Great Lake Story 2014: On Manchester Pond
Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Final Chapter
Advertising partners highlighted here are instrumental in transforming the blueprint and bare landscape of this year’s Great Lake Story into an exceptional pond-side retreat, complete with pool. While the finished custom home — taking shape on five-acre Manchester Pond in Cascade’s Manchester Hills development — will be showcased as a photo feature in BLUE’s upcoming Winter Issue, previous chapters of this Great Lake Story can be found at mibluemag.com, and more can be learned by visiting the following websites.
Established in 1993 by Peter Folkringa, whose expertise includes more than 30 years of pool industry business, Acme Pool Construction “builds the best and services the rest.” Specializing in building custom shotcrete/concrete free-form pools and spas, Acme’s full-service team takes care of every detail from design and installation to on-going chemical maintenance, and the company uses top-of-the-line equipment and materials to ensure their clients’ poolside time is memorable (acmepoolgr.com).
For over three decades, Belden Brick and Supply Company has been a leader in providing quality masonry, hardscape and hearth products to customers throughout Michigan. Partnered with quality architects, masons, hardscapers and hearth installers, they are renowned among Michigan’s preeminent builders for their vast selection of brick, natural stone and concrete-based building materials and expertise creating distinctive outdoor living spaces such as those on Manchester Pond. They offer a unique advantage in experience and service with outdoor showrooms in Grand Rapids, Saginaw and Kalamazoo that allow customers to experience inspiring spaces first-hand. Whether building a new home from the ground up or looking to accent current property, Belden is a revered go-to source (beldenbrickandsupply.com).
Superb craftsmanship is a top priority for builder Dave Morren, owner of Insignia Homes,
the company building this stand-out family haven. Insignia Homes is well-known not only for their expertise, but also for their ability to keep construction projects well-organized, on track and in budget. Morren assembles his team of top craftsmen from among the best in the industry to provide clients with a harmonious blend of budget and design, no matter the project size (insigniahomesmi.com).
Insignia Homes and J. Visser Design have a well-established collaborative history. Their seamless teamwork blends the expertise of a multitude of skilled craftsmen to breathe life into the dreams of their clients. Visser has a particular affinity for waterfront home designs that fulfill each client’s wishes while carefully integrating the best aspects of each unique site. The goal is to enhance how people live by designing a sense of order into a home that carries through to the smallest detail. Craftsmanship and basic good taste are also characteristics of Visser designs, ensuring homes that look better with age, grow more loved over the years and add value to their communities all along Michigan’s West Coast (jvisser.com).
Founded in 1977 by Tom Rooks, Rooks Landscaping ensured this Great Lake Story site’s original integrity remained intact with precise pool placement and natural landscape elements including steps sloping down to the pool. The full-service design, consultation, nursery and maintenance business based in Ada employs a staff of 30 to meet both residential and commercial needs. Their strong “green” environmental focus includes growing and promoting the use of native plants and trees as well as using the most eco-friendly products and least intrusive methods. Visitors can learn more by exploring Rooks’ 75-acre nursery, which features footpaths, winding boardwalks, display beds, demonstration landscapes and a wildlife corridor with wetlands, ponds and a native prairie (rookslandscaping.com).
Passionate about innovative design and supported by premier custom products, Tru Kitchens has been supplying furniture-quality, custom-built cabinetry for homes and businesses since 2007. Their made-to-order designs fulfill the specific needs of each client. For this project, a spacious hardworking kitchen to accommodate a busy family with six children was essential. Equally important was creating a spa-like escape for weary parents in the master bath. Both goals were missions accomplished by Tru Kitchens Designer Todd Wiley: If you can imagine it, they can make it happen (trukitchens.com).
For close to 70 years, Zeeland Lumber & Supply has been servicing the needs of builders and homeowners as one of West Michigan’s leading suppliers of enduring construction materials. This local independently-owned company — still headquartered on its 19-acre property in downtown Zeeland with more than 200,000 square feet of warehouse — also offers Michigan showrooms in Grand Rapids and Hamilton, as well as one in Elkhart, Indiana. While the company has grown over the years, its mission to provide quality materials at a fair price, backed by experience and expertise, remains unchanged (zeelandlumber.com).
Great Lake Story is a continuing series chronicling enriching stories of waterfront homes and those who design, build and own them. Look for the final photo showcase of “On Manchester Pond” by Insignia Homes in Michigan BLUE Magazine’s 2014 Winter edition. To learn more, visit mibluemag.com.
-Illustration courtesy Gary W. Odmark
Great Lake Story 2014 Sponsors
