Starting from scratch can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, there is complete freedom and a minimum of compromise to be made. On the other, the sense of limitless possibilities can be a little overwhelming, or even daunting. Yet when the homeowners made the decision to tear down their existing Lake Michigan home and rebuild on the site, they were bound by only one directive: the footprint.

Regulations relating to lakefront homes dictated that the new construction stay within the original home’s footprint. However, the homeowners were hoping to accommodate larger groups in their new home. “We wanted more bedrooms for visiting family and friends,” explains the homeowner. It was a stroke of luck, then, that the original home had an attached garage and sat on a double lot.

When it came time to make Visbeen’s design a reality, the homeowners turned to trusted local sources for the building materials and major components of their new home. Both based in Grand Rapids, Godwin Plumbing & Heating supplied the plumbing components and Standard Lumber furnished both the roofing materials and other building supplies. Walking through the home as it begins to take shape, Visbeen points to the framing. “We used chipboard framing, which is great because it means both less noise transfer and less tree use,” he explains.

The low-emittance, or Low-E, windows from The Window Center in Holland are another environmentally friendly aspect of this home. Choosing the Low-E windows was also essential due to the home’s location. The invisible glazing on these windows will help mitigate the strong sun’s rays that shine across the Lake all summer long.
Step by step, each day brings this home closer to completion. From the foundation to the roof, it’s clear that this home will prove to be a remarkable showpiece.