Corso Italia First-floor and Kitchen Renovation

Kevin and Shanna’s residence, a three-story semi-detached home, had slowly become a fragmented and dimly lit collection of spaces. The ground floor, in particular, suffered from an excess of poorly configured walls that created a maze of small, impractical rooms. The clients’ aspiration was to inject a sense of openness and light into their living space, necessitating a significant structural and aesthetic transformation.

Strategic Design and Demolition

Under the guidance of Alana Fletcher Interiors, the renovation strategy was to strip the ground floor down to its studs. This entailed a comprehensive removal of existing installations, including all electrical systems, windows, and the careful abatement of asbestos. Critical to the project’s success was the demolition of structural walls, a move that paved the way for an expansive open-plan design. Reinforcing the joists ensured that the home’s new layout was supported with modern stability.

Insulation and Staircase Reconstruction

With energy efficiency in mind, the entire floor was covered in spray foam insulation, guaranteeing thermal efficiency. The staircase received a complete overhaul to enhance the visual flow of the open space. The new staircase design not only met functional requirements but also served as an artistic statement, featuring ‘waterfall’ style maple steps with a rounded wooden handrail and contrasting black metal spindles.

Finishing Touches and Custom Work

The renovation’s aesthetic aspect focused heavily on custom millwork by Nick Day Design. The ground floor was adorned with meticulously crafted kitchen cabinets, pantry shelves, and a multifunctional island with quartz countertops. This attention to detail extended to the creation of a distinctive wood feature wall at the entry, a bench seat and shelf in the mudroom, and a dining room banquette. The installation of custom metal frame and glass sliding doors between the kitchen and dining room epitomized the blend of functionality and elegance that was central to the renovation.

Client Experience and Final Outcome

Kevin and Shanna’s testimonial underscores the success of the renovation. They highlighted the seamless integration of the design and construction phases and the effective communication and professionalism of the crew throughout the process. The outcome was a space that precisely mirrored the initial designs and provided a renewed enthusiasm for domestic life. The renovation achieved its core objective: to significantly improve the quality of living through a harmonious blend of light, space, and modern design.

Name

Shanna & Kevin

Location

Corso Italia Neighbourhood

What the Client Said About the Project

When we began this renovation, we had been living in our 3-storey semi-detached house for 15 years and had slowly but surely renovated the 100+ year old home one room at a time. However, we knew that when it came time to address the ground floor, we’d need to go with a major renovation company to do the whole storey in one go, and with the resources and team to take on such a large project. We had a good amount of space, but it was awkwardly divided with too many walls, many of them angled and nonsensical, and tiny disconnected spaces. We also wanted to bring in more light to our dining room, create separation between the front door and the living room while also allowing natural light in, and wanted a total overhaul of the kitchen.

A neighbour recommended Oriel and said they were a company we could trust. Our experience has been just that. We appreciated the very thorough pre-construction process in which we worked hand in hand with Oriel and our designer Alana Fletcher to come up with a design that would totally transform the way we use our ground floor. We knew we wanted fewer walls and more natural light, but we also wanted the option of some separation to keep noise contained and allow different family members to use different spaces simultaneously. The design, planning, and construction all worked beautifully.

We are most grateful for Oriel’s commitment to stay on budget and on time. The plan was to move out for 6 months and we did, moving back in to enjoy our new space on Christmas morning! The renovation looks exactly like the designs, uncannily so. Since moving back in, we have been so much more excited to cook, host, and spend time together in all the beautiful and well-finished spaces.

We can’t overstate how trustworthy Oriel’s entire crew has been. They were in constant contact throughout the project and we also really enjoyed watching the renovation updates through Buildertrend. Every single crew member was professional, courteous, respectful of our space, our needs, and our neighbours, and Jacob and the whole team were very responsive to any concerns or questions that came up throughout the process. Although we are not quite ready to embark on our next renovation (the basement!), we know that when we are, we’ll want to work with Oriel again. Their company provides excellent work and peace of mind.