This post is written in partnership with the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids. All opinions are my own.
Don’t miss the Spring Parade of Homes – get your home tourin’ on now through June 9th!
You know I’m not an interior designer, home builder (um…I barely know what to do with a hammer and nails) or even in the market for a new home. But, I do LOVE any excuse to get a look inside a beautiful home. Not to mention, I’m always in the market for home design inspo as we continue to update our 1950s Alger Heights home.
Sometimes it feels like we are living in a construction zone, especially this past weekend as an upstairs closet was being converted into a laundry center. Dreams really do come true, people! This laundry center is part of my “She Shed” room design project, designed by my friend Kristin, owner of Postbox Designs. Stay tuned for the big project reveal coming soon!
Since Nick and I both love dreaming and scheming about our home renovations, touring the Parade made for the perfect day date. We had a TON of fun and gained lots of design ideas along the way!
Have you been through the Spring Parade of Homes yet?
Keep reading for tips on how to maximize your experience, a discounted ticket link, some gorgeous home photos and a restaurant recommendation to turn your Parade of Homes experience into the ultimate date or outing with friends.
Get your tickets to the Parade of Homes here!
Things to know…
- Download the Parade of Homes App for easy-to-use maps to help you plan out your day. You can also search for locations by builders, if you are interested in building a home yourself. (Watch the short video below to see how this app works)
- Purchase your tickets online here to save money! Remember kids are welcome and are free under 12-years-old and you can use your tickets anytime throughout the duration of the parade.
- Bring a water bottle and pack snacks (especially if you are doing the parade with kids). You may want to bring a camera to take pictures, too. Just make sure to ask for permission, as the photo policy varies from home to home.
- Know that the HBA is an incredible resource for you to connect with if you are building a home, remodeling a house or even starting a home improvement project. All HBA members are Certified Pros, meaning they must abide by the HBA Code of Ethics. They are all licensed, insured and actively participate in continuing education.
- Take advantage of the opportunity to talk to builders and designers while touring the Parade. When you book a project with an HBA member, you can trust you will have high quality experience. Why not pick multiple builders’ brains on-site while you are touring the Parade?
- Be respectful of the neighborhood and the homes you walk through. Wear shoe covers (keep your set from the first home you tour to reuse them) and make sure to keep your observations positive while in the home. Sometimes the owners will be present.
Now for an inside peek at the houses we toured & a restaurant recommendation…
Stop #1: House 34, built by Spoelma Builders
We first stopped at this gorgeous home in Byron Center, which is currently for sale (for anyone in the market)! This home is the perfect mix of modern and traditional and was hand-crafted with amazing detail. Confession: the large quartz kitchen island gave me some serious home envy. I also LOVED the spacious mudroom with lockers and a main floor laundry room!
Special Features:
- One-of-kind, farmhouse-inspired staircase
- Large mudroom/rear entryway with lockers and bench seating
- Spacious kitchen with an expansive island
- Quartz counter tops and custom cabinetry throughout
Stop #2: House 38, built by Ridgeline Homes
Our second stop was a Mediterranean-inspired home built by Ridgeline Homes and the designer was True Vine Creations. The owners are from Israel and met the Ridgeline Homes builder at last year’s Parade of Homes. In fact, this team worked collaboratively with the owners to really design a custom home to suit their design preferences and lifestyle.
Special Features:
- Hand-split stone was used for the cooktop hood and also surrounded the great room fireplace
- Large open areas customized with arches, columns and unique trim and ceiling features (make sure to check out the gray-stained floating beams in the great room’s tray ceiling)
- A bright, open art studio with 20 ft. vaulted ceiling with a loft and kitchenette
Stop #3: House 42, built by Miles Builders LLC
As we walked up to this spacious modern farmhouse, built by Miles Builders LLC, I asked Nick if he thought the owners would mind if I moved in? I can’t help but love the modern contrast of black-trimmed windows paired with sleek, white vertical siding. Throw in warmth from natural wood beams and I’m feeling love-at-first-sight.
Special Features:
- Exposed I beams and open white oak staircase
- Custom white oak cabinetry and white oak flooring
- Custom, unique trip details (shiplap, scalloped wall, board and baton)
- Open floor plan with 11 ft. ceilings in living room
Stop #4: Sonder Eatery in Hudsonville, MI
We do not often find ourselves in the Hudsonville area, but thankfully my husband had received a recommendation for Sonder Eatery and it did not disappoint. We started with some veggies and the Brussels sprouts were phenomenal. We both enjoyed our entrees, as well. Nick ordered the white fish sandwich (that is served with freshly-made bread from Saunders Family Bakery). I enjoyed the pan-roasted rainbow trout. Check out Sonder Eatery if you’re touring homes in the Hudsonville/Byron Center areas!
Stop #5: House 53, built by Homes by Gary Byker
The final home we saw on our Parade of Homes day date was a lovely lake house situated in Hudsonville, built by Homes by Gary Byker and designed by Room Candy. This home was custom-built to amaze, starting with a four-car garage. What possibly impressed me most was the beautifully-organized and spacious butler pantry…talk about organization heaven! Plus, this home was super fun to tour with info cards available throughout the rooms to further explain the design and there was even a a pianist playing beautiful, live music!
Special Features:
- This home has it all: two kitchens, his & her office rooms, a piano room, two laundry rooms and more!
- Custom cabinetry and wainscot
- Stone and quartz flooring and and tiles
The parade ends June 9th, so grab your discounted tickets before it passes you by!
One thing that struck Nick and I after walking through several of these homes was how nice it would be to have a completely finished house. The thoughtful, unique custom design to each home clearly showed the personality of the builder, designer and home owner. Needless to say, we left the parade filled up with tons of home inspiration and a renewed energy to continue plugging away at updating our home.
Thanks for following along with our Parade of Homes adventure! Don’t just look at these pictures, though, go check out these homes out in real life! These pictures do not even remotely do the homes justice. There are a ton of other properties available for you to tour, as well! I’ll be heading out again tomorrow night with girlfriends’ for a little mom’s night out to check out other homes in the Parade. Get your tickets and don’t miss out on the fun!
Xo,
Peg Theobald 