094-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUqB6SGroaAvG9VOBJ7Mx_gBnQBfg0RXxmEJcbf6_09xe73smvgJEY2C-dN4S6eOzKbAmBClqpGUGMw4gLJBY6nHovICCP9ZwhWvi6PRrZWuP7p3BroJWW9r0obgcjYsYJs_ELZlYzRln/s320/IMG_8094-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Each person, dressed up or not, had to plead their case to the judges of why they should win a prize for their attire</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PIZeBwTK3ckjmiHPMonpN0xmdY3zzlWm8pKFhCUt4lzUtRKOn5vYWRLsG3WXvfzAc4YzvomW-9dIDTlZybOd-AcB1hwcxm8S90ukYlGblzecH6J1GM3ICV6fs33Y42u4uBoUQkGiRF2f/s1600/IMG_8098-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PIZeBwTK3ckjmiHPMonpN0xmdY3zzlWm8pKFhCUt4lzUtRKOn5vYWRLsG3WXvfzAc4YzvomW-9dIDTlZybOd-AcB1hwcxm8S90ukYlGblzecH6J1GM3ICV6fs33Y42u4uBoUQkGiRF2f/s320/IMG_8098-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> The finalists in the ugly sweater category</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w69L_-lc8yvL1ndRbrgE78VJwtfFz2ulZfwv4TYq5Tad2vip6xweazHoW8FWoMef7DtxTVcq93hlSRGtLnmGz1zNYP5ZwtLXh-6BLlnq0U0bIyDr2G0VaNrrDsEpoiKZYf8JWTSu_LRm/s1600/IMG_8101-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7w69L_-lc8yvL1ndRbrgE78VJwtfFz2ulZfwv4TYq5Tad2vip6xweazHoW8FWoMef7DtxTVcq93hlSRGtLnmGz1zNYP5ZwtLXh-6BLlnq0U0bIyDr2G0VaNrrDsEpoiKZYf8JWTSu_LRm/s320/IMG_8101-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Each finalist vied for the title, determined by loudest applause</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2R4chG6xtHBirIDCeJsxINiglzqJ7uZHwc1UF-0lkm4-FjqC_SvbpBeXq0wv5nyZgC0bQUKabYrVEL1GwnQeBy-YgTpkYQOnl4Ji0XWgzYMTTiXrPMaTKuvnEgn3tUftJ1F-wRjK-wXM/s1600/Award+Winners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2R4chG6xtHBirIDCeJsxINiglzqJ7uZHwc1UF-0lkm4-FjqC_SvbpBeXq0wv5nyZgC0bQUKabYrVEL1GwnQeBy-YgTpkYQOnl4Ji0XWgzYMTTiXrPMaTKuvnEgn3tUftJ1F-wRjK-wXM/s320/Award+Winners.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the winners are....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2R4chG6xtHBirIDCeJsxINiglzqJ7uZHwc1UF-0lkm4-FjqC_SvbpBeXq0wv5nyZgC0bQUKabYrVEL1GwnQeBy-YgTpkYQOnl4Ji0XWgzYMTTiXrPMaTKuvnEgn3tUftJ1F-wRjK-wXM/s1600/Award+Winners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQK9lOQDTrkEtpAOum28ldWk2RuuUYdkRaHK7P7ewvYKeTuy2rbq5Cp140rab-qVllxyJIQg26eGlGQzZLSdM7XPo1ogBwEEUk7gL81HCJZku69Zm8pgd4RQVbjxsZzqVoFeU3eE-_i0jB/s1600/IMG_8103-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQK9lOQDTrkEtpAOum28ldWk2RuuUYdkRaHK7P7ewvYKeTuy2rbq5Cp140rab-qVllxyJIQg26eGlGQzZLSdM7XPo1ogBwEEUk7gL81HCJZku69Zm8pgd4RQVbjxsZzqVoFeU3eE-_i0jB/s320/IMG_8103-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The entertainment, Bob's Wild Show, all the way in from Disney World</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgNnDZIzODL3Zh17tnwxR8ARidNsl4Rf6iZw0Z5hxsVNCaxPGAYBSMxKwaPYz-4pWhYJRxmUG8oq1h0QGJVKqAazhhmLX34E_gHomlNatczL-VfZeTLbrzwkY-ob8IhIEREq_K1LlfTYq/s1600/Photo+Booth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgNnDZIzODL3Zh17tnwxR8ARidNsl4Rf6iZw0Z5hxsVNCaxPGAYBSMxKwaPYz-4pWhYJRxmUG8oq1h0QGJVKqAazhhmLX34E_gHomlNatczL-VfZeTLbrzwkY-ob8IhIEREq_K1LlfTYq/s320/Photo+Booth.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">A few shots of the Visbeen crew rockin' the photo booth!</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>

Deck the Halls with Ugly Sweaters

Over the weekend, Visbeen Architects and GMB Architecture + Engineering celebrated our first Christmas party as a joint team. We cleaned ...

1:52 PM

Would you recommend?

Calling all clients, builders, interior designers and Visbeen Architects' followers!  As you may have noticed by some of our posts here on the blog and on Facebook, we are a part of the Houzz.com community.  We received an award in early 2012 for Best in Remodeling Design from Houzz and it's time for consideration for their 2013 Design Awards, but there is a little twist this time around.  To be considered for an award, we need to have recommendations as a part of our profile.  Will you help us enter these awards by offering a recommendation of our business and design work?  Please, oh pretty please?  What about if I put a cherry on top?  Is this third grade reasoning working for you? :)<br /><br />Here are the three quick steps it takes to write the recommendation:<br /><br />1.  Go to our profile on houzz.com - <a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/visbeen/visbeen-associates-inc">http://www.houzz.com/pro/visbeen/visbeen-associates-inc</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR_YaD4UjZXYsF5Lb-YpKXvqOLYIdR9mxqA4T2rQkWq_hT1tDCWOulSf0SZhTXvkje7NqxjVuXMSr1CuTXxUdpwd1IHFFH-74p4pXT1obQUJSN8HFt485UaXRKKc8Poy_eNcwCtifmO4t/s1600/1+-+Picture+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgR_YaD4UjZXYsF5Lb-YpKXvqOLYIdR9mxqA4T2rQkWq_hT1tDCWOulSf0SZhTXvkje7NqxjVuXMSr1CuTXxUdpwd1IHFFH-74p4pXT1obQUJSN8HFt485UaXRKKc8Poy_eNcwCtifmO4t/s320/1+-+Picture+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />2.  On the top of the page, click where it says 'Write A Review.'<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8xToC0BfRKK97YIk3PokaEdvV-Kf087DtlQJxuO9ohioV6XdvoC9B_Y5aURDbkfT5nkgE0ARehK7DLnPUvp2hmNvTl4yZ6aHDbVGR7-JBwMB0Zcly96KNEezfBeUnm4T-twWnnShM-Mx/s1600/2+-+Step+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8xToC0BfRKK97YIk3PokaEdvV-Kf087DtlQJxuO9ohioV6XdvoC9B_Y5aURDbkfT5nkgE0ARehK7DLnPUvp2hmNvTl4yZ6aHDbVGR7-JBwMB0Zcly96KNEezfBeUnm4T-twWnnShM-Mx/s320/2+-+Step+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />3.  Fill out the short form with your recommendation and click submit.  Voilà!  You're done.  That wasn't so bad!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JXHCKE560-6xDYzioGkYsdFPjFKQKGtdYoC89iNp1q0rVFgF8DP-s5JjNZ-k9tK3wBlje2Lo0cjRfvPRhqfMxdkYhoMTmjCir3C5lpEHzLudVfsUAK2U1iHCkBvKZhCxRL8_n2cadggv/s1600/3+-+Picture+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JXHCKE560-6xDYzioGkYsdFPjFKQKGtdYoC89iNp1q0rVFgF8DP-s5JjNZ-k9tK3wBlje2Lo0cjRfvPRhqfMxdkYhoMTmjCir3C5lpEHzLudVfsUAK2U1iHCkBvKZhCxRL8_n2cadggv/s320/3+-+Picture+1.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br />Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance for any recommendations you can offer our firm.  We truly appreciate your business and your interactions with our blog and Facebook page!<br /><br /><br />

Would you recommend?

Calling all clients, builders, interior designers and Visbeen Architects' followers! As you may have noticed by some of our posts here ...

2:16 PM

Inspired by Inspiration

Nothing is more inspiring to us than a happy client.  It encourages us to continue creating, keeping the lives and needs of our clients at the forefront of our designs.  But how amazing it was to find out that one of our designs has not only fit the needs of the client we designed it for, it has inspired a new design professional.  We received this letter in the mail the other day from an occupant of one of our residential designs and were so touched by what they wrote, we just had to share.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUPljCe2tM7K06E4JZuQgXBoJhRh8NRRjjP0GK6sknuSiE_T8N63N_QmAeoDt7mPr00QExmASs0RQeeKW6jimHQR79VAYLO5CmqBLDsQSR-2eCZK-32SM_uSgnGcoFXgUEX-NMrAARmad/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUPljCe2tM7K06E4JZuQgXBoJhRh8NRRjjP0GK6sknuSiE_T8N63N_QmAeoDt7mPr00QExmASs0RQeeKW6jimHQR79VAYLO5CmqBLDsQSR-2eCZK-32SM_uSgnGcoFXgUEX-NMrAARmad/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We have sought to create functional and beautiful architecture that will stand the test of time since this business was founded over twenty years ago, but what an added bonus to have had a small part in shaping the course of someone's life. <br /><br />So to this special client of ours, thank YOU!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

Inspired by Inspiration

Nothing is more inspiring to us than a happy client. It encourages us to continue creating, keeping the lives and needs of our clients at t...

1:45 PM