Stained Glass Designs by Image Design

To go along with our Prairie Style theme this month I wanted to show you some of the other design capabilities of Image Design. Besides designing homes we enjoy designing many other facet of the home including Stained Glass or Art Glass as some call it. Shown here is a example Frank Lloyd Wright inspired stained glass we designed for the Prairie Style home featured below. Locally we prefer to work...

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Samples of our Designs (Prairie Style)

This month we will feature a example of Prairie Style Architecture. Those of you that know me, know that I am a big fan of this style. This award winning home was influenced by the prairie-style architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, evident in the roofline as well as in the materials and organic building form. With a shallow pitched hip roofs with large overhangs these home are perfect for Passive...

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Results from our Most Important Design Features Poll

In October and November we polled our blog reader on "What are the most important design features they were looking for in a new home". And the following were the results of our poll.Lifetime Design 43%Sustainable (Green) Design 58%Not So Big House Design 49%Passive Solar Design 45%None of the above 6%I want to thank everyone that took part in the poll we had over 100 responses, it will help us in our marketing research. I believe that all of the features above should be standard on all new homes!...

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Team Hybrid Wins GLREA Award for Exemplary Project 2007

This Saturday Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes (TM) and I went down to Ann Arbor for the annual GLREA (Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association) membership meeting. Where Team Hybrid won the GLREA 2007 Exemplary Project Award for the Onekama Hybrid Show House!The GLREA handed us 17 plaques for each of the Team Hybrid Members who were vital to the project's success. It is important to remember, that there...

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Green in the news this week

This week NBC is featuring "Green Week," NBC will be "entertaining, informing and empowering Americans to live greener lives," with these Special Episodes of your favorite shows check it out and see what you can learn. I don't know how green NBC really is but I guess its a step in the right direction. Also if you get a chance the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) GreenBuild show is this week on...

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Samples of our Designs (Arts and Craft Style)

This month we will feature a example of Arts & craft style Architecture. This 5 bedroom 3,676 sq. ft. Craftsman style homes has many timeless features such as stained glass windows, numerous built-ins, window seats, ceiling details and book shelves through out the three levels of the house. You'll feel comfortable with the warm interior and exterior colors of this home. The exterior is of stone...

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Sample of our Designs (Cottage Style)

This month we will feature a example of Cottage Style Architecture. This 1,400 sq. ft. cottage in Harbor Springs was design to reflect the timeless cottage architecture and the Not So Big House principles.The material of the exterior are cement board shingles (with fly ash mix). The stone chimney and foundation add to the authintic "Shingle Style" nature of the project. If you would like to find...

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Update for September and October

It seem like summer went bye very fast, I hope you all enjoyed the summer and are enjoying the fall colors. We have be fortunate to be staying busy in this ever changing economy. I believe this is do to the current demand for green building here in Michigan. I strongly believe green building will be the future of building here in Michigan. I just wanted to give you a update on whats been going on...

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Sample of our Designs (Old World Style)

We have been asked by you to show some more examples of our work. So every month I'll show a different example of a different style of residential architecture. This month will feature Old World Style, this house combines stone and cement board siding with a stucco and board and batton look with gable peaks and arched windows for a stunning European facade. If you would like to find out more about...

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Image Design August Update

I hope you all had a good Labor Day! To give you and update for the month of August we are progressing along on the preliminary designs for the prairie style project which will be going in Lamont Farms in Cooperville. We have been commissioned for two new project, both of them will be sustainable, ICF and Passive solar, lifetime designed homes that will be built by Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes (TM)....

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Insulation 101 by Mike Holcomb

This is an article by a friend of mine that I thought you all would be interested in. Mike Holcomb the author of this article owns the Home Insepector General. Mike is also the director of the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability (AES) which has been selected to participate in the LEED for Homes pilot program as a provider for the Midwest. Insulation 101I've been an insulation auditor for 15...

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2007 Michigan Sustainable Homes and Businesses Tour

We are proud to announce that our 2007 Michigan Energy Fair show house built by Hybrid Homes (TM) will also be featured on this tour. So if you did get a chance to see the home then, please come see it on October 6th from 10 am till 4 pm on the 2007 Michigan Sustainable Homes and Businesses Tour (formerly Michigan Solar Tour) it is part of the ASES National Solar Tour. The solar tour is free and...

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Image Design July Update

We just finished the designs for Scott Bronkema Builders 2008 Spring Parade Home which will be in Dix Farm development. This will be a lifetime designed Arts & Craft style with lots of built-ins and details sure to be another award winning home for Scott. We are also starting a new project that Scott will be building in Lamont Farms in Coopersville, the project will be a lifetime designed Prairie...

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Jordan Valley Trout Pond

I know this has nothing to do with design, but if your up north around the Lake Charlevoix area and get a chance, stop by Jordan Valley Trout Pond its just 3 1/2 miles south of East Jordan on highway M-66. It was my grandfathers original trout farm. It has been brought back to the way I remember it when my grandfather was alive. It is now owned and operated by my uncle and aunt. Its a beautiful place...

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WGVU Morning Radio Show

Hopefully some of you got a chance to hear us speak this morning on Shelley Irwin's morning radio show for WGVU Radio. If not, we were on her morning show with Mike Holcomb of the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability (AES) and the Home Inspector General, Inc and Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes (TM). We were on the show to talk about the Michigan Energy Fair and to give our perspectives on green...

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Review of the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair

It started off with the VIP party at our show house which had a great turn out! And the debut of the new Team Hybrid trailer. The Trailer was so cool Adam decided to take it down to his booth at the energy fair. The trailer drew people over to the Hybrid Row which was a row of vendors including myself that were involved with the Hybrid show home. We also were published in the Ludington, Manistee...

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Energy Fair this Weekend

I hope you all get a chance to visit the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair and our Show House this weekend. We are having a VIP party on Thursday from 6:00 til when ever. Check out the unveiling of the one of a kind design Team Hybrid trailer designed by Casey Handwerk of HP Wraps . Also please stop by Hybrid Row and see all the people involved with the show house we will be at booth 44 right next to Hybrid...

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2007 Michigan Energy Fair show house projected LEED for Homes rating "Platinum"

After I was hired for the Onekama project and we defined with the builder (Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes ) and the home owners that it was going to a green project and proposed that it would be the show house for the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair. I started researching green building on the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) web-site and found the LEED for Homes (LEED-H) pilot program, I rushed...

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Happy 140th Birthday, Frank Lloyd Wright

Today is the birthday of Frank LLoyd Wright. Widely regarded as America's most influential architect, Frank Lloyd Wright left behind a rich legacy of homes and buildings, and created a distinctly American style of architecture that continues to influence architects to this day. He was born June 8, 1867 and pasted a way in April 9, 1959. His work has influence my life since I was a young teenager....

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Passive Solar Design

These pictures are of the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair show house being built. They show how the overhang's were designed to work with the sun's angles to cool the home in the summer (see the shadow lines just below the window openings). And in the winter the sun's angle changes so the windows get full sun light to warm the home, they call this Passive Solar Design. The show house was designed to be...

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Fly Ash mixed with concrete used in Show House

As I talk to people about the Show House for the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair and all the Green Building products in it people seem intreged by the use of Fly Ash in the concrete that is used in all the footings, ICF walls and the Lite-Deck floors. People ask what is it and why we would use it. So I desided to explain it here in my Blog. Fly ash is produced by burning coal at electric power plants...

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Rendering for the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair Show House

Today the rendering was finished for the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair Show House. As you can see this house site on the site as if it belongs there. After talking with Adam of Hybrid Homes (TM) the project is right on schedule they are setting the second floor subfloor and then starting in on setting the second floor ICF's. Having spent two weeks helping build the show house I now wish I was there...

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Second Class in the Renewable Energy Experts Series

Tonight I went to the second class in the Renewable Energy Expert Series on Solar Photovoltaics Electricity from the Sun in Michigan by Grand Rapids Community College. The class was given by our friend Mark Bauer of Bauer Power this was a very informative class on Solar Photovoltaics, we learned about all the different types of system from solar hot water to system that actual track the sun and...

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Radon Gas Venting

This Sunday there was a great article in the Home & Garden section of the Grand Rapids Press on Radon Gas written by Morgan Jarema. I'll try to condense the article. What is radon gas? Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers....

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Sneek peak of the 2007 Energy Fair Show House

Here is a perspective looking southwest at the show house. This was taken from a 3D model done in SketchUp for the home owners. From this view you are able to see a panoramic view of Portage Lake and a awesome view of Lake Michigan and the Manistee light house. You are looking at the south side of the home it was designed as a passive solar home to take advantage of the sun to heat the home during...

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Architectural Elements of Michigan

Last week we had the pleasure of touring Architectural Elements of Michigan a green building supplier in Traverse City. I was really impressed with their facility. They rep and manufacture a sustainable line of cabinetry that uses a variety of no and low voc materials including those made with wheat, sorghum, soy, sunflower seed husks, bamboo and a multitude of other renewable plant based products....

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Show House Update!

The last two week I have been working as a laborer for Adam at Hybrid Homes (TM) as the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair show house that we designed goes up. I had the privilege of working with Adam and John (Adams right hand man) and Jake and his crew from R Value Concrete Structures (ICF subcontractor to Hybrid Homes). I consider them the leader in ICF construction in West Michigan. Thanks to both of...

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2007 Michigan Energy Fair Show House Breaks Ground

Today excavation started on the Onekama project which will be the Show House for the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair. This will be the ultimate Hybrid Home(TM) built by Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes, LLC. This home is in the process of get Energy Star and LEED H certification thru AES (Alliance for Environmental Sustainability). Some of the special features of this home include ICF construction, Passive...

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Greenwashing

More and more people both, architects and material suppliers, are jumping onto the “green architecture” bandwagon but how many practices really follow any sort of eco-principles. Just calling something green doesn’t necessarily make it so.The term “greenwashing” has entered the lexicon to mean giving the appearance of being green without providing substantive environmental benefit. Before you hire a architect or residential designer educate your selfAsk to see example of past green projects they...

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Renewable Energy Experts Series

I attended the first class in a series from Grand Rapids Community College called Renewable Energy Experts Series. The first class in the series was on Wind Energy in Michigan. Richard VanderVeen III President and Co-founder of Mackinaw Power was the presenter. He spoke about.What is the wind power potential for Michigan? How do wind turbines work and feed power to the grid? What are the Federal...

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Thorntree Commons - A New Green Development!

Thorntree Commons is a 22.5-acre environmentally sensitive residential community in Suttons Bay, Michigan on the Leelanau Peninsula. They know that Green building is smart building, and that energy efficient homes in a protected natural setting can make a difference for our environment and contribute to better modeling for how growth and stewardship can and must go hand in hand. Check us out on...

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New Book Review

I just bought a new book that I thought would be good to share with you. The book Good Green Homes by Jennifer Roberts is an excellent book for home owners, builders, interior designer and architects. Its does a great job of explaining the concepts of green building in a way that anyone can understand. It is fully of great advice and has great example and pictures of green homes. This is a must...

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Prairie Style - Image Design Style

This is slide show of a past Image Design projects showing Prairie Style details that we are capable of doing on your projects. Scott Bronkema Builders was craftsman for these projects and is capable of crafting any details we can come up wit...

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Arts & Craft Style - Image Design Style

This is slide show of a past Image Design project showing Arts & Craft Style details that we are capable of doing on your projects. Our Builders are highly skilled craftsman and are capable of crafting any details we can come up with. Here at Image Design we don't only design plans we create the total image for your project that your looking fo...

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Another ICF home goes out of the office

Another ICF home goes out of our office this time for Mike Tervoort Custon Homes this will be Mike's first ICF home. This home will be built in the Zeeland area and will be using many other green building products. Mike is using the BuildBlock ICF wall system. This is the first time I have specified this ICF block and am lookig forward to his feed back on it. The block is distributed by Wall Tech...

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Leed H training class

Today I went thru the Leed H (Leed for Homes) training class with Adam Bearup of Hybrid Homes, LLC and 22 other architects and builders from around the United States at The Alliance for Environmental Sustainability . This class was very informative and well put together and I believe with help all that attended set them selves apart from the rest. The person that put on the class is one of the leading experts on the Leed H programs and has spoke all over the world. We are in the process of working...

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New quote I found that I like

Here is a new quote I found that I like and wanted to share with you."Green buildings do not poison the air with fumes nor the soul with artificiality. Instead, they create delight when entered, serenity and health when occupied, and regret when departed. They grow organically in and from their place, integrating people within the rest of the natural world." —Natural Capitali...

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Interior Design Services

As of the first of the year Image Design will be offering Interior Design services. My wife Christy will be joining Image Design now that all three of our children are in school. Her services will include.Interior SelectionsColor SelectionsArt AquisitionsShe has help several clients and family members in the past with their projects. And has been told time and time again she should do it full time....

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