| grand rapids remodeling

Grand Rapids has been experiencing bitter cold temperatures. In fact, yesterday it was the coldest day on record since 1994! With the continued treacherous weather conditions, school, and business closings, we hope that your family and pets are safe and warm inside your homes. If you've got a case of cabin fever, grab a mug of hot cocoa and read through our cold weather tips!

Every household can benefit from a mudroom. Families with children and pets appreciate this room for supplying the all-important drop and go zone for daily comings and goings. Even adult-only households recognize the benefits of having a place to store cold and wet weather necessities, shoes, cleaning supplies, and other items you want to have easy access to but keep out of the main areas of your home.

Every year when Remodeling Magazine releases its newest Cost Vs. Value Report we study it to see which projects have the top recoup value in the Grand Rapids area. This annual report compares how popular remodeling projects are retaining their value at re-sale throughout the country. The studies are broken down by geographic area and are based on professional remodelers completing the renovation.

As you plan your remodel and make all the big selections like flooring, countertops, or cabinetry it’s easy to forget about the finishing touches that will add detail or improve function in a space. Fortunately, these small but important details won’t break the bank. In fact, they are often the things many homeowners end up loving the most about their remodel.

Before most renovations can start, you have to tear down or demolish what’s currently in place. This can range from walls to cabinets and even tearing out old plumbing fixtures and appliances. Many clients ask us if they can do the demo themselves to save money on their project. Depending on the complexity of the demo, it’s not an easy yes or no answer. Most often we would recommend that our clients not take on a DIY demo due to the potential safety hazards you may encounter during the process. Safety is always our main concern, but there are several others reasons that you may not realize.

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.

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.

Our clients purchased an old house in East Grand Rapids that needed several updates to make it family friendly. The existing floor plan had an expansive formal dining room that the owners had no plans to use. It also had a small and dark kitchen with a drafty breakfast nook area. Another problem with the layout was the closed staircase, which blocked both sight and sound of the children coming and going.

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.

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.

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.

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.