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Remember the days when all your finishes had to match? Not too long ago, if you had satin nickel door and drawer pulls you had to have satin nickel faucets and lighting fixtures. Today, things are getting more interesting and mixing metal finishes is actually accepted and popular!

This year's Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was filled with fantastic new tile trends. It was nearly impossible to walk 5 feet without seeing another gorgeous display of colorful, shimmering, or three-dimensional tile. So of course, we investigated and took some photos to share with you!

As we close another year of working with great clients and completing lots of remodeling projects, we thought it might be fun to create our own list of the top 5 remodeling selections we saw this year. All the magazines do their own "Best of" or "Top Trend" lists, so we thought why shouldn't the Thompson Remodeling team get in on the fun too. So, without further ado, here's our list of the Top 5 Remodeling Selections for 2015!

It’s that time of year again when Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color, selects their top color pick for the coming year. This year they selected not one, but two shades, something that they have never done before. And the colors are (drumroll please)…Rose Quartz and Serenity.

I can remember when a mudroom was just a simple room off of the garage with a few shelves and maybe a sink. Thankfully, designers and remodelers have realized that the mudroom can be so much more! Even tight spaces can be maximized to provide the much-needed functional storage space every family needs to keep a variety of “stuff” organized. Depending on your lifestyle, that “stuff” can include the obvious coats, scarves, gloves and shoes, but can also extend to sporting equipment, pet necessities, school books, computer bags, and cleaning supplies.

Remember the segregated formal dining room? I sure do and though many homes still have them, the Thompson Remodeling design team has found that many families are opting to create an informal dining area when they renovate. Typically, these spaces are created to encourage multi-use for other activities such as homework or entertaining. Here are few examples of great informal dining spaces we’ve created recently.

Let's talk about lighting trends! The lighting plan is an essential part of the remodeling design for any space. As designers, one of our top goals is to ensure that a room has adequate lighting to perform daily tasks comfortably. Once we understand the functions the lighting must perform, then we can move on to the style.

Bronze finishes are making a comeback! For a long time now, nickel and chrome finishes have been all the rage, but we are starting to see bronze fixtures, lighting, and other details gain popularity. Bronze gives a rich feeling to a space and works very well in traditional, rustic and Mediterranean style spaces. When you are looking to add warmth, consider bronze finishes. Blending finishes is also becoming a trend; everything doesn’t have to match. The shine of stainless or chrome can be complemented nicely by a matte bronze finish.

I love reading about the latest gadgets and gear for the home and recently I stumbled onto a few interesting articles on innovative kitchen technology. Electronics and appliances have come a long way. Who would have thought that we would be able to cook a meal using a cell phone back in the 80’s? Now you can brew coffee and turn on your crock pot with your smart phone. Or, if you are really busy and don’t have time to cook, you can print out a snack on your 3D food printer. What? Sounds crazy, but it’s true. Here’s a rundown on some of the coolest kitchen technology that is now available.

We love writing blogs about some of the popular selections our clients have been making for their remodeling projects. Usually we call title those blogs “Trends our clients love”, but in this case we can hardly call this selection a trend since it’s been around for over 100 years. Here’s a super quick history lesson - when the first underground train station opened in New York City in 1904 the walls and ceilings were graced with white 3"x6” tiles. These white tiles became known as subway tile and quickly made their way into bathrooms and kitchens all over the country.

White cabinetry is white hot right now! Back in February we blogged about the top trends in kitchen and bath designs announced in the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) member survey and white cabinets were tops in both categories. The Thompson Remodeling design team would definitely agree that this is a trend we are going to continue to see for some time.

Quartz countertops were named top trends for both kitchen and bath designs this year in the annual National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) member survey. The Thompson Remodeling design team was not at all surprised since quartz has been a popular selection for our clients over the past year.

Every year, a color of the year is crowned by Pantone, the global color authority. This year, Marsala has been selected and it’s the color to look for in fashion, home décor, cosmetics, and even appliances and luggage! Marsala is a robust, red-infused brown that evokes a warm and inviting feeling. In contrast to colors selected in years past, it can be easily incorporated into your wardrobe or décor as a focal color or a complimentary shade.

It’s easy to overlook the importance of planning a bathroom remodel. All you need is a sink, toilet and bathtub right? While it’s true that you need a sink and toilet for the bathroom to offer the necessary functions, there are other things to consider making the best use of the small space.

The definition of the typical household has been changing in recent years. For a variety of reasons, multiple generations of families are deciding to live together under one roof. This type of living arrangement allows for easy child care, live-in care of older or disabled relatives, and it can be economical for everyone involved. But one thing's for sure, most homes are not built to support this kind of living. There are several remodeling projects that have become very popular recently as a result of a current or future need to accommodate a multi-generational living situation. We believe it always makes sense to consider your present and future needs.

Natural light in your home enhances mood, adds ambiance and promotes a healthy environment. Who doesn't want a home that's warm, inviting and healthy? One of the easiest ways to improve your home in these areas is by enhancing and improving the flow of natural light. Better use of natural light also reduces energy consumption and can lower your utility bills.

Keep your comings and goings more organized with a mudroom. Every home can use a mudroom - a place to drop your bags, coats, umbrella, book bags, leashes, golf bags, or baseball mitt. Households of all types and sizes can use this room as a staging area to help manage clutter and keep mud and dirt out of the rest of the home.

Universal design elements have become a very popular trend in remodeling. The reason can be attributed to the growth in multi-generational living and baby boomers that have decided to age-in-place rather than move. Even younger homeowners will find some of these attributes desirable for their homes. After all, universal design can be defined as products and spaces designed to make your home more accessible, safe and easy to use. That is attractive to homeowners of all ages!

One of the top bathroom remodeling trends for 2014 is the stand-alone tub. Can you remember when everyone wanted to have a big jacuzzi tub? We sure do! Clients in Grand Rapids, MI and all over the country have decided to replace jetted tubs or forego them completely, with a stylish stand-alone tub in their bathroom remodeling project.

The lower level in your home can be used to create all types of unique living spaces. One of the things to keep in mind when thinking about a lower level basement remodel are the distinct qualities that this space can offer that other areas of your home may not: quiet, privacy and less light. You can use these qualities to your advantage to get creative with the space. Consider one of these five unique lower level basement remodeling projects for your home. Bar/Lounge – Your lower level bar can be designed to suit your every need. How about a full-size seated bar with large flat screens TVs plus space for a pool table, air hockey or foosball? Indoor sports room – Consider incorporating a space to play your favorite sport indoors: putting greens, soccer rooms, mini basketball courts, or a climbing wall for the kids. Recording studio – Build a soundproof space to practice with your band or record your own music. Fitness studio – Save money on a gym membership by designing your own fitness studio in your lower level. Install a sprung floor for aerobics or dance workouts, add a treadmill and weight machines. Create a space for yoga. You name it! Wine cellar – The darkness of a lower level and naturally cooler temperature makes it a perfect space to create a wine cellar. Wine lovers will love having the space to store their collection.

Flooring is one of the most important selections you will make for your home remodeling project. When you’re looking at the many options, you may want to consider some of the hottest flooring trends we are seeing in home remodeling today.

A great place to extend your living space is in your own backyard with an outdoor remodeling project. In recent years, homeowners have been using their backyard as a blank canvas to create great spaces to spend time with family and entertain guests. The latest trend in outdoor remodeling is designing outdoor versions of your favorite indoor spaces.

Does your home offer enough space for informal family activities? Is your floor plan too closed in? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you are not alone. Today’s families prefer open living spaces that flow from one room to the next, allowing for meal preparation and socialization in one central area. That's why family room additions are such a hot trend today. A family room addition is the perfect solution to open up your home and provide an all-purpose space for all of your activities.

Incorporating architectural details into your home remodeling project can bring warmth and character to a room and provide that finishing touch. Our designers can help you select the right architectural details to enhance any style -- traditional, contemporary, modern, or transitional. Some of the details listed below are strictly cosmetic, while others offer a functional purpose as well.

It used to be that bathrooms were simple, utilitarian spaces. Not so anymore! Today, bathroom design trends lean toward creating a relaxing and luxurious place to start and end your day. Homeowners are remodeling bathrooms to remind them of their favorite hotels and they want the same type of amenities at home. Current bathroom design trends entice the homeowner to spend more time in the space – whether its relaxing in a steam bath or getting ready while listening to your iPod or watching TV.

The new color trends for Spring 2014 were recently released by Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color. Twice a year they make predictions for the upcoming season, which are heavily based on what is popular on the fashion runways. Decorators pay attention to these trends because the colors that make an impact in the fashion world trickle down into home décor. In this blog we will introduce Pantone’s color trends for Spring and give you some simple ways you can introduce color into your own home without breaking the bank.

What’s one of the first things you do when you enter a room? Turn on the lights! Obviously, lighting is a necessity in your home and there are limitless options available to do the job. But beyond the functional purpose of bringing light into a space, it is also a key part of developing the design aesthetic for a room. Lighting evokes personality and style into living spaces. Fortunately, there are selections available to fit any need, taste and budget.

For a lot of us it just seems silly to heat water all day long in a big tank to dose it out just at the beginning and end of the day. On first glance it just makes more sense to use an on-demand water heater. Here is a brief checklist of some of the hurdles many of our clients have been struggling with over the last 5+ years and honestly it keeps coming back to installed cost and their expectations of "unending hot water." My experience - I have a conventional water heater in my home. I wish I had an on-demand water heater but it doesn't quite make sense in my home. I first stayed in a house using on-demand water heating in Japan a few years ago and loved it!