The Big Picture

A Manor Style Home in the Midwest Settles into Its Surroundings with the Help of Visbeen Associates

Written by Jeanine Matlow Photography by William J. Hebert

While the contents of a home may be considered the core, nothing sets the tone like the exterior. In the case of this abode in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wayne Visbeen, AIA, IIDA, managed to give his client a beauty that will stand the test of time. The president of Grand Rapids–based Visbeen Associates, who was responsible for the architecture, interior architecture, and landscape planning, shows that you don’t have to shout to get your point across.

In fact, the restraint is part of the charm. “The client wanted a house that from the front façade would be fairly discreet,” says Visbeen, who collaborated with Vice President Paul Fikse on the project. “It’s a large home within a beautiful neighborhood. ... The client wanted it to be fairly low-profile and inconspicuous. You spend a lot of time winding your way up through the front entrance and landscape.”

Originally, the homeowner favored a brick façade because she wanted something monochromatic. “What came to my mind was brownstone because I’m from the East Coast,” says Visbeen. A stone mason was brought in to create a number of unique features with the malleable material.

Custom-carved limestone was used in conjunction with the brownstone for the house, which was built in the tradition of a much older home. “It really is a piece of art,” says Visbeen, who worked with builder Douglas Sumner. The flagstone for the home and landscape comes from a quarry in Vermont. “These are hundred-year-old stones purchased for the landscape,” says Visbeen, who located matching slate for the landscape and roof at the same quarry to tie everything together. The stones, which were placed throughout the property, are especially evident around the brownstone bridge.

Visbeen describes the home, which the firm refers to as Old Woods Manor, as an English manor house. “We tried to pick up on a European flavor, but there are certainly updates,” he says. Outdoor features on the property, which encompasses more than eight acres, include a number of patios that surround the house and a hot tub that is integrated into the naturally shaped pool. Eighteen-foot-high waterfalls cascade down a hill for a dramatic effect.

The entire landscape was designed to be interactive regarding the approach toward the home, which winds over a bridge that provides the first impression of the house. And there are plenty of places to enjoy the outdoor views. “The stone paths and bridges offer the opportunity for a lot of meandering,” Visbeen says.

The hardy pine trees came from Colorado. “We wanted it to feel more organic,” says Visbeen, who points out that the highly organized interiors of the house are in direct contrast to the natural landscape. “We wanted to counterpoint the landscape and home, which is very easy to navigate and classical in nature. But in the garden, everything is curvilinear; there are no straight lines. We wanted it to look natural right from the onset.”

Steve Windemuller, president of Windscapes Landscaping Inc., in Burnips, Michigan, worked on the design and installation of many of the hardscapes and the landscaping. “They wanted a nice landscape that they could enjoy by walking in the garden, so we created special paths,” Windemuller says. “There is very little formality. It somewhat blends in naturally. We wanted to push the limits. While there are some native plants, many are not indigenous to the area. For instance, flowering pear isn’t indigenous, but they do well here. We take a different approach and mix up our varieties a bit, which is fine to do as long as they’re not invasive.”

The plantings were designed to provide color throughout the seasons. “There are enough evergreens to get them through the winter,” Windemuller says. The color from the flowers and leaves lasts from early spring to fall, while the varying heights and textures lend a more natural look.

The layering aspect of planting lower, medium, and taller adds interest. “Many people like large masses,” says Windemuller. “There is a place for that, but I like a little chaos, with a few of these here, and a few of those there. I like to break the rules. It goes against the textbooks, but that’s the fun part to me. Every time, we do something new.”

Blending the various elements paid off in the end. “We wanted to have everything tie together with harmony. The landscape definitely did that because there were enough indigenous plants. The continuity was created by the hardscape and the landscape that really pulled the project together,” says Visbeen, who credits his client with their success. “It’s unique to have a client who really appreciates beauty and that level of detail.”