| Thompson Remodeling (7)

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.

So you’re ready to remodel your home or maybe you are thinking about it. Great! One of the first things we like to discuss with our clients is their remodeling “must-haves”, the features, specific materials, or aesthetics that must be included in their design.

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.

Remember the segregated formal dining room? I sure do and though many homes still have them, the Thompson Remodeling design team has found that many families are opting to create an informal dining area when they renovate. Typically, these spaces are created to encourage multi-use for other activities such as homework or entertaining. Here are few examples of great informal dining spaces we’ve created recently.

Does your kitchen look dated? Could it use some updates to make it more functional? Just like any other room in our house, as time passes it may need a bit of sprucing up. With as much time as we spend in the kitchen, you want it to be visually pleasing and user-friendly. To help, we’ve put together a list of updates that you can implement with a relatively small investment.

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.

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.

The owners of this Grand Rapids home came to us in search of a way to improve the functionality of their small kitchen. The existing layout was not only tight, but also included four doorways into other rooms. It was functioning more like a hallway with a few appliances added in for good measure.

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.

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.

If you are considering a major remodel to your home there are so many important reasons why you should hire a design build professional. Whether it’s your kitchen, bathroom or whole house renovation, this blog will help you examine the risks of doing-it-yourself or going with the lowest price firm.

I love reading about the latest gadgets and gear for the home and recently I stumbled onto a few interesting articles on innovative kitchen technology. Electronics and appliances have come a long way. Who would have thought that we would be able to cook a meal using a cell phone back in the 80’s? Now you can brew coffee and turn on your crock pot with your smart phone. Or, if you are really busy and don’t have time to cook, you can print out a snack on your 3D food printer. What? Sounds crazy, but it’s true. Here’s a rundown on some of the coolest kitchen technology that is now available.