| remodeling grand rapids mi

Now is the perfect time to be thinking about how to make your home a happier and healthier place to live. New year’s resolutions are typically goals for improving your quality of life and if there’s one place where you can really make a difference, it’s at home. By focusing your attention and completing small projects and home improvements, you will be amazed at how much joy and comfort it will bring you. And since it’s the start of a new year, you can plan to cross these resolutions off one by one, throughout the year.

A bulkhead is a section of ceiling that has been dropped and boxed-in or enclosed. It’s not uncommon to have bulkheads in your kitchen, bathroom or basement. Clients frequently ask us about bulkheads and want to understand their purpose and here’s our answer.

Every year, Houzz surveys homeowners who have completed renovations on their home in the last 12 months or are planning to in the next few months, to learn about trends and preferences in a variety of project types. This year, their kitchen survey revealed many design elements are maintaining their popularity into the new decade.

Many larger neighborhoods have a Home Owners Association, also known as an HOA. As the governing body of the community they are responsible for maintaining common areas, managing neighborhood amenities, and creating and enforcing architectural guidelines. So, when you live in a community that has an HOA, your remodeling project could be subject to certain specifications and/or approval before any work can commence. In this blog, we are going to do a quick Q&A that will help you better understand what you need to know about remodeling when you have an HOA.

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is here! I’m sure many of you are busy planning family gatherings, shopping ‘til you drop, or getting ready to bake up all kinds of delicious confections. I love this time of year! But, have you ever noticed that this is also when those less than perfect areas of your home will really cause you frustration? As you host family and friends for the holidays, you may find yourself critiquing what could be working better for you in your home. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many homeowners will make the decision it’s finally time to remodel just after the New Year.

Our clients were empty nesters who had decided to remodel their home instead of moving. We were happy to work with them to complete a whole house remodel, which included renovating the entire exterior, energy upgrades throughout, a new kitchen, updated fireplace, living room, dining room, and main entry. See this remodel story come to life through the series of before and after photos below.

Every year, Houzz surveys homeowners who are completing renovations on their home to learn about trends and preferences in a variety of project types. This year, their kitchen survey revealed shifts in design styles and confirmed selections that continue to gain and maintain their popularity.

The owners of this beautiful historic farmhouse had been painstakingly restoring it bit by bit. One of the last items on their list was to create a wrap-around front porch to create a more distinct and obvious entrance to the front of their home.

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.

Every person has their own decorating style and when you begin the selections process during your remodel those preferences will take center stage. After all, this is when you get to put your personal stamp on your renovation by picking tile, countertops, cabinets, flooring, paint colors, fixtures, and lighting. How exciting! You can see it all coming to life! But what if you and your other half don’t agree on style? You like ultra modern and they prefer a classic, traditional aesthetic. How in the world are you going to get through the process and both end up happy with the result? It can be done with a little patience, willingness to compromise and guidance from a seasoned designer.

The term “curb appeal” refers to the impression the exterior of you home presents to visitors or potential buyers. Some of the key features that are important in creating this initial impression include siding, roofing, driveways and walkways, front entries or porches, and landscaping. Today, we would like to focus on how you can improve specific aspects of your home’s exterior to make it more accessible for folks of all ages and ability. Keep in mind that this includes parents with young children just as much as an individual who requires assistance walking.