The Fox Briar - Vacation Rental

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The Fox Briar - Vacation Rental

The Fox Briar is a historic, countryside vacation rental farmhouse and barn nestled in five wooded a
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31/03/2021

🔨 Easy DIY kitchen floating shelves 🔨 Made from salvaged barn wood and brackets from .
I love the clean look of a floating shelf...especially in a kitchen. When I went about my DIY kitchen remodel, I had a clear vision in my head: stainless steal, subway tile, and reclaimed wood.
Stock floating shelves can get expensive depending on the size and look you are going for. But they are also very easy to make yourself, which can save you money and you can achieve the exact look you want.
There are plenty of video tutorials out there which can help. Below is a quick summary of the route I went.
2-inch solid reclaimed barn wood cut to size; then sanded, stained, and sealed.
4 steel 6” floating shelf brackets from for $20. I recommend heavy duty brackets with at least 4 holes for mounting. Make sure to use drywall anchors if you can’t drill into a stud.
Drill two holes into the backside of your shelf to mount. Use a drill bit that is a fraction larger than the diameter of the bracket for a snug fit.
For the shelf to rest flush against the wall, use a chisel to remove enough wood so the bracket base rests inside the shelf. Use a combination of chopping and mortise cuts with a chisel...Google this.
And that’s it! Voila!
Last tip: measure, measure measure! 📏

29/03/2021

9 indie print magazines to read for inspired, meaningful living
I love indie print magazines. They are really something else altogether…something slow, intentional, thoughtful. Something to be savored in a digital-first world.
They are also coffee table pieces. With their tactile thick pages and high-quality images, they are the epitome of ‘good things take time’.
Below are 9 print magazines that will leave you inspired.

APARTMENTO
An “everyday life interiors magazine” that takes an honest look at the way people live and set up home around the world.
FRANKIE
A lifestyle and design magazine that is smart and informative about everything from home design, to recipes, to vintage style, to music, while maintaining a sense of humor.
OPENHOUSE
Openhouse offers an inspiring and educational look into the homes and lives of people who open their spaces to visitors from around the world.
KINFOLK
Kinfolk explores topics of home, work, style, culture and connecting an international community of likeminded creative spirits.
GATHER JOURNAL
An inspiring James Beard award-winning food magazine that covers everything from cooking and drinking, to harvesting, to entertaining.
CEREAL
A beautifully photographed travel and lifestyle magazine that explores aspects of style, design, fashion, and culture through the lens of specific locations.
SUITCASE
Suitcase is showcases long form travel stories and insider tips about the places you really want to visit.
BLOOM
A celebration of the natural world, as well as practical advice for gardeners and plant lovers…whether you have a garden, a balcony or a windowsill.
SIDETRACKED
Devoted to adventure and exploration. Every stunning piece of photography makes you yearn for a taste of the great outdoors.

28/03/2021

Sooo... random question...what’s the meaning of your name?
The Fox Briar is actually, in part, inspired by my last name...Voskuil, which means fox-hole in Dutch. Not sure why we named ourselves after an animal burrow...but I like it. Could be military-related, too, but I prefer the home of a fox. 🦊
And, yep...I am Dutch 🇳🇱! But if you are from this part of Michigan it should come as no shock. Side note, I klompen danced as a kid...Google it. Or swipe left to the second photo. Oh, and be sure to checkout Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan every year in May!
All four of my great grandparents came over from the Netherlands over a century ago, settling on both sides of Lake Michigan.
My first name Jordan means “to flow down,” relating to the Jordan River flowing into the Dead Sea. Or in the case of my great grandparents, sailing down the St. Lawrence River, through three Great Lakes, and eventually flowing into Lake Michigan...the finest of 5 lakes in my humble and biased opinion.
So, what’s your name mean?

19/03/2021

Happy Friday, ya’ll! We are flying to Lagos, Nigeria today, which definitely means one thing for me...
Another birding field guide to add to my collection at The Fox Briar! Ha ha. I received my copy of Birds of Western Africa from Amazon yesterday...just in time for our departure. Phew! 😅
Before I travel anywhere I always purchase a field guide for the local and regional birds.
Why?
Well, I love birdwatching...but, it also adds an extra layer of engagement to my travel. It is like a Where’s Waldo wherever I go.
Did you know there are nearly 10,000 different species across the globe? I have seen/identified about 350...so I have a ways to go.
A bird book is a great reminder of my travels. For me, it is better than any knickknack or tchotchke from a gift shop.

17/03/2021

Believe it or not…this door once opened up to a closet! 🚪
Now it feels a little more like the wardrobe from the Chronicles of Narnia. Except this Narnia is a bathroom in the middle of Michigan. And there is no Mr. Tumnus. Or Turkish Delights unfortunately…or fortunately, I kinda think they are gross.
Anyways…
In 2018, I removed the bedroom closet to make way for a larger, dream bathroom. And I suppose now the room could actually use a giant wardrobe.
Instead of removing the closet door entirely, I decided to keep it for a pseudo en-suite vibe…as the hallway entrance remains, too.
The overall vision was modern farmhouse. The previous bathroom was a bit of a 70’s eyesore and did not fit in…so it was important for the new bathroom to flow with the rest of the home.
What I love about the bathroom…and similar to Lucy when she first discovered Narnia…is the sense of wonder and awe every time I enter the room.

16/03/2021

Things found on the property, like this coat rack...and no, there are no ghosts. 👻
Two common questions I get:
Have you seen any ghosts?
Have you found any hidden treasures?
Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on who you ask, there are no lingering specters of former tenants.
In fact, the old home is actually rather quiet for its age. Maybe a little too quiet? 😉
With new ductwork up to the second floor, a new furnace, and a well-maintained floor, there is not much in the way of nighttime creaks, hisses, or clangs...or things that could go bump in the night. Though, you may occasionally hear the resident Barred Owl.
And, much to my dismay, I have not found a stash of money behind a wall or a lost Van Gogh painting in the attic. In fact, I have found next to nothing interesting in the home, even after opening up walls for renovations. 😢
But! The Fox Briar is on 5 acres and includes a barn. And things have been found elsewhere.
The barn is one source of a few treasures, including the pictured coat hanger, an old portrait of a man (earlier IG post), a piano that belonged to the daughter of the original family, and an antique dentist’s chair 🤔.
A neighbor kid has also used a metal detector on the grounds and found a few horseshoes, a broken lantern, an axe head, lots of square nails, and an old Civil War token.
So who knows, maybe the pile of cash is buried somewhere in the ground. Or the Van Gogh is somewhere in the barn. What I do know is there are no ghosts...just owls.

15/03/2021

Monday! 50/50...half brick, half drywall...and about how I feel about daily savings.
It is no secret. I love sleeping in. I often find myself (as I am right now) struggling to will myself out of bed. There is just something so relaxing about the mornings. Like somehow the bed got more comfortable over night. 🛌
And of course here comes daily savings time ⏰ making my morning bed routine feel shorter! Argh!
But, the positives...the sun is out later ☀️ and Spring is right around the corner! 🌸
And the other 50/50...the brick and dry wall.
Why?
Well, the original home, built in 1875 was actually a one room structure (where the kitchen is today). 10 years later the original owners finished the brick addition 🧱. At the time, the doorway on the left was an entrance to the home.
In the 1970’s the home was purchased at auction. Soon after the new owner rebuilt the original portion of the home, expanding its footprint, and made it into a kitchen.
Now we have lovely brick on the inside of the home! ❤️
Loveseat:
Wood serving board:
Apron:
Taxidermy:

14/03/2021

A story from under the stairs. 📖
What I love about old homes are their stories. When I bought The Fox Briar I purchased a fixer with 150 years of history. Over the years I feel less like the owner and more of the caretaker. And, in a way, I have become less a stranger to the original owners and more like their family.
When I think about the home, how I am going furnish it or remodel it, or even how I share it with guests, I think about meaning and intention. As in, how does this contribute to the overall story of the home. If it doesn’t offer meaning, it doesn’t belong.
Ben Weprin, founder of , captured everything I feel about my home in the latest issue of journal:
“It’s like having a home that’s been in the family for years, you want to layer it with love and warmth, so you’re not just going to the furniture store to get everything. You might frame a picture from a camping trip next to a 40-year-old piece of art from a flea market. Each piece has meaning.”
When I built the new staircase, I knew I had to keep the old stairs…because they have meaning. The old case had nearly 150 years of use and deserved to live on to tell its story. Today, from the first-floor bathroom, you can run your fingers along the underside of the hand-hewn steps, manufactured by the original owner, Hobart Hall, from the trees on his property.
My hope for The Fox Briar is that we (our guests included) write the next chapter for the home that would make the original owners proud.

13/03/2021

Make your own DIY floor length mirror🪞
One thing I have learned over the years is that every room could use a mirror.
There is so much a mirror can offer. They add life and energy. They create depth. And they can make any room feel brighter by doing what they do best...reflect.
A mirror can also be a statement piece. A floor length mirror can be art in itself.
Before running out and buying one, consider a simple DIY solution.
The Fox Briar DIY mirror in this post is one-of-kind and only cost $20!
Glass cutter: $5
Mirror: $10
Gold Paint Marker: $5
Frame: Free
The frame was actually an alley find in Chicago. Taking out the trash one day I spotted an old framed print being thrown away. I loved the frame, so I simply popped out the print and went about my day.
The frame itself had very minor cosmetic damage. I purchased a metallic gold oil-based paint marker from Amazon and touched up the scratches.
For cheap (or free) unique frames I recommend checking out a few thrift stores, flea markets, or the free or for sale sections of Craigslist. The key is to be patient...eventually you will find that perfect frame. Who knows, maybe you will find yours in an alley!
Next is the mirror. Any local glass company can cut a mirror to size. This is the most expensive route, but generally still affordable.
You can also find cheaper mirrors at thrift stores or even Target. Just pop it out of the original frame and voila!
Or if the mirror is just a little too big, as was the case for me, you can purchase a cheap glass cutter from Home Depot. Simply score the glass with a straightedge and snap along the score line. Done!
Bookcase:
Armchair:
Lamp:

12/03/2021

My secret to wall art on a small budget! These 6 vintage prints cost me only $30.
Did you know millions of photographs and copies of art work are public domain? Meaning photos may be used freely, without permission or compensation to the owner.
You don’t need to look hard to find these photos either. In fact there are hundreds of websites dedicated to public domain images. Even the Smithsonian and British Library have released over 3.5 million photos to the public domain!
Here are a few of my favorite sites for high quality public domain images:
- unsplash.com (new photos)
- pexels.com (new photos)
- nos.twnsnd.co (vintage photos)
To print, I just use Amazon Photos. An 8x10 costs only $1.75. You can even print up 20x30 for just $20. There are also third-party printers on Amazon that can print even larger.
Lastly, I buy frames in bulk from Amazon. I recently bought 10 8x10 frames with matting for only $30! And the quality was solid for the price.

10/03/2021

Wingback chair + wood burning stove = cozy
For a period, when I was kid I wanted wingback chairs. Normal kid thoughts, right?
I think I was inspired by cartoons, or maybe something someone said. Either way, I would draw them, think about them, and even build them. I attempted two wingback chairs as a kid...one out of snow, and one out of scrap OSB wood.
Kids are weird. I was weird...and probably still am.
As an adult I upgraded from my wood wingback chair to real ones. And have a wood burning stove, too. The perfect combo for a cozy winter afternoon reading books.
Wingback chair:
Axe:
Table:
Dining chairs:

09/03/2021

What’s your interior design style?
Mine is mildly eclectic. I draw from a few styles I have always loved, like farmhouse, industrial, and mid-century modern.
I like clean lines and simple shapes. If I am being honest, too much clutter leaves me feeling anxious...and yet so does too little, ha ha. I want my home to feel both intentional and inviting...with just the right amount personal to inspire a feeling of “lived in”. And also feel sorta minimal.
I tend to lean towards metals, rustic wood, and leather. And generally I lean towards a neutral color palette.
Lastly, unashamedly inspired by Fixer Upper, I gravitate towards found and salvaged objects pulled together in a more curated, modern way. Frankly, I just love the search...so I am always looking for an excuse to go to a flea market.
So, what’s your style?
Desk:
Chair:
Certificate:
Framed authors:
Books:
Lamp:

08/03/2021

Guess who?!?!
I actually have no idea, ha ha.
A common question I get...are they the original home owners?
And the answer is...nope. While I do have photos of the original owners, these framed headshots are not them. Really, I just like the images...my fiancé thinks I am strange, ha ha!
The photo of the gentleman does have ties to the home, but not in the way you might think. After purchasing the property, I found this rendering stashed in a drawer in the barn.
And soon after, I found this woman’s photo at a thrift store. So I decided to buy it and make the two a pair.
While their identities are lost, their likeness will always have a home at The Fox Briar.

05/03/2021

Do you have a favorite bird? 🦅
I actually love pigeons...you know, the gross city birds that hang out in groups? Those guys.
No joke, I think they are super fascinating. I have seen over 350+ different species of birds in my lifetime, in fact logged 57 species at The Fox Briar alone, yet it is the Rock Dove, better known as the pigeon, that I love.
Why? Well, one reason is that they are insane navigators. While humans use Google Maps, pigeons use the earth’s magnetic fields.
A blindfolded pigeon taken hundreds of miles away can navigate straight back home with remarkable precision.
If you ever find yourself at The Fox Briar, check out the Audubon Room pictured here. Grab a bird book off the shelf, take a seat, and read up on all kinds of interesting bird facts.

04/03/2021

Vintage dresser turned bathroom vanity 🪄
I love my bathroom vanity. It is one of kind. It has a story. But...would I do it again?
Yes, but I would do it differently. I had a few lessons learned from the process.
For anyone looking to do something similar in the future, my biggest recommendation: purchase a custom countertop.
I decided to keep the wood top and mount a vessel sink...the idea looked good on paper, but in reality it became a huge headache...water damage has required I redo the countertop twice already. Oi. 😬
But, I still love my vanity!
Sink:
Faucet:

03/03/2021

The map room. Because, well, who doesn’t love a good map?
There is just something about maps that just gets me. I have been fascinated by them since I was little.
Maybe it is the charm of navigating a new place. Or maybe it is a reminder of someplace important.
As a child, whenever I was in the car (which was often because my mom loved to shop), I would pull out our Rand McNally road atlas and imagine myself traveling through another state.
Fast forward into adulthood and not much has changed. I still look at maps and envision myself in new places. And I still find myself buying vintage maps of places important to me...like the one seen here: Grand Rapids.
I also have maps in the dining room of a few other places: Wisconsin, Chicago, and New York City...all places I have lived. And a map of the Apostle Islands.
What maps of meaningful places would you buy?
Map:
Table:
Chairs:

01/03/2021

Stairs on stairs? Yep, you heard right.
There’s a new staircase at The Fox Briar. But what you probably don’t know is that the new case was built on top of the old stairs.
Why not just remove the old stairs? Well, I am a lover of history and preservation and I couldn’t bear to demo the old case! The original set had 150 years of foot grooves imprinted into each step. How could I part with that?
What I love about the new design is that guests can still appreciate the under side of the old steps from the main floor bathroom (image two).
Look closely and you will see 150 year old square nail heads in hand-hewn wood harvested from the property.

28/02/2021

Spring feels like it is right around the corner. But this is Michigan...anything can happen.
The rain today has unfortunately changed our plans. Lame! Was looking forward to cross-country skiing, but now we have switched to a relaxing Sunday indoors. So, not too bad.
While I have no plans to start today, early March at The Fox Briar means one thing: spring/summer preparations.
I wouldn’t be a proper homeowner if I didn’t have an ever growing list of home projects. And as a vacation rental owner, I only have a small window of opportunity to tackle them.
At the end of Winter and late Fall I block off a week to tackle my to-do list.
With spring comes the usual routine: clean the gutters, tidy up landscaping, sweep the garage, wash the windows, etc. And of course a few other unplanned to-dos, like paint our new entry door. Or fix the garage door.
What’s on your spring project list?
Oh, and the pup is Parker. He will always be our unofficial mascot at The Fox Briar.

27/02/2021

Can you guess who’s initials these are? 🤔
They belong to the original owner of The Fox Briar, Hobart Hallum.
Hobart’s story really begins on the east coast, years before his birth.
Erastus Hall, a descendant of Lyman Hall who signed the Declaration of Independence, met his wife Sophia in Connecticut. The couple eventually migrated west to Grand Rapids, Michigan and gave birth to their first child, Hobart Hallum Hall.
Sadly, one year after the birth of their sixth child, Sophia Hall passed away, leaving behind Erastus to raise their children.
In May of 1850, Grand Rapids held their first election. Erastus Hall was elected the first city treasurer and later became the first sexton of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Around this time Erastus and his six children lived at the intersection of Madison, Cass, and Hall Street (named after the Hall family, and exists to this day).
As a young man, Hobart Hall married Nancy Minerva Williams in Grand Rapids. He was a shoemaker by trade. The couple lived with his father until 1875, when they purchased over 200 acres south of Jamestown, Michigan and built their farm (The Fox Briar).
The original home was a wooden, one bedroom structure, built from the maple and pine trees growing on the property🌲🌲. A decade later the brick portion of the home was completed and where Hobart inscribed his initials.
If you ever find yourself at The Fox Briar, take a few minutes to search for his initials. 🔍

26/02/2021

Before + After: DIY kitchen remodel👨‍🍳. From greasy wood overload to farmhouse chic.
Imagine what 40 years of grease, cigarette smoke, and fly excrement would do to a kitchen....that was my situation. 😬
Not only was I not in love with the overload of clashing wood cabinets and wood floors, I also had to deal years of filth on the ceiling, walls, and cabinetry.
I spent a full weekend scrubbing down the entire kitchen, floor to ceiling...twice...to prep for paint. Yikes 🤦🏻‍♂️.
After painting the walls and ceiling, the focus shifted to the old oak cabinetry. The cabinets were painted a light gray and the finishing touch were gold cabinet pulls.
Also, I am obsessed with range hoods...so that was a must for my redesign. I first removed the cabinetry above the old electric range and stripped the wall down to the studs (and found a mummified mouse 😬), then redid the wiring and ventilation. After the drywall was in place, I added floor to ceiling subway tile.
Another weekend project was replacing the old, beige cast iron sink. With the help of a jigsaw and a wonderful neighbor, a larger hole was cut into the countertop to make way for a stainless steel sink and faucet.
The old, rusty light fixtures were replaced with modern ceiling lights from . And I don’t know why, but as a kid I liked to tinker with wiring and electrical⚡️...so this was my favorite part, ha ha.
The last step was to add new . The range set-up in particular is my favorite. I added a gas line to the kitchen for the new range (rather than electric). And of course, the range hood 😍.
Appliances:
Sink and faucet:
Light fixtures:
Paint:

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Book a cozy winter retreat at The Fox Briar 🦊 . The Fox Briar is a historic, countryside vacation rental farmhouse and barn nestled in five wooded acres, located in Hudsonville, Michigan. . Guests get the wintry home, barn, and acreage all to themselves! . Winter weekends are booking up fast. March has one weekend still available (March 12-14). Or if you looking for weekdays, there is more availability. . The home has speedy WiFi and two desks if you need work and/or school arrangements. . Kristy on AirBnB wrote: “This is so far, my favorite airbnb I've stayed in. The house is wonderful, with so many details and beautiful touches. I loved the furnishings, and the main bathroom/tub is gorgeous! I'd love to be back soon! . . . #thefoxbriar #winterwonderland #michiganvacationrental #hollandmichigan #michiganairbnb #michiganwinter #airbnbmichigan #travelmichigan #vrbo #vacationrental #historichomes #weekendgetaway #farmhouse #michiganfarmhouse #farmhousefixerupper #fixerupper #friendretreat #friendgetaway #hollandmichigan #grandrapidsmichigan #hudsonvillemi #snowday #michigansnow #veneklasenbrick #farmhousedecor #farmhousegetaway #americanitalianatearchitecture

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