Positioned between Cascade and Ada townships, this home’s riverfront setting has plenty of perks. “Everything you can do on a lake you can do on the river,” says Kathy Waite — and she should know. The principal of Kathy Waite Design in Grand Rapids lives on the same river as her friends-turned-clients, who had a home nearby but wanted to be on the water.
“The river is beautiful all times of year and people can do all sports activities. It’s always been popular, but it’s become very desirable over the last 10 to 15 years,” she says. “You can have that cottage lifestyle and you’re 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, so this can be your everyday life instead of weekends. You can take an evening cruise on your pontoon to enjoy the view and the beautiful homes.”
Her clients found an existing home and a team that could preserve its footprint. “We remodeled it to fit their lifestyle,” the designer says. “We relocated the stairs and the master bath, for a better view.”
Waite worked with Grand Rapids-based J. Visser Design, a residential architecture and design firm, and New Urban Home Builders. “It was a good team. We all listened to what the clients wanted,” she says. “What’s nice about the house is that it fits the setting and complements the surroundings.” The exterior sets the stage for the hushed tones that were chosen for the organic palette.
With two teenage sons (one in college), the soon-to-be empty nesters can live on the main floor. “They are the gatherers of the family, and the home has a great layout for entertaining, plus amazing views of the river all year round,” Waite says. Separate seating areas in the family room feature a fireplace on one side and a TV on the other, with distinct details like cognac-colored mohair chairs and halo lighting.
A three-season porch was opened up to create a spacious dining room, and the soaring architectural ceiling was updated. The custom table, a wet bar, and storage for 100 bottles of wine accommodate family gatherings. Doors lead to a deck overlooking the river.
The action happens in the kitchen, where white perimeter cabinets join a white oak island, stacked ovens, and storage galore. “With a large family, it needed to be a cook’s kitchen and be beautiful, too. What’s behind all that is well-thought-out and extremely functional,” Waite says.
An easy flow suits the layout. “The home feels larger than the footprint. It’s configured in a way that the spaces are open, which makes them feel intimate and warm,” she explains. “You can have a lot of people in that house and it doesn’t feel crowded. And they can spill out on the deck, which overlooks the river.”
The couple owns three homes on the water: one riverfront, one lakefront, and one gulf-front residence. “We’re sun-loving, water-loving, boat-loving individuals,” the wife says. “We love this location nestled in between Cascade and Ada townships. Both are up-and-coming and thriving areas.” At the river house, they enjoy tubing and waterskiing, and they say 20 guests aren’t uncommon, with a dozen or so who spend the night.
The couple admits to being avid cooks. “We’re the hub of entertaining for both of our families, and we’re both in the kitchen working side by side,” the wife says. “We love to have big family meals, and our entertaining is centered around that. We sit around the dining table for hours and hours after dinner has ended. We can be hunkered down there until 1 in the morning with so many countless conversations, memories of the past, and good laughs.”
For their hub, they wanted to keep the integrity of the original home, which had always been one of their favorites, but they needed to modernize the residence, which had been renovated by a previous owner in the ’90s. “The dining room was one of the biggest transformations. It’s a beautiful space with sweeping views of the river. When you’re inside, it feels like you’re eating outside,” the wife says.
“The river is magnificent and the lot is beautiful, and we never get tired of the way we face the setting sun. We love the hustle and bustle of downtown Grand Rapids, then we can escape to our quiet little street with so much wildlife.”
The interiors have an autumnal feel. “We didn’t want to compete with the outside, and Kathy nailed the visual we had in mind,” the wife says. “The neutral tones and natural fabrics draw the eye outside, and you catch little details on the inside at every turn. We wanted an organic feel and materials that can take a beating, like user-friendly fabrics that are easy to clean and maintain. So far, it’s been effortless. It’s an easy but sophisticated home that’s very comfortable and inviting.”
BUYER’S GUIDE
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Kathy Waite, Kathy Waite Design, Grand Rapids, kathywaitedesign.com
BATHROOM, MASTER
Bathtub – Victoria + Albert, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Grand Rapids
Cabinetry – O’Brien Harris Woodworks, Caledonia
Countertop – White Quartz, Great Lakes Granite & Marble, Redford Charter Township
Flooring – Porcelain Tile, Virginia Tile Co., Grand Rapids
Sconces – Hudson Valley Lighting, Kendall Lighting Center, Grand Rapids
Tile, Shower – 12×24 Porcelain Tile, Virginia Tile Co., Grand Rapids
Wall Treatment – Thibaut
BEDROOM, MASTER
Armchairs – Vanguard Furniture
Bed Frame – Hickory Chair
Bench – Vanguard Furniture
Chandelier – Hudson Valley Lighting, Kendall Lighting Center, Grand Rapids
Chests, Bedside – Vanguard Furniture
Flooring – Wool Carpet, Century Flooring and Cleaning, Grand Rapids
Lamp, Floor – Visual Comfort, Kathy Waite Design Showroom, Grand Rapids
Lamps, Bedside – Arteriors, Kathy Waite Design Showroom, Grand Rapids
Ottoman – Hickory Chair
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Collingwood
DEN
Armchair, Wingback – Thayer Coggin
Chandelier – Visual Comfort
Drapery – Custom, The Workroom
Fireplace – Custom, DaVinci White Quartzite, Pascucci Marble & Granite, Grand Rapids; Fabrication, Great Lakes Granite & Marble, Redford
Flooring – Nylon Carpet, Century Flooring and Cleaning, Grand Rapids
Lamps, Table – Visual Comfort
Ottoman – Vanguard Furniture
Sofa – Vanguard Furniture
Table, Display – Vanguard Furniture
Wall Treatment – Custom, Stained White Oak, J. Visser Design, Grand Rapids
DINING ROOM
Artwork – Ginnie Cappaert, LaFontsee Galleries, Grand Rapids
Buffet – Old Biscayne Designs
Cabinetry – O’Brien Harris Woodworks, Caledonia
Ceiling Paint – Benjamin Moore, White Dove
Chairs, Dining – Vanguard Furniture
Chandelier – Hubbardton Forge, Kendall Lighting Center, Grand Rapids
Countertop – Custom, DaVinci White Quartzite, Pascucci Marble & Granite, Grand Rapids; Fabrication, Great Lakes Granite & Marble, Redford Charter Township
Flooring – White Oak, RT Baldwin, Hudsonville
Lamp – Visual Comfort
Rug – Scott Group Studio, Grand Rapids
Table, Dining – Custom, Kathy Waite Design, Grand Rapids; Fabrication, Woodland Furniture
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Collingwood
FAMILY ROOM
Armchairs – Baker Furniture
Artwork – Rick Stevens, LaFontsee Galleries, Grand Rapids
Chandeliers – RH
Coffee Table – Custom, Kathy Waite Design; Fabrication, O’Brien Harris Woodworks, Caledonia
Fireplace – Limestone
Flooring – RT Baldwin, Hudsonville, White Oak
Ottoman, Leather – Lee Industries
Rug – Scott Group Studio, Grand Rapids
Shelving, Built-In – Designed by Kathy Waite Design, New Urban Home Builders
Sofa – Vanguard Furniture
Sofa, Sectional – Vanguard Furniture
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Collingwood
FOYER
Closets – Custom, J. Visser Design, Grand Rapids; Fabrication, New Urban Home Builders, Grand Rapids
Flooring – White Oak, RT Baldwin, Hudsonville
Light, Ceiling – Hinkley Lighting, Kendall Lighting Center, Grand Rapids
Mirror – Custom, LaFontsee Galleries, Grand Rapids
Railing and Stairs – Blackened Steel
Rug – Scott Group Studio, Grand Rapids
Stool – Century Furniture
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Collingwood
KITCHEN
Bar Stools – Jessica Charles
Cabinetry – O’Brien Harris Woodworks, Caledonia
Countertop – Custom, DaVinci White Quartzite, Pascucci Marble & Granite, Grand Rapids; Fabrication, Great Lakes Granite & Marble, Redford Charter Township
Flooring – White Oak, RT Baldwin, Hudsonville
Hood – Custom, TerMolen & Hart, Grand Rapids
Lighting, Bar – Visual Comfort
Sconces – Hudson Valley Lighting, Kendall Lighting Center, Grand Rapids
Sink – Shaws, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Grand Rapids
Stove – Miele, Bekins, Grand Rapids
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Collingwood
LOWER LEVEL
Drapery – Custom, Kathy Waite Design, Grand Rapids; Fabrication, The Workroom; Fabric, Fabricut
Flooring – Wool Carpet, Century Flooring and Cleaning, Grand Rapids
Lamps, Floor – Visual Comfort
Pillows, Accent (Fabric) – Kravet, Kathy Waite Design, Grand Rapids
Sofa, Sectional – Lee Industries
Table, Coffee – Bernhardt
Table, Occasional – Vanguard Furniture
Wall Paint – Benjamin Moore, Collingwood
EXTERIOR
Building Materials – Stone and Wood
Landscaping – Rooks Landscaping, Ada
Masonry – Belden Brick & Supply, Grand Rapids
ADDITIONAL PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS
Architect – J. Visser Design, Grand Rapids
Builder – New Urban Home Builders, Grand Rapids
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