Design Tips

28 Sep Countdown to the Fall Parade!

The annual Fall Parade of Homes, presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids, is only days away.  Please join us for an Open House on Thursday, October 5, from 7-9 pm. If you're unable to attend our Open House, the Parade of Homes ...

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19 Jul Everyone Loves a Parade Home!

So what’s involved in being a Parade Home?  Here’s a testimonial from one of our participants. “We visited parade homes for several years, gathering ideas for a custom home.  We became followers of J&J Concepts and sought out their featured parade homes each year.   One of...

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10 May Designing a Parade Home

Our 2017 Fall Parade Home will be one of our most custom homes.  It’s designed to be obstacle free to provide wheelchair accessibility for an eight year old boy.   The process begins with several client meetings in which the clients share their wish list and...

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20 Mar Transformations

Many J&J followers are surprised to learn that, in addition to custom home construction, Jerry and Patti have a passion for renovating spaces.  They’ve helped clients who love their current neighborhood but their homes are in need of updating.  The Nelsons help them love their...

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01 Feb Valentine’s Day Decorating Tip

Valentine’s Day is one of Patti’s favorite occasions.  After packing away the yuletide red when decorating for January, Patti re-introduces it throughout the Nelson home.  Here’s a Valentine themed version of her three tiered stand which holds romantic mementos and keepsakes collected through the...

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12 Jan Winter Magic

Dismantling Christmas doesn't have to be a let-down.  It's time to celebrate the magic of winter. Here are a few images from the Nelson home to fire your imagination.  Patti created this piece for a long table but it can be scaled to any piece...

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08 Dec Winter Fantasy Mantel Wreath

For this year’s mantel wreath, Patti started out with a basic 36" wreath that they’ve had in the family for about 20 years.  Patti likes to do something new with it every year so she uses green pipe cleaners instead of hot glue to hold...

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29 Nov Winter Fantasy Christmas Tree

Once satiated Thanksgiving guests have exchanged hugs and departed, Patti is eager to tackle her next decorating project, the Nelson Family Christmas tree.     This year’s theme is a Winter Fantasy. Jerry assembles the 9 foot lighted tree and provides assistance with careful placement of fragile glass ornaments...

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17 Nov Festive Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas

Patti loves to decorate for the holidays and here are a couple of ideas to add seasonal charm to your home this Thanksgiving.    One of our favorites is a repurposed wooden ladder which Jerry distressed even further and then painted.  Patti added the autumn touches and the piece is...

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02 May Years of Use

Here are examples of the the value of purchasing items that you can love for years and find different uses for.  One of my favorites is my "hand-scraped" wood bowl. You can usually find these at antique fairs of shops, but I found this...

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