A historic preservation initiative is opening the pages on Michigan’s storied role with modernism. Michigan, while recognized for its prowess in shaping the automobile and furniture-making industries, is not often credited for its integral role in influencing modern design and modernism in America. The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office became acutely aware of this fact while undertaking a major initiative…
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Elements of design: an architect’s perspective.
Cornwell Architects, an architectural design firm located in Traverse City, has been leaving its mark in the region since 1948. Throughout the years, the firm has worked on a number of notable projects, such as: the TACS Boathouse on Boardman Lake, the renovation of the historic Miliken Place building, the TBA Credit Union Corporate Headquarters, Elmwood Township Fire Hall, and…
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Wood canvas
A family-owned company in the region brings unique hardwood flooring and staircase solutions to residential and commercial spaces. There is a classic elegance to hardwoods. Its timeless appearance, durability, and functional performance add warmth and style to a home. While the applications of hardwoods are endless, it is often found in hand-crafted furnishings, rich trim around the perimeter of the…
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Freshwater beacons
Lighthouses constructed on the shoreline of the Great Lakes are built to last. From a limestone outcropping in middle of Lake Huron to the northern tip of the Leelanau Peninsula along Lake Michigan, iconic structures throughout the Great Lakes have withstood the test of time to continue serving as guiding beacons to mariners and recreational boaters alike. There are nearly…
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A creative process
An Indianapolis-based designer has taken her love of design from fashion to interiors in a region rich with historical architecture. Located less than five miles north of downtown Indianapolis, homes and gardens throughout the Meridian-Kessler residential neighborhood have opened their doors each summer to welcome visitors inside to view great design and architecture. The Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association has hosted…
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The architect planners
A Grand Rapids-based firm builds with client relationships and traditionally-based style. Since its establishment in 1995, Sears Architects has worked with private homeowners, historic residential associations, private developers and joint-venture partnerships to create visually stunning and award-winning residential and commercial projects throughout the state and across the country. The West Michigan-based boutique architecture and planning firm’s work ranges from homes…
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The Dish
A food event brings the competitive fire to the ingredient list. The culinary arts, as a field of study, is often described as the preparation of food or the art of cooking. It is a process that combines art with science, practical training with passion, innovation with technique, and during a recent event held in Holland, Michigan; a dash of…
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A custom experience built on the details
A Holland firm gives custom home building a whole new meaning. For Mike Schaap Builders Inc., the devil—and difference—is in the details. Since 1986, the Holland-based company established by Mike Schaap has specialized in crafting one-of-a-kind custom homes tailored to individual clients’ needs right down to when they take their morning coffee. “Nothing is ever too custom; each design is unique and…
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Through the work of art
A Michigan-based architectural firm’s design process is proving ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ The West Michigan-based Visbeen Architects Inc. has more than two decades of experience with retail, commercial, and residential projects; and it is a firm known for its rather unique method for bringing a client’s dream to reality. Its founder and president, Wayne Visbeen, is not…
