| Thompson Remodeling (3)

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.

Did you know that color has a big impact on your mood? Knowing what those effects are can be really helpful in selecting paint colors for your home’s interiors. Homeowners frequently take on the task of painting their home and whether it’s one room at a time or tackling the whole house, deciding on colors can sometimes make the start of the project drag on. We’ve been doing some research on the psychology of color and learning more about which colors work best in certain areas of the home and wanted to share that insight with you. In part one, we will talk about the brighter end of the color spectrum and in part two we will cover the neutrals.

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.

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.

With the first day of school just around the corner, we thought a blog about getting your kitchen back-to-school ready was timely. So much goes into preparing for the new school year from buying school supplies, new clothing or uniforms, and shoes to saying “goodbye” to another great summer. One thing that can make this transition so much easier for both you and the kids is to have your kitchen set up and ready to handle the daily comings and goings during the week. We’ve put together a list of simple tips that will have your kitchen back-to-school ready in no time.

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.

For decades, the go-to arrangement of the kitchen was known as the “kitchen triangle”. This layout dictates that a refrigerator, sink, and stove be positioned so that the path between the three creates a triangular traffic pattern, with an eye toward making the steps between each minimal. Though this is still a good school of thought, not all kitchens are conducive to it due to the space available. A more effective way of planning a kitchen layout is to organize it by work zones. Every kitchen needs at least three primary zones: prep, cooking, and cleaning. Developing a layout based on work zones will maximize available space in the most efficient way for your family. By considering the needs of your household, a kitchen may need additional zones for eating or pets and a talented designer will be sure to incorporate them into the design plan.

Your countertop selection is a key design component for a kitchen or bathroom remodel. Granite is a great option for homeowners who want to use a natural material with unique patterns and features. Once you find that perfect piece of granite, the next thing you have to determine is the finish you would like. There are three types of granite finishes: polished, honed, and rough. One may lend itself better than another based on the design aesthetic you wish to create.

Older homes have a unique charm about them. Many homebuyers find themselves drawn to a particular home because of its history and details that make it stand out, such as a special molding, exposed brick, vintage hardware or fixtures, or an architectural feature. Over time, these beautiful historic homes will need some updating either to improve safety or functionality. There are some common issues that may arise when renovating an older home and knowing what might come up will lessen the surprise. A professional remodeler will be prepared for these and will be able to provide solutions to solve the problem so they can complete the updates you would like to make.

Ah, summertime, nice to see you again! I am so excited to be able to spend time outdoors with my family and it’s especially nice to do it in my own backyard. The upcoming holidays and weekends are the perfect times for cookouts on the deck, stargazing on the patio, or playing yard games with friends and neighbors. And recent studies say there’s been a major uptick in homeowners adding outdoor living areas to their homes this year. One of their top design requests is to add a shade element to provide a bit of relief from the sun on extra hot days. For many homeowners, a pergola is great option to consider, which will add not only partial shade but also lots of character.

Stainless appliances have been THE popular choice for kitchen appliances for more than a decade. We love them for their sleek look and versatility to work in any type of design aesthetic from traditional to modern. But if you are thinking about renovating your kitchen and you want to go with something different, there are options that are just as good looking as stainless. In this blog we are going to talk about when using white, black or paneled front appliances are good alternatives.

May is officially National Home Improvement Month! When the weather warms up, homeowners start getting the itch to make updates to their home. Taking care of your biggest investment is definitely worth your time and is very rewarding once the project is complete. Perhaps you want to improve your outdoor areas or maybe one of your bathrooms needs some updating. Whatever the case may be, there are some important building code violations that are commonly made, unknowingly by DIY remodelers. We’d like to bring these to your attention, so you can avoid making them yourselves.

Laundry rooms are a critical space in every home, yet they rarely get the design attention they deserve. Households of all sizes need a spot for the washer and dryer, but let’s face it, when they are shoved into small closet spaces in the hallway or tucked into the kitchen, those areas end up being a catch-all space for laundry bins and hampers and cause a traffic jam. The most functional laundry rooms incorporate enough space for your appliances, folding, a sink, and storage for detergents.