Layering Your WOWS

B y A m a n d a W i l d m a n

P h o t o g r a p h s By N e x t D o o r G r a n d R a p i d s

We met up with Linda Heys, lead designer and co-owner of Bruce Heys Builders at their Spring Parade of Homes house and we asked her about her design inspiration for their GORGEOUS custom build. She started off by telling us about how important layering is with design. Starting at the exterior, they layered the materials and finishes using a variety of Hardie board and stacked brick. They also layered their landscape that they had designed by Rooks Landscaping in Ada, MI by using a variety of different plantings and hardscape products.

Great room with custom room divider by Forged By Design, Custom fireplace surround by Hard Topix and FrameTV installed by TruMedia

As soon as you enter through the 8 foot Black Walnut custom door by RJ Raven, you are greeted by a one of a kind art installation steel room divider that Linda designed with Forged by Design. The purpose of the room divider is to allow you to have the elements of the space revealed to you slowly as you enter, "It' s what I like to call, 'layering your wows'!" , said Linda. It also assures that you don 't walk directly into the back of the sofa as you enter the space. In addition to the room divider, Forged by Design crafted the custom maple and steel floating staircase, the statement circular table in the dining room and the one-of-a-kind ping pong table in the game area.

TruMedia installed Lutron lighting control to easily control all of the light loads in the Master Bath

Linda also achieved layering with the lighting in this home. There are a variety of can lights, modern fixtures, under cabinet lights and task lights that are all dimmable. TruMedia installed a Lutron RadioRa2 Lighting Control system that allows for simple control of all of the lights via either a local Lutron keypad, a variety of voice control systems, with preset timers or remotely with a smartphone or tablet.

Aerial coffee table book by Brian Kelly Photography and fireplace surround by Hard Topix

Linda also layered with textures as she chose to surround her modern fireplace from Builders Fireplace with a creamy colored concrete surround and hearth by HardTopix. These textures compliment the custom stained maple engineered flooring with a special micro bezeled edge that are installed throughout the main level that Linda just had to have. She said they are very forgiving for pet owners and have a classic look that will last.

Sun room with custom cabinetry with a FrameTV installed by TruMedia

The layered design was also carried over into the kitchen where Linda played with layering colors by using two different colored cabinets from the Kemp line at Carter Kitchen & Bath where her daughter Abby Heys is a cabinet designer. The two had fun planning out a kitchen that would be welcoming to the whole family for years to come.

Modern Kitchen cabinets by Carter Kitchens

Linda makes layering sound easy, but the truth is, she ' s a very experienced designer that has spent years honing her craft and creating relationships with many outstanding manufacturers and tradespeople...we are just happy to be considered among them.