RENOMARK® RENOVATOR BLOG

Suppose that your dog could talk. And suppose you’ve scheduled a renovation of your main floor, maybe going as far as also landscaping the backyard. Imagine yourself asking your dog if she or he has any ideas about the way things should go. Such a conversation could be the impetus for the development of a…

Renovating a bathroom or a kitchen is one thing. Creating a space for kids is quite another. When you are planning an addition or renovating a floor in your home, this is probably the ideal time to come up with a special child-space. But it needs careful consideration ‒ more careful, perhaps, than choosing appliances…

This ensuite makeover took a dated, inefficient space and transformed it into a modern, welcoming, and functional retreat. The ensuite was a generous size, but poorly laid out, with a tiny cave of a shower, an outdated platform tub, and an awkward makeup vanity. “The original bathroom was dark and closed in and there was…

SkilBilt has a second project on the tour that showcases the transformation of an older home into the modern desire for an open-concept space. This project involved the renovation of both the first and second floors with the removal of load-bearing walls on the main level and an updating of the second floor, including adding…

Faced with a space that had potential architecturally but hadn’t quite hit the mark, Artium sought to turn this bungalow into a home that really reflected the personality of the owners. Vaulted ceilings throughout created amazing shapes and shadows, says Artium owner Norm Lecuyer, but strong colonial detailing was competing with the style. Plus, the…

An original farmhouse in Westboro with plenty of history was in need of an update but it had to be one that respected the past. The home had seen several renovations over the years, but because none of those renos had looked at the home as a whole, the owners had issues with flow and…

This project took a dilapidated 1½-storey addition with no access from the second floor and a deck that was falling apart and replaced it with a larger two-storey addition that meets the needs of the homeowners. “It speaks to the possibilities of what we can do to an older home,” says Lagois owner Herb Lagois.…

This project by SkilBilt Construction was precipitated by the desire for a dream kitchen, but involved much of the main floor of the 1980s two-storey home. The clients wanted a kitchen that was a focal point, central and more open concept. To achieve this, the dining room and kitchen spaces were swapped and integrated into…

This project represents an opportunity to explore a growing trend in Ottawa: the addition of a coach home to an existing property. A coach home is a separate, secondary unit on a property that ties into the existing home’s services and that can serve many purposes, from guest house to rental unit to in-law suite.…

Amsted Design-Build’s entry on the tour this year is unusual for two reasons: not only does it show how you can effectively incorporate an income suite into an older home, it’s also, in effect, a model showhome for the company. Amsted operates satellite offices throughout the city — dubbed Living Rooms — both to showcase…