User:Straive

Cottage Home is a custom home builder based in Holland, MI. They build custom homes along the shores of Lake Michigan from St. Joseph to Grand Haven. Many of their homes are LEED certified as well as environmentally responsible. Cottage Home was recently named Custom Builder of the Year (2007) by the Home & Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids.

Company Formation and History
Cottage Home founder and president, Brian Bosgraaf was brought up in a family real estate and home development business. His father, Ted Bosgraaf, became a developer in the late 1970s, and founded Bosgraaf Sales and Leasing with his brother Jack and other partners. Also, Brian's mother, Pat Bosgraaf, became a successful real estate broker in the mid 1980's.

In 1985, Brian and his father formed Bosgraaf Homes, which planned home developments in west Michigan. Brian led the construction side of the business, his father the development and his mother and brother handled sales. During this time Brian helped launch many new developments, including: Bay Meadows, the Cottages at Bay Meadows, Windstream, Rolling Oak, Tall Grass, Sunflower, Silver Ridge, Sunridge and Woodwind.

In 1997 Brian sold his part of the company to his family and became a volunteer for Inner City Christian Federation (ICCF). ICCF builds homes for low-income families in the inner city of Grand Rapids.

In 2000, Brian formed his own home design company, Cottage Home. Since then, Cottage Home has successfully designed and built more than 50 custom homes along the shoreline of Southwest Michigan.

Green Building
Cottage Home houses incorporate many technologies to conserve energy and improve health. Cottage Home follows LEED or Energy Star standards when building houses. Cottage Home also follows guidelines set by Green Built Michigan to ensure that each house has as little impact on the environment as possible.

Notable Press
LEED Certified Homes Gaining Popularity - July 2008 Cottage Home Development Transforms Area Near South Haven - August 2008 Kalamazoo Gazette Cottage Home 'Green Cottage' Receives LEED Platinum Certification - March 2009

Awards and Recognition
Cottage Home has won many awards for it's custom homes including:


 * 2008 Best Exterior Design $1,000,001 +
 * 2008 Best Green Built Home $1,000,001 +
 * 2008 Best Exterior Design $500,001 - $650,000
 * 2008 Best Owner's Suite $500,001 - $650,000
 * 2007 Custom Builder of the Year
 * 2006 Best Exterior Design $500,001 - $750,000
 * 2006 Best Interior Elements $400,001 - $500,000
 * 2006 Best Interior Elements $500,001 - $750,000
 * 2006 Best Site Harmony $400,001 - $500,000
 * 2006 Best Web Site
 * 2005 Best Exterior Design $500,001 - $750,000
 * 2005 Best Exterior Design $400,001 - $500,000
 * 2005 Best Owner's Suite $750,001 - $1,000,000
 * 2005 Best Kitchen Design $750,001 - $1,000,000
 * 2004 Best Exterior Design $250,000 - $300,000
 * 2004 Best Floor Plan $300,001 - $400,000
 * 2004 Best Interior Elements $300,001 - $400,000
 * 2004 Best Exterior Design $300,001 - $400,000
 * 2004 Best Site Harmony $400,001 - $500,000
 * Pacesetter Award for 2003 Marketing, Custom Home Magazine
 * 2003 Best Floor Plan $300,001 - $400,000
 * 2003 Best Floor Plan Over $500,000
 * 2003 Best Exterior $300,001 - $400,000
 * 2003 Best Exterior Over $500,000
 * 2003 Best Kitchen $300,001 - $400,000
 * 2003 Best Owners Suite Over $500,000
 * 2003 Best Community Entranceway
 * 2002 Best Floor Plan $400,001 - $500,000
 * 2002 Best Exterior $250,001 - $300,000
 * 2002 Best Kitchen $300,001 - $400,000
 * 2002 Best Kitchen $400,001 - $500,000
 * 2002 Best Site Harmony $250,001 - $300,000
 * 2002 Best Site Harmony $300,001 - $400,000
 * 2002 Best Owners Suite $400,001 - $500,000
 * 2001 Best Exterior Design Over $500,000
 * 2001 Best Interior Elements Over $500,000
 * 2001 Best Kitchen Design Over $500,000
 * 2001 Best Owners Suite Over $500,000

-Unless otherwise specified all awards are "Awards of Excellence" awarded by the Sales & Marketing Council of West Michigan.