It’s hard to believe an entire year has passed since we introduced last year’s Design Home. But it has, and we're proud to say that this project was so well-received by our readers and the rest of West Michigan that bigger and even better plans for Design Home 2004 are currently underway. The fact that we made a considerable donation from the sale of the home tours to benefit Habitat for Humanity pleased all of us, as it's a wonderful feeling to be able to give a little back to our community.

You'll recognize a couple of familiar faces in this year's design home team. From left to right: Architect Wayne Visbeen of Visbeen Associates Inc., Builder Jeff Wassenaar and Caryn Kersey from Legacy Homes, Illustrator David Lorenz of Visbeen Associates Inc. and Polly Timmer, Design Coordinator of Carpet One by Johnson.

Travel back with us to the early 1900s as we rediscover the allure and comfort of a shingle-style Victorian home, once popular mainly along the Eastern coast, soon to be comfortably nestled in a fine new community on Grand Rapid's Northeast side.

A stroll through the neighborhood of Blackberry at Shear’s Crossing, a Mosaic Properties development located off Knapp near the Beltline, communicates a sense of pride in the distinctive properties within. Each reflects an appreciation for aestheticswith an eye on architectural appeal.

You’ll notice an affinity for large porches, plenty of natural (yet new) building materials, and a beautiful blending of architecture and nature.

There are so many unique aspects to Design Home 2004 we'd be hard pressed to list them all, so let us tempt you with a few favorites: an Inglenook with fireplace, hearth and built-in bench for retreating to a cozy alcove, a breathtaking Stair Tower that's quite unlike anything you've experienced before, and plenty of Swing Spaces that can be used in a multitude of ways to accommodate empty nesters or growing families.

Look forward to a little romance, a lot of architectural fun, and a few surprises as we track the progress of Design Home 2004 over the next eight months.

Enjoy the journey.

IIllustrations by David Lorenz of Visbeen Associates, Inc. © 2004