Van Oss House

Zeeland, Michigan

Historic Plaque

This mid-century modern home on the northeast corner of Centennial Street and Lincoln Avenue was designed by George Nelson and built in 1946 for then vice president of the Herman Miller Company, Hugh DePree and his wife Ruth. Nelson was trained as an architect, had worked with Frank Lloyd Wright, and was director of design for the Herman Miller Company from 1945 until 1972. The design of the 3000+ square foot house and landscaping creates a very private space within the city. The main floor consists of the front hall with dressing room and sliding doors to the pool, a reception area with a ceiling grid of tiny lights designed by Leif Blodee and built by Zeeland resident Ed Nagelkirk, a living room with flagstone fireplace wall and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the pool patio, sunken formal dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a library, family room, office, and attached two-stall garage. The basement has a laundry room, workshop, half bath, and large recreation room with the original AMF pool table. On September 23, 2006 the house received the Historic Zeeland plaque from the Zeeland Historical Society.

The architect traveled to Japan in the late 1950’s and a Japanese influence can be found in the sliding paper Japanese screens in the living room, an outdoor overhang near the pool, the extensive use of various woods on selected walls throughout the house, and wood ceilings in the master bedroom, bath, library, and family room. A 30-foot long window bench with colorful cushions runs the length of the master bedroom and library under picture windows looking out on the pool area.

The first in-ground swimming pool in Zeeland was installed in 1952 in the front yard of the home. A separate storage garage in the back yard was said to be part of an historic barn original to the property.

1952 Pool Hottub Installation Pool Overhang

When Hugh DePree was the president of Herman Miller, Nelson designed the 1961-1962 additions to the home that included the brick façade on the street sides of the house, a new front entry, sunken dining room (replacing the original three-season porch), an office, bathroom, two-stall carport style garage, and interior courtyard.

The kitchen was remodeled in 1962 by Nelson using custom made rosewood cabinets with his own specially designed push to open latches. In 1976 VanderMeulen Builders remodeled the master bath by adding a large dressing area and extensive closet space.

The DePree’s donated the house and property to Hope College when they moved to Florida. Hope promptly sold it in 1981 to Zeeland Public Schools superintendent Dr. Kenneth Harper. The same year the eastern portion of the lot was sold to Vern Lokers (owner of Lokers Shoes in Zeeland) for a building site of his new home. A roof was built over the interior courtyard in 1989 to make a living area for Dr. Harper’s mother-in-law. The Harpers also added two sets of French doors in the reception room and eight feet of upper cabinets in the kitchen in 1992. The next owners were Mr. and Mrs. Timmer from 1995-1999. The Timmers did extensive landscaping on the lot. Joel and Kristi Schipper then owned the house from 1999-2004.

The house retains many vintage Herman Miller features; including several Nelson storage walls, Nelson fireplace tools, a Murphy bed designed by Charles Eames, track lighting, drawer and closet pulls, CSS (Comprehensive Storage System) wall systems and lighting, and wood veneers.

Richard and Cheryl Van Oss bought the house in June 2004 and spent a year renovating and restoring it. They added new countertops, floor tile, and appliances in the kitchen. Two of the three and a half baths were remodeled with new tile and fixtures. New carpet was installed throughout the entire house. Garage doors were added to the carport. The asphalt driveway and garage floor were replaced with cement. The landscaping was updated and a small pond with waterfall was added to the front patio in a round sunken area originally used as a fire-pit. The Van Osses moved into the house in May 2005 adding vintage and new Herman Miller furnishings; including a 1954 bedroom suite designed by George Nelson, a Nelson ball clock, a Nelson bubble lamp, a Nelson coconut chair, a Nelson mini chest on a pedestal, a round Nelson occasional table, an Isamu Naguchi coffee table, several Eames chairs, and an Eames Hang-It-All.

Original features include:

· Front Entry: CSS panels, shelving, and lights. Floor tile. Movable steps hiding a second stairway to the basement.

CSS Panel and Lights & Eames Armshell Chair

· Reception area: Wood veneered wall. Ceiling grid with tiny lights.

Reception Room with Leif Blodee Lighted Ceiling Grid

· Dining room: Wood veneered wall. Jalousie windows.

Looking into Dining Room from Reception Room

Wood Wall and Picture Window in Dining Room

· Kitchen: Rosewood cabinets.

Door from Kitchen to Dining Room Cooktop Refrigerator and Rosewood Cabinets Oven and Rosewood Cabinets

· Living room: Japanese screens back-lit by dimmable fluorescent lights. Can lights. Wood veneered wall. Nelson fireplace tools. Metal fireplace screen.