Bathrooms | 12.11.17

5 Benefits of a No-Threshold Shower

Have you seen a no-threshold shower? It’s a shower that has no curb or surrounding edge to it, making it flush with the bathroom floor. You may have also heard the terms barrier-free, curbless walk-in-shower or zero threshold, but they are all the same thing. I know what you may be thinking. Where is all the water going to go? Won’t I have a flood on my hands after every shower? No! The secret to containing the water is in the drainage system. This type of shower will have either a trench drain, which is a long and narrow drain placed where the shower door would be placed, or a center drain with the floor just slightly pitched towards it.

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Bathrooms | 02.29.16

Will taking out my bathtub impact my home’s resale value?

Bathroom remodels are one of the most popular renovation projects homeowners are interested in completing. One of the most common questions we hear when working with clients on designing their new bath space is how removing the bathtub will affect the resale value of their home. There are two important considerations that we will look at in order to direct our clients appropriately.

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Trends | 02.12.16

Mix It Up – Metal Finishes No Longer Have to Match!

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!

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Love Where You Live | 02.5.16

Thompson Remodeling Wins 2016 Regional CotY for Grand Rapids Master Bath Remodel

This week we found out that we won a Regional CotY award from The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) for a recent master bath remodel we completed! What's even more exciting is that this is the second year in a row that we have won in the Residential Bath $50,001-$75,000 category. The Thompson Remodeling team is honored to be recognized again by NARI in this category. Our design team worked closely with the homeowners to create a master bath remodel that would provide maximum functionality, the best use of space, and a combination of modern and classic aesthetics. We share this award with our clients who had such a great vision for their perfect master bath!

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Trends | 01.31.16

Our Favorite Tile Trends from KBIS 2016

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!

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Trends | 12.13.15

Top 5 Remodeling Selections of 2015 by Thompson Remodeling

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!

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Bathrooms | 11.2.15

The Anatomy of a Great Bathroom Remodel

There’s more to your bathroom remodel design than simply where to place the toilet and sink. Even though bathrooms are the smallest rooms in the house, careful thought should go into how to maximize every square inch of space. Thompson Remodeling’s approach towards designing a great bath space is to marry beauty and function to best serve and reflect the main users. For a powder room you consider the guest, for a master bath you often need to accommodate two users, and for children’s baths there are all sorts of considerations for safety, storage, and bathing.

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Love Where You Live | 09.4.15

Project Spotlight: Buy A New Home or Remodel?

We often think about our dream house and what it might look like. Is it a brand new home, an old home with character, or perhaps your existing home with some major remodeling? Do I buy a new home or remodel? That’s exactly the question our clients were considering when they returned back home from living overseas. They initially thought a custom home might be the way to go, but the idea of waiting through all the planning and construction seemed like a waste of valuable time they could be spending together as a family. So instead, the family decided to buy an existing home and remodel it to perfectly suit their own needs.

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Love Where You Live | 08.14.15

Whole House Remodel Spotlight: Party of Eight

The joining of two families is a joyous occasion! And when you have an existing home in a lovely neighborhood with space to spare, a thoughtful whole house remodel can make the space work for all eight (and one dog). Thompson Remodeling was happy to help improve the family spaces of this 4-bedroom, 3-level home and create new bedrooms and bath spaces to accommodate everyone. This whole house remodel included renovations to every level of the home, most notably on the main floor and the basement. Take a virtual tour below complete with existing and after floor plans and before and after photos of this familytastic remodel.

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Love Where You Live | 07.29.15

Remodeled Bath Spotlight: A Sophisticated Transformation

Many older Grand Rapids homes were designed with small utilitarian bathrooms. Today, homeowners want more than just a place to brush their teeth and take a quick shower; they want a relaxing, well-lit space with modern luxuries. Many times, our clients want to recreate a bathroom space from a luxury hotel or vacation home they visited. And why shouldn’t we want to have that kind of space to enjoy everyday at home? After all, it’s the first place you’ll visit in the morning and the last place before bed. So make it luxurious, rustic, modern, or whatever suits your taste.

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Love Where You Live | 07.18.15

Master Suite Remodel - From Weird to Wow

When dreaming about the perfect master suite remodel, there are two important ingredients that are always in the mix– the closet space and the master bath. Too often, existing homes will have small closets and baths in the master suite leaving homeowners frustrated and ultimately unsatisfied. At Thompson Remodeling, we have seen our share of strange configurations, but that’s part of the fun. We enjoy the challenge of reconfiguring space to make it work better for our clients.

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Trends | 07.3.15

Are Bronze Finishes Gaining on Silver?

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.

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Love Where You Live | 06.27.15

Remodel with Color - Five Ways to Add Color to Your Remodeling Project

Don't be afraid to add some color to your remodeling project! White, gray and beige are certainly the most popular choices for material selections and they create a great canvas to decorate against that's for sure. But when you introduce color, you add visual interest and personality into a space. The idea of incorporating color, especially one you can live with for many years, may sound a bit intimidating. What if you choose the wrong color? Here's the thing, I suggest using colors you naturally gravitate to especially for more expensive materials. Then experience with bolder colors for less expensive, easy to change items.

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Love Where You Live | 06.19.15

Five Common Bathroom Design Mistakes

Thinking of remodeling your bathroom? Make sure your design doesn’t include any of these common bathroom design mistakes. Over the years we worked on many bathroom designs for all types of baths – master, guest and powder rooms. Although it might seem simple, there’s a lot to think about when creating a well-functioning bath. You have to consider the placement of all the necessary plumbing and fixtures, the lighting, storage, flooring, and window and door configuration. And then of course there are details like tile layouts for backsplashes and showers.

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Love Where You Live | 05.25.15

Get Inspired by Today’s Tile Trends

Without a doubt, tile is one of the best ways to put your individual stamp on your remodeling project. With endless possibilities to choose from, you can find the exact color, texture, design, shape and finish to suit your personality.

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Love Where You Live | 05.9.15

Tips to Make Your Home Remodel Energy Efficient

When planning any type of remodel it’s important to consider not only the visual aspects of the project, but also how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home to reduce waste and lower your bills. Plus, energy efficient products are good for the environment, improve indoor air quality, and increase the resale value of your home. Don’t just make it beautiful; make it efficient!

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Love Where You Live | 04.17.15

The Big Results Show is Tonight! Thompson Remodeling is Up for Two National CotYs.

Tonight is the night we have been anxiously awaiting! At 5:30 this evening, the winners of the National Level Contractor of the Year (CotY) Awards will be announced and Thompson Remodeling is up for two! Our team will be watching the webcast to see the results and you can too by visiting this link. If you miss the show tonight, it will available for viewing online for the next 30 days. This year we won Regional CotY's in the Residential Bath $50,001-$75,000 and Basement Under $50,000 categories. Regional winners in each category go on to compete for the coveted National title.

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Trends | 04.13.15

A Trend Our Clients Love: White Cabinetry

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.

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Trends | 03.6.15

A Trend Our Clients Love: Quartz Countertops

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.

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Love Where You Live | 02.10.15

Thompson Remodeling Wins Two Regional Contractor of the Year Awards

Thompson Remodeling Named NARI 2015 Regional CotY TM Winner The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Names 160 Regional CotY TM (Contractor of the Year) Winners We have exciting news! The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named Thompson Remodeling, in Grand Rapids, MI, 2015 East Central Regional CotY winners in the Residential Bath $50,001-$75,000 and Basement Under $50,000 categories of its annual awards competition.

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Love Where You Live | 12.12.14

A Bathroom Remodel Story: The Perfect Marriage of Style and Function

For 39 years, the owners of this four bedroom home lived with a cramped bathroom that hardly deserved to be called a master bath. Its limited space allowed only one user at a time, lacked counterspace, and was severely outdated.

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Trends | 09.7.14

Plan Your Bathroom Remodel by Answering These 5 Questions.

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.

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Trends | 08.22.14

Remodeling for Multi-Generational Living

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.

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Love Where You Live | 06.6.14

Let there be layered light!

Layered light is the best way to enhance ambiance and the overall design aesthetic of the spaces in your home. Lighting planning and selection is one of the most important design aspects of a remodeling project. There are three basic types of lighting: ambient, task and accent. Layered lighting is the design principle of combining all three types to create a balance between visual aid for performing tasks and enhancing the design aesthetic and ambiance. A professional designer will know how to design your remodeled space with an effective layered lighting plan.

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Bathrooms | 03.31.14

Five Tech Savvy Master Bath Trends

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Trends | 03.6.14

Top Bathroom Remodeling Trend for 2014: Stand-Alone Tubs

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.

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Trends | 12.6.13

Top Ten Bathroom Design Trends

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.

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Love Where You Live | 11.7.12

Discounts and Freebies From StarMark Cabinetry

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Love Where You Live | 06.22.12

StarMark Cabinetry 20% Off Through 2012- Exclusively for Thompson Remodeling Clients!

Thompson Remodeling has received an exclusive promotion through StarMark Cabinetry. Anything currently NOT on sale is 20% off Anything that is on sale for less than 20% off gets bumped up to 20% off Click the link below to check out additional promotions StarMark Cabinetry PROMOS Visit StarMark Cabinetry's Website http://www.starmarkcabinetry.com/

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Love Where You Live | 06.1.12

Better Homes and Gardens was in my bathroom

Thompson Remodeling's Ben and Kristin Thompson recently had their master bathroom featured in Real Life Kitchen & Bath Magazines Spring 2012 Issue. Click on the link to read how they transform their bathroom; which consisted of dated wallpaper, faux-marble shower, leaky faucets and fluorescent lighting; into a neutral territory of calm colors and natural materials.

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Bathrooms | 01.31.12

Good Idea: Handheld Shower

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Bathrooms | 04.19.22

Five Common Bathroom Design Mistakes

Thinking of remodeling your bathroom? Make sure your design doesn’t include any of these common bathroom design mistakes. Over the years we worked on many bathroom designs for all types of baths – master, guest and powder rooms. Although it might seem simple, there’s a lot to think about when creating a well-functioning bath. You have to consider the placement of all the necessary plumbing and fixtures, the lighting, storage, flooring, and window and door configuration. And then of course there are details like tile layouts for backsplashes and showers.

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Bathrooms | 06.30.21

Design Tips for a Windowless Bathroom

Most homes have at least one bathroom without windows. And if you live in a condo, you may not have any bathrooms with windows. Powder rooms or guest baths positioned within interior walls have a tendency to feel dark and small and they can present a design challenge. How do you maximize light flow without any source of natural light? What can you do to make a small space feel larger? Over the years, we’ve designed and remodeled a lot of bathrooms and have some design tips we can share with you that will enhance the look and feel of those without windows.

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Bathrooms | 11.23.20

Our Most Dramatic Bathroom Remodels

Better functionality, updated finishes, and improved layouts are three elements of a great bathroom remodel. Over the years, we have worked with many families to bring their bathroom vision to life, making their goals the driving force behind our creative designs. We've pulled together a few of our favorite bathroom remodels that had the most dramatic changes, including their before and after photos and links to the full stories behind the project. Take a look below.

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Bathrooms | 10.26.20

Houzz Reports Top Bathroom Trends for 2020

Every year, Houzz, an online interior design and remodeling community, surveys their users who have recently completed or are planning a home project to learn more about trends and motivations behind specific renovation types. This year, nearly 1,600 homeowners provided their opinions on remodeling their bathrooms. We've read through the survey results and compiled a top 10 list of bathroom trends for 2020. Check it out below!

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Bathrooms | 08.14.20

Thompson Remodeling's Bathroom Remodeling Resources

The bathrooms in our homes get more use than any other room in the house. The more people in your household, the more wear and tear it's going to take. Outdated or worn out finishes, lack of storage, and poor layout are the most common issues we discuss with clients who are planning a bathroom remodel. Over the years we've created a lot of helpful resources for those who are getting ready to update their bathroom. We recommend reviewing the 10 listed below if you are considering one in your near future.

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Bathrooms | 08.22.19

Painted or Stained Cabinets? A Quick Look at the Pros of Each.

If a kitchen or bathroom renovation is on your horizon you’ve probably spent some time thinking about what type of cabinets you want to choose. Cabinetry accounts for a large portion of your remodeling budget, so it’s important to consider your finish options carefully. Do you go with painted or stained? Each has its benefits depending on your preferred design aesthetic and your budget parameters.

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Bathrooms | 10.30.17

Is a Floating Vanity the Right Choice for Your Bathroom Remodel?

First of all, if you are wondering what a floating vanity, I’m sure you’re not alone. A floating vanity is a bathroom cabinet that is anchored to the wall. It does not extend all the way to the floor as standard vanities do, which creates the illusion it is floating in the space. They have become increasingly popular in recent years and many homeowners select them for their clean and modern look. But aside from aesthetics, there are many situations when a floating vanity is a great choice for your bathroom remodel. If you are wondering if it makes sense for you, read our list below.

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Trends | 10.20.17

Tile Design – Beyond the Subway Tile Movement

Subway tile has been having a moment…a big one actually. For years it’s been a mainstay in kitchen tile designs for backsplashes and bathroom shower surrounds. We love it for its classic appeal, ability to work in all types of design aesthetics, and variety of available colors and materials. But, sometimes our clients are seeking a different or unique tile design for their remodel. Thompson Remodeling’s design team enjoys finding the right tile to suit each client’s preferences. Here are just a few examples of tile designs from recent remodels where the homeowners decided to go beyond the subway tile movement.

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Bathrooms | 10.12.17

A Selection Our Clients Love – Open Shelving

Open shelving is making its way into our client’s remodeling designs for kitchens, bathrooms, and even basements! Who says your storage has to be hidden? Exposed, open shelving has become a very popular selection and can be seen in all the latest remodeling and decorating magazines and websites. This storage option offers both functional and aesthetic benefits and we have some great examples to show you. We believe you'll be inspired to include them in your own remodel!

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Love Where You Live | 09.29.17

Splurge-Worthy Selections for Your Bathroom Remodel

Picture your dream bathroom. What does it look like? Does it have a luxurious spa shower or a modern soaking tub? Maybe you envision a floating vanity with a gorgeous granite countertop. Does that vision fit into your budget? When it comes time to make all the selections for a bathroom remodel, things can start to add up. Thompson Remodeling knows how important it is to keep your project on budget and we have a few tips on which items are worth splurging on for your bathroom remodel.

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Bathrooms | 09.12.17

Got Stuff? Try floor to ceiling cabinets!

One major component of every remodeling project is figuring out how to incorporate storage options, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. Every household accumulates “stuff” and the bigger your family is the more you will have. Thompson Remodeling has experience working with Grand Rapids families of two people to up to eight and more! We will work with you to find creative ways to accommodate all that important stuff you need to keep in each room to make it function at its best. One solution we have found to work really well is floor to ceiling cabinets. They can be integrated to match other cabinetry within a room and offer unlimited options for drawers, pullouts, cubbies and other internal organizing systems.

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Bathrooms | 07.31.17

Fine Craftsmanship is Worth the Wait

Abracadabra – your remodel is finished! It would be amazing if we could simply snap our fingers and present a gorgeous kitchen remodel like a magic trick, but unfortunately, we aren’t magicians. The truth is, every remodeling project is a custom construction project completed by human hands and fine craftsmanship takes time, but trust us, it’s worth the wait.

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