Bruce Heys feature home 2024 by Cosmopolitan Home magazine

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Prairie California Finds Its Home in Ada

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ATEXT BY KIRSETIN K. MORELLO IMAGES BY ASHLEY AVILA JOSH STEWART WES KITTEN

At the end of a scenic drive through the picturesque Kennett Square neighborhood, a striking residence comes into view and commands attention. Its California modern prairie influence is evident at first glance in the low-pitched roof and clean exterior lines, but the residence is perfectly at home in its Ada setting. It seems to say, “I belong here.”

Over the past 30 years, the builder, Bruce Heys (rhymes with “ice”) of Bruce Heys Builders (BHB) has crafted remarkable, high-end custom homes and renovations across greater West Michigan. “We build homes that stand the test of time,” says Linda Miller-Heys, Bruce’s wife and the interior designer at BHB. Custom-built interior doors and precision-crafted 14-inch-deep engineered floor flooring joists are just some of the quality hallmarks of a BHB home.

The entire Kennett Square neighborhood, home to this distinguished property, marked a new chapter for BHB as it was the first development they built. “Linda and I dreamed of a community of custom, high-end homes in a quiet, wooded area,” Heys explained. “When we found the land for Kennett Square, we prioritized preserving as many of the original trees as possible, keeping the land as untouched as we could.”

This commitment to preservation is evident in the prestigious enclaves’ sprawling wooded lots, designed for eight executive homes. Most lots span over three acres, with each home tucked into the rolling terrain. The secluded feel is unmistakable, yet downtown Ada and Cascade are just minutes away.

The neighborhood’s name holds a personal connection: Kennett Square is named for the Philadelphia suburb where Miller-Heys grew up, and its winding street is named after her childhood road—a touching gesture from Heys.

As Bruce Heys Builders celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, Bruce Heys and Linda Miller-Heys knew that creating this distinctive home in their Kennett Square development for the fall Parade of Homes would be a fitting tribute. The design not only honors the company’s legacy but also showcases their commitment to timeless beauty and innovative materials.

The home’s features establish a sense of understated elegance. The spectacular stone in the center of the facade frames two expansive 7-foot by 7-foot windows. The stone and windows are flanked by eco-friendly ACRE™ panels, made from upcycled rice hulls, that evoke the warmth of wood. It’s a perfect balance of modern sophistication and harmony with nature.

“The stone transitions from linear to random,” explained Miller-Heys. “We asked Ophoff Masonry to over-grout and grout unevenly to capture the natural look we envisioned.” Exposed scuppers replace traditional gutters, enhancing the home’s design and providing water management, while granite lintels frame the large windows, anchoring the structure visually.

“We also hand-applied a clear coat to the ACRE™ panels,” she added, “a meticulous process that highlights the vertical grain of the material.” This attention to detail accentuates the horizontal lines, which she felt was important with such a linear design.

The home’s California prairie-inspired design is a product of collaboration with Dru Chapman Lewis, founder and principal architect of Studio Chapman in East Grand Rapids. “Dru’s approach is organic and I knew this would be an organic home,” Miller-Heys noted. “I wanted it to feel natural and unpretentious, with seamless flow between indoors and out, and unique, custom features.” After an initial meeting to share her vision, Miller-Heys watched as Chapman Lewis brought it to life.

“Working with a female architect was a wonderful experience. Her attention to detail was outstanding,” praised Miller-Heys. “She really listened— she absorbed every idea, then translated them beautifully into the design.”

Thoughtfully placed windows and natural materials ground the home in its setting, while the design maximizes functional space. “Dru and I

carefully considered how to position the home on the lot to best suit the family who will live here,” Miller-Heys shared.

“Bruce and Linda have been such thoughtful stewards of this land,” Chapman Lewis said. “I wanted the house to feel as though it grew organically from the landscape.” The home’s distinctive L-shape means that as you approach the home from the front, only the facade is visible, resulting in a wow factor as you drive around and see the home in its entirety.

Inside, the home radiates warmth through natural, refined elements. Miller-Heys selected rich

The kitchen features custom RIFT oak cabinetry with a horizontal grain on the upper cabinets and a vertical grain on the lower. Gunmetal ebony staining on the island cabinets offers a dramatic contrast while guand abalone quartzite countertops, from Great Lakes Granite Works, adds an elegant touch. Gold hardware, plumbing ﬁxtures, and graceful pendant lights, professionally installed by Veldhouse Electric, add another layer of sophistication, while the matte penny-round mosaic backsplash reinforces the home’s reﬁned, organic feel.

A nearby butler’s pantry provides ample space for prepping and entertaining. Running throughout, custom-engineered maple ﬂooring connects the spaces, its rich hues and micro-beveled edges lend continuity and warmth.

textures and warm tones throughout, with barnwood-wrapped beams adding both structure and style. These essential beams not only enhance the modern prairie aesthetic but also strengthen the home’s connection to the outdoors. “Linda infused the interiors with tactile quality,” Chapman Lewis said. “Her attention to details, like the wool stair runner and textured wallpaper on the primary closet doors make the house feel like home.”

In the kitchen, custom RIFT oak cabinetry by Paige Woodworking evokes the beauty of the outdoors while maintaining the home's refined design. Horizontal grain on the upper cabinets and vertical grain on the lower cabinets create visual interest, with gunmetal ebony staining on the island and abalone quartzite countertops adding an elegant touch. Gold hardware, plumbing fixtures, and graceful pendant lights add another layer of sophistication, while the Emersyn Lane Rockwell Twill matte pennyround mosaic backsplash reinforces the home’s refined, organic feel.

“I chose the mosaic backsplash for its matte finish and natural tones, which echo the stone textures outside,” Miller-Heys explained. “The gray in it reminds me of the slate we used in the front and back entries.” Upscale additions like the Wolf range and Sub-Zero appliances complete the kitchen’s elevated feel.

In keeping with the kitchen’s elegant design, a custom-built hutch serves as both a focal point

and functional storage. “We wanted it to have a distinct look, like a standalone piece of furniture,” Miller-Heys noted. The concrete countertop and gold-framed upper cabinets, featuring glass inserts with a sand-painted glaze, blend seamlessly with the kitchen’s upscale finishes.

A nearby butler’s pantry provides ample space for prepping and entertaining. Running throughout, custom-engineered maple flooring connects the spaces, its rich hues and micro-beveled edges lend continuity and warmth.

OPPOSITE PAGE: A barnwood-wrapped ceiling beam deﬁnes the transition between the kitchen and dining room. A custom walnut table adds a striking contrast, while rattan chandeliers with sleek gold accents lend a touch of understated glamour.

The great room’s vaulted ceiling creates a spacious feel and draws the eye upward. Two large ring chandeliers and a modern stucco ﬁreplace introduce a contemporary ﬂair, while an expansive glass door with grilled sidelights invites natural light into the space.

At the entrances, natural slate tiles, from Sparta Town & Country, replace maple flooring, bringing the greenish-blue tones of the outdoors inside. Natural light floods the back entryway through the home’s second oversized square window, which frames the pastoral beauty of the wooded lot. A walnut barnwood-wrapped beam brings cohesion across rooms. Custom lockers with walnut pulls, a built-in home office nook with a waterfall edge countertop, complete the space’s thoughtful design.

A barnwood-wrapped ceiling beam defines the transition between the kitchen and dining room, where 10-foot ceilings create an airy ambiance. A custom walnut table by Forged by Design adds a striking contrast, while rattan chandeliers with sleek gold accents lend a touch of understated glamour as they frame the expansive square window.

At the far end, a blue cork wallcovering, brassand-glass shelving, and a walnut floating shelf illuminated by wall-wash lighting complete the space. This striking backdrop adds depth and warmth. “I love how that nook finishes the room,” said Miller-Heys. “The blue cork wallpaper ties in with the slate from the entry, creating cohesion.”

A standout design element is the use of contrasting color for the window grilles on either side of the kitchen. Black window grilles in the dining room’s grand window draw the eye, while white grilles in the windows above the farmhouse sink allow them to blend into the kitchen, demonstrating Miller-Heys’ eye for balance.

The great room’s stunning 12-foot vaulted ceiling, a Ghostwood white pine tongue-in-groove paneling prefinished in a light whitewash, creates a spacious feel and draws your eye upward. Two large ring chandeliers and a modern stucco fireplace introduce a contemporary flair, while expansive glass doors and grilled sidelights invite natural light into the space. Another rich walnut barnwood-wrapped beam defines the transition from the entry to the living area and adds warmth.

The warm walnut detailing extends along the edges of the fireplace wall, adding cozy contrast to the clean, white space. The fireplace, originally intended for the wall between the kitchen and great room, found its home on the exterior wall. “Moving it here opened up the flow between the living room and kitchen and allowed space for that incredible hutch,” explained Chapman Lewis.

At the entrances, natural slate tiles replace maple flooring, bringing the greenish-blue tones of the outdoors inside. In the back entryway, slate flooring offers practical functionality while adding

beautiful texture, complementing the home’s natural palette.

A circular rattan light fixture hanging in the back entryway echoes the soft curves of the front entry’s chandelier, balancing the home’s geometric elements. “One of the things I kept consistent was the circular lighting, but I used it in a different dynamic each time,” said Miller-Heys. “I wanted that softness to contrast with the square edges of the home. I chose each fixture for the ambiance it brought to the area — and all of them are on dimmers.”

Natural light floods the back entryway through the home’s second oversized square window, which frames the pastoral beauty of the wooded lot. A third walnut barnwood-wrapped beam brings cohesion across rooms. Custom lockers with walnut pulls, a built-in home office nook, and a walnut bench and countertop with a waterfall edge, crafted by Paige Woodworking, complete the space’s thoughtful design.

This attention to detail continues into the powder room, where BHB’s signature craftsmanship shines. American walnut vanity, built by their expert finish carpenter, features dovetail drawers and premium Blum glides. Initially, the clear glass sink revealed the plumbing, so Bruce-Heys cleverly suggested painting the underside black, giving it a sleek, sophisticated look.

A screened porch is tucked into the inner corner of the home’s L to create an effortless flow between indoors and outdoors. The walls and ceiling feature the same eco-friendly ACRE™ material as the home’s exterior, creating visual harmony, while the floor boasts durable, stylish Tek Dek synthetic flooring.

The primary bath features a custom back-to-back walnut vanity with satin nickel ﬁxtures. A walnutframed mirror from Sligh Closet & Glass with integrated lighting adds sophistication, while a wet room with a soaking tub from Richard’s Kitchen & Bath completes this private oasis.

Rounding out the main floor is an exceptional primary suite that offers a well-appointed, serene retreat, with luxurious, tactile details like York Dutch Braided wallpaper-wrapped barn doors leading to both the bath and closet, that latter of which also houses a washer and dryer. The barn doors’ durable, commercial-grade wallpaper is paired with recessed hardware to reduce wear, making it less prone to scratches.

In the primary bath, a stunning custom back-toback walnut vanity with satin nickel fixtures, surrounded by windows, takes center stage, anchoring the space with tranquility and elegance. The vanity design provides separate areas for each owner, allowing both to use it comfortably at the same time. A walnut-framed mirror with integrated lighting adds sophistication, while a wet room with a soaking tub completes this private oasis.

“One of the things I love about this home is that it’s fully livable on the main level, which will allow the owners to age in place,” Chapman Lewis shared. “But the lower level offers ample space for a larger family, with plenty of room for entertaining on both floors.”

When designing the layout, Chapman Lewis carefully considered the placement of the primary suite. “I pictured the owner walking from the suite to grab her morning coffee. I wanted the route to the kitchen to feel effortless, like the most natural path through the house,” she explained. “That vision helped lock in the home’s L-shape, allowing for a smooth walk from the bedroom to the kitchen, with just the right amount of transition space along the way.”

Between the primary suite and the great room lies a custom steel railing by Forged by Design, finished with an anodized aluminum powder coat that lends a soft, tactile elegance. The wool-carpeted staircase adds texture as it leads down to the lower level—a generously outfitted space with a

The lower level features in-floor heated concrete by Concrete Revival, in a custom blue-gray tone that adds a modern edge The entire level is generously outfitted with a family room, refined bar, two additional bedrooms, an exercise room, a flexible space for a home office or third bedroom, a second laundry room, and a full bath.

Both front and back landscaping, executed by Rooks Landscaping, and beautifully illuminated by Outdoor Lighting

family room, refined bar, two additional bedrooms, an exercise room, a flexible space for a home office or third bedroom, a second laundry room, and a full bath.

Contemporary, in-floor heated concrete in a custom blue-gray tone adds a modern edge, while barnwood-wrapped columns create continuity with the upper level. And a subtle hint of green in the wall paint pulls the hue of the slate from upstairs to downstairs, creating a harmonious flow throughout.

The bar, stained to match the kitchen island, features walnut shelves that echo those in the dining room, Sleek gunmetal hardware and a granite countertop bring a stylish contrast. Ghostwood cladding by the staircase adds a textured detail that mirrors the great room ceiling upstairs, unifying the levels.

A lower-level door opens to a stone patio with meandering steps that lead to the backyard, where ample space hints at potential for a future pool. At the top of the stone steps, another patio awaits, offering two entry points to the house— one leading to a butler’s pantry just off the kitchen, and another to a relaxed screened porch nestled in the corner of the L-shaped layout.

“We tucked the screened porch into the inner corner of the L to create an effortless flow

Perspectives, masterfully blend cultivated and natural elements. Mature trees stand proudly alongside newly integrated elements, creating a harmonious blend between the home and its surroundings.

between indoors and outdoors,” said Chapman Lewis. The walls and ceiling feature the same ecofriendly ACRE™ material as the home’s exterior, creating visual harmony, while the floor boasts durable, stylish Tek Dek synthetic flooring.

“The textures and materials make this room unbelievably cozy,” Miller-Heys added.

The addition of a retaining wall addressed the dramatic slope from the entry to the southern exposure. “We envisioned the stone wall as an extension of the home into the landscape,” Chapman Lewis explained, highlighting a meaningful architectural detail that anchors the structure within its natural setting.

Miller-Heys adds that the grading work in the backyard was extensive but well worth it. “With the kitchen-adjacent patio, screened porch, winding stone steps down to the lower patio, and backyard designed for a future pool, it’s set up for a backyard fantasy land.”

Both front and back landscaping, executed by Rooks Landscaping, masterfully blend cultivated and natural elements. Mature trees stand proudly alongside newly integrated elements, creating a harmonious blend between the home and its surroundings. The winding stone pathway at the front provides a perfect prelude to the home. "I knew I wanted something organic, not structured

or linear," recalled Miller-Heys. "When I met with Rooks Landscaping, I described a meandering path, like walking through an enchanted forest. He nailed it."

To enhance key features, BHB partnered with Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, who expertly used ground-up lighting to create striking exterior effects. The uplighting of the paperbark maple tree, sourced from Rooks Landscaping, and the subtle low wash light cast on the central stonework, allow the property to truly shine, even at night. "He does incredible work," Miller-Heys remarked. "He highlights what matters most, and lighting from below offers a whole new perspective."

The collaboration between BHB, Miller-Heys, Chapman Lewis, and all the skilled tradespeople resulted in a distinguished masterpiece. “We received tremendous feedback during the Parade,” Heys shared. “Visitors loved the unique exterior and custom touches but also appreciated its warm, welcoming feel.”

This home doesn’t just impress with its design—it’s also a showcase of cutting-edge technology. A Sonos sound system fills the space with music, while smart switches and discreet pop-up electrical outlets blend convenience with clean design. Anderson digital door locks add a layer of security and sophistication.

Every feature was chosen to blend seamlessly into the home’s design, proving that innovation and elegance can go hand in hand.

As much as it’s a beautiful and smart structure, this home is ultimately a testament to inspired architecture and expert craftsmanship. Its seamless fusion of California modern prairie design with the natural beauty of the Ada countryside makes it more than distinctive—it’s a space that feels timeless, as if it was always meant to be here. ❂