| Thompson Remodeling (8)

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.

Without a doubt, tile is one of the best ways to put your individual stamp on your remodeling project. With endless possibilities to choose from, you can find the exact color, texture, design, shape and finish to suit your personality.

We love writing blogs about some of the popular selections our clients have been making for their remodeling projects. Usually we call title those blogs “Trends our clients love”, but in this case we can hardly call this selection a trend since it’s been around for over 100 years. Here’s a super quick history lesson - when the first underground train station opened in New York City in 1904 the walls and ceilings were graced with white 3"x6” tiles. These white tiles became known as subway tile and quickly made their way into bathrooms and kitchens all over the country.

When planning any type of remodel it’s important to consider not only the visual aspects of the project, but also how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home to reduce waste and lower your bills. Plus, energy efficient products are good for the environment, improve indoor air quality, and increase the resale value of your home. Don’t just make it beautiful; make it efficient!

The Chrysalis Awards named Thompson Remodeling of Grand Rapids, Regional winners in the Kitchen Remodel $75,000-$100,000 and Basement Remodel categories of their annual awards competition. Continuing to set new standards of professionalism, 92 remodeling companies from across the United States were named winners at the 2015 Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence. The entries were judged on overall design, the creative use of space and materials, and the degree to which the project enhanced the original structure.

The Thompson Remodeling team is proud to announce our big win at the National CotY Awards! Our remodeling project was selected as the national winner in the Basement Under $50,000 category. NARI hosted an Evening of Excellence at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty Six in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on April 17th where they announced the national winners live while simultaneously broadcasting the awards via webcast. Our team watched online and anxiously awaited to hear if we would be taking home one of the big trophies.

Tonight is the night we have been anxiously awaiting! At 5:30 this evening, the winners of the National Level Contractor of the Year (CotY) Awards will be announced and Thompson Remodeling is up for two! Our team will be watching the webcast to see the results and you can too by visiting this link. If you miss the show tonight, it will available for viewing online for the next 30 days. This year we won Regional CotY's in the Residential Bath $50,001-$75,000 and Basement Under $50,000 categories. Regional winners in each category go on to compete for the coveted National title.

White cabinetry is white hot right now! Back in February we blogged about the top trends in kitchen and bath designs announced in the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) member survey and white cabinets were tops in both categories. The Thompson Remodeling design team would definitely agree that this is a trend we are going to continue to see for some time.

Thompson Remodeling is here to run through deck materials with you. Don’t let the choice overwhelm you! We’ll give you the pros and cons of each type so that you can make a more informed decision. This blog will give you the rundown on five types of deck materials: natural wood, pressure treated wood, composite, plastic, and aluminum.

With warmer weather on the horizon, we can’t help but get excited about spending time outdoors. One of the best places to do that is in your own back yard! Expanding your livable space outdoors is an investment that rewards you with beautiful areas to relax with your family and entertain guests. There are all sorts of possibilities: decks, patios, screened porches, gazebos, and sunrooms. If you have been considering an outdoor living space remodel, we’ve got some great ideas to share with you.

The Chili Cook Off is an event that the Thompson Remodeling team looks forward to every year. We invite our clients, trade partners and employees to enter their best chili recipes for a chance to win a generous donation to the charity of their choice. It's a great way to reconnect with everyone, eat some great food, and give back to the community.

Quartz countertops were named top trends for both kitchen and bath designs this year in the annual National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) member survey. The Thompson Remodeling design team was not at all surprised since quartz has been a popular selection for our clients over the past year.

Who doesn’t love the look of hardwood floors? They are simply stunning and create a warm feeling to any room in the house. Although they are beautiful, they sometimes aren’t the best option for busy households with children and pets. Frequent spills and scattering toys can wreak havoc on a natural wood floor, fortunately there is a great solution – vinyl plank flooring!