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NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest insights, tips, and trend stories from Horizon Kitchen & Bath. From practical remodeling advice to design inspiration and local industry updates, our news section is your go‑to resource for making informed decisions about your home renovation projects in Chelsea, Michigan and surrounding areas.
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Small Bathroom Remodel Ideas That Maximize Space
The best small bathroom remodel ideas include replacing a tub with a walk-in shower, installing a floating vanity, using large-format tile, and adding recessed storage. These changes make a 40- to 60-square-foot bathroom feel significantly larger without moving walls. Replace the Tub with a Walk-In Shower A standard bathtub consumes roughly 13 square feet of floor space. Swapping it for a walk-in shower with a frameless glass panel reclaims usable area and eliminates the visu
Matt Waters
1 day ago4 min read
Quartz vs. Granite Countertops: Which Is Right for Your Kitchen?
Quartz countertops are engineered for low maintenance and design consistency, while granite offers natural beauty and superior heat resistance. Both cost between $50 and $150 per square foot installed, and either material can last decades with proper care. Choosing between quartz and granite is one of the biggest decisions in a kitchen remodel because your countertops set the visual tone for the entire room and affect how you use the space every day. This guide compares the t
Matt Waters
1 day ago5 min read
Remodeling in Manchester, MI: Kitchen & Bath Upgrades Close to Home
A mid-range kitchen remodel in Manchester, MI costs $25,000 to $65,000 , and a bathroom remodel runs $12,000 to $40,000 , with pricing driven by material selections, project scope, and the condition of the existing home. Manchester's smaller-village setting and more affordable housing stock compared to Ann Arbor and Dexter mean remodeling budgets can stretch further while still delivering high-quality results. Why Manchester Homeowners Remodel Manchester's median home price s
Matt Waters
1 day ago3 min read
Bathroom Remodeling in Chelsea, MI: What Local Homeowners Need to Know
Bathroom remodeling in Chelsea, MI typically costs $10,000 to $40,000 and takes three to eight weeks depending on whether you are refreshing fixtures or completing a full gut renovation. Chelsea's mix of historic and mid-century homes creates specific challenges that a local contractor understands best. Why Chelsea Bathrooms Need Special Attention Chelsea's housing stock includes a significant number of homes built between the 1920s and 1970s. These older properties often fe
Matt Waters
1 day ago3 min read
Kitchen Cabinet Styles: Shaker vs. Flat Panel and What Works in 2026
Shaker cabinets remain the most popular kitchen cabinet style in 2026, chosen for their timeless five-piece door design that works with almost any kitchen layout. Flat panel cabinets are gaining ground fast among homeowners who want a clean, modern look with easier maintenance. Your cabinet style sets the visual direction of the entire kitchen. It affects how the room feels, how easy the doors are to clean, and how well your kitchen ages over time. This guide compares shaker
Matt Waters
1 day ago6 min read
Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling in Saline, MI: What to Know Before You Start
A mid-range kitchen remodel in Saline, MI costs $30,000 to $75,000 , and a bathroom remodel runs $15,000 to $45,000 , with pricing influenced by material choices, scope of work, and the age of the home. Saline's housing stock spans from historic homes near downtown to newer subdivisions south and west of the city, creating a wide range of remodeling conditions and budgets for homeowners. Why Saline Homeowners Invest in Remodeling Saline's median home price sits near $430,000,
Matt Waters
1 day ago4 min read
Mudroom Storage Ideas for Michigan Homes: Custom Built-Ins That Work Year-Round
A well-designed mudroom in Michigan needs to handle snow boots in January, rain gear in April, and sports equipment from May through October . Custom mudroom built-ins cost $3,000 to $10,000 depending on materials and complexity, and they transform a cluttered entry into a system that keeps every season organized. Here are the storage ideas that work hardest in four-season homes. Why Michigan Homes Need a Dedicated Mudroom Michigan's climate creates storage challenges that ho
Matt Waters
Mar 235 min read
Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling in Dexter, MI: Local Guide for Homeowners
A mid-range kitchen remodel in Dexter, MI costs $30,000 to $75,000 , and a bathroom remodel runs $15,000 to $45,000 , with final pricing shaped by the age of the home, material selections, and scope of work. Dexter's mix of historic village homes near downtown and newer builds in surrounding Dexter Township creates a range of remodeling scenarios, from updating century-old kitchens with non-standard layouts to refreshing builder-grade bathrooms in 2000s-era subdivisions. Why
Matt Waters
Mar 235 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Basement Bar?
Building a basement bar costs $2,000 to $30,000 , with a basic dry bar starting around $2,000, a mid-range wet bar running $8,000 to $15,000, and a fully custom entertainment build-out reaching $25,000 or more. The national average for a home bar project is approximately $8,000, though Michigan homeowners should factor in basement-specific considerations like waterproofing and egress requirements that can shift the budget. Dry Bar vs. Wet Bar: What Is the Difference? A dry ba
Matt Waters
Mar 235 min read
Basement Entertainment Space Ideas: From Game Rooms to Full Build-Outs
A finished basement entertainment space costs $40 to $100 per square foot in Michigan, putting a 1,000-square-foot build-out in the $40,000 to $100,000 range depending on the scope of work. The most popular entertainment configurations combine a custom bar area, a dedicated media or gaming zone, and flexible seating, creating a space that functions as a second living area without the constraints of the main floor layout. Planning Your Basement Entertainment Layout The best b
Matt Waters
Mar 235 min read
How to Plan a Kitchen Remodel: Step-by-Step for First-Time Remodelers
Planning a kitchen remodel starts with defining your goals, setting a realistic budget, hiring the right contractor, and making material selections before construction begins. A well-organized planning phase typically takes 4 to 12 weeks and prevents the most common delays and cost overruns. A kitchen remodel is one of the largest investments you will make in your home, and the planning phase is where that investment either pays off or falls apart. Homeowners who skip ahead t
Matt Waters
Mar 237 min read
Custom vs. Stock Cabinets: Cost, Quality, and Which Is Worth It
Stock cabinets cost $100 to $400 per linear foot and ship within one to three weeks. Custom cabinets cost $500 to $1,200 per linear foot and require six to twelve weeks for fabrication. The price gap is real, but so is the difference in fit, materials, and longevity. Choosing between them depends on your room dimensions, storage needs, design goals, and how long you plan to stay in the home. What Are Stock Cabinets? Stock cabinets are pre-manufactured in standard sizes, typ
Matt Waters
Mar 236 min read
Custom Cabinetry for Every Room: Kitchen, Bath, Mudroom, and Beyond
Custom cabinetry costs $500 to $1,200 per linear foot depending on materials, finish complexity, and room configuration. For a typical kitchen with 20 to 30 linear feet of cabinets, that puts the total between $10,000 and $36,000, but the same craftsmanship applies to bathrooms, mudrooms, home offices, laundry rooms, and entertainment spaces where stock options cannot match the dimensions, storage requirements, or design vision of the room. Why Custom Cabinetry Outperforms S
Matt Waters
Mar 237 min read
Epoxy River Bar Tops: Professional vs. DIY: What You Need to Know
A professional epoxy river bar top costs $3,000 to $8,000 for the top alone, while a DIY attempt runs $500 to $1,500 in materials but frequently produces results that crack, yellow, or trap bubbles within the first year. The gap between professional and amateur epoxy work is one of the largest in any woodworking category because the resin itself is unforgiving, small errors in preparation, mixing, pouring, or curing compound into visible, permanent defects. What Makes a Prof
Matt Waters
Mar 235 min read
Custom Home Bar Ideas: Live Edge & Epoxy River Bar Tops
A professionally built custom home bar with a live edge epoxy river bar top costs $5,000 to $15,000 and transforms a basement or entertainment area into a one-of-a-kind gathering space. Live edge slabs paired with colored epoxy resin create surfaces that look like rivers of glass flowing through natural wood, a design that cannot be replicated with any manufactured material. What Is a Live Edge Epoxy River Bar Top? A live edge bar top starts with a natural wood slab that ret
Matt Waters
Mar 236 min read
How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? Realistic Timeline Guide
A kitchen remodel typically takes 3 to 6 months from initial planning to completion, with the actual construction phase lasting 6 to 12 weeks. Smaller cosmetic updates can be finished in as little as 2 to 4 weeks, while major renovations with layout changes may stretch to 5 months or longer. One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners planning a kitchen renovation is how long it will take. After building kitchens across Washtenaw County for over 30 years, we have
Matt Waters
Mar 235 min read
How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost in Michigan?
A bathroom remodel in Michigan costs between $10,000 and $65,000 in 2026, with most homeowners in southeast Michigan spending $13,000 to $30,000 for a mid-range renovation. Costs here run 5 to 15 percent below coastal markets, making Michigan one of the more affordable states for bathroom upgrades. Average Bathroom Remodel Cost in Michigan (2026) Southeast Michigan homeowners have a meaningful cost advantage over coastal areas. Local labor rates, lower material transport cos
Matt Waters
Mar 225 min read
Walk-In Shower Conversion: Cost, Timeline, and What to Expect
A walk-in shower conversion costs between $6,000 and $15,000 for most Michigan homeowners. The price depends on whether you choose a prefabricated shower system or a custom tile installation, and whether the project requires moving existing plumbing lines. Converting a bathtub to a walk-in shower is one of the most requested bathroom upgrades. It opens up floor space, makes the bathroom feel larger, and creates a more accessible entry for people of all ages and mobility level
Matt Waters
Mar 226 min read
How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost in Michigan? (2026 Guide)
A kitchen remodel in Michigan costs between $15,000 and $130,000 in 2026, depending on scope, materials, and whether your home requires structural updates. Most homeowners in the Chelsea and Ann Arbor area spend $45,000 to $75,000 on a mid-range renovation. Understanding the real cost of a kitchen remodel in Michigan starts with knowing where your money goes. After 30 years of building kitchens across Washtenaw County, we have seen projects at every price point. This guide br
Matt Waters
Mar 225 min read
Kitchen Remodel Trends for 2026: What Michigan Homeowners Are Choosing
The top kitchen trends for 2026 include natural wood cabinets overtaking white as the most popular finish, warm earthy color palettes replacing cool grays, built-in storage solutions over open shelving, larger multifunctional islands, and smart appliance integration throughout the kitchen. After three decades of building kitchens across the Chelsea and Ann Arbor area, we have a front-row seat to how homeowner preferences shift over time. This year's trends reflect a clear mov
Matt Waters
Mar 226 min read
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