| Thompson Remodeling (13)

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.

This desperately dark kitchen was suffering from a lack of light, storage and a poor layout. The main source of light was provided by a decades old ceiling fan, the refrigerator blocked the main traffic path to and from the living room, and a sliding door was taking up prime real estate that could be used for storage.

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.

When planning your kitchen update or remodel, selecting your countertops is one of the biggest decisions you have to make. There are so many options available today and with all the choices, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. That’s where this blog will come in handy. We will look at each material and provide you with the pros and cons of each taking into consideration the four main areas you should keep in mind: look and style, maintenance, durability, and budget.

If you are interested in or planning a remodel or decorating project Houzz is one of the best resources in the market today. Houzz is an online community that features photos, ideas and discussions about remodeling and decorating - and it's free! Finding inspiration, asking for advice, and reading professional reviews has never been easier – plus you can access Houzz online or from your phone or tablet.

This past weekend MSU hosted their first Grand Fondo in downtown Grand Rapids. The Italian meaning for Grand Fondo is "Big Race" and this event was just that with close to 1500 participating riders of all ages. In true MSU form this event was followed up with Gears for Beers which included a selection of Michigan micro-brewery's and winery's serving samples to pair with the tasty eats from the street food stations. Overall this event to support skin cancer research was a success.

We learn early on that first impressions are important and that we typically only have one chance to make a good one. This concept also applies to the front entrance of our homes. As home owners we want guests to feel welcome from the moment they arrive. Enhancing your front entry is one way to ensure your home is making a great first impression.

Creative Merchandising Systems Inc. is a family owned and operated company and has been since 1991. CMS designs and builds quality display fixtures for supermarkets, convenience stores, specialty wine and retail shops and hospitality environments; As well as custom cabinet design and manufacturing. And last Friday Thompson Remodeling had the opportunity to tour their facility and see where their extensive product line is designed and built.

Saturday February 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM the freezing waters of Reeds Lake will be filled with the courageous participants of this year’s Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Polar Plunge. After raising funds for a good cause these participants will finish their fundraising efforts with a cold dip into Reeds Lake, dressed in the most outrageous costumes. Although none of us here at Thompson Remodeling are braving the cold water we are proud to be a sponsor of this years zany event. The proceeds raised from a series of plunges held throughout Michigan help support year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than 18,600 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.