Reno Tour 2019: Inspiration for the renovation
A home tour with a twist, the nine stops on this one-day tour Oct. 6 all showcase the work of some of Ottawa’s top renovators.
Organized by the Renovators’ Council of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association, all of the participants in the tour are members of the association’s RenoMark program, which pre-screens members and insists they meet strict guidelines for things like insurance, workers’ compensation coverage and credibility.
“The reno tour is a fantastic opportunity for people both to see real-life examples of what people have done with their homes, and what our RenoMark folks are able to do,” says council chair Bob Ridley, whose company is presenting two stops on the tour.
“It’s really difficult to provide a tangible example of what a renovator does. It’s not like a new home, where you can have a model home and show people the model home. Most renovators don’t have model homes.”
The renovation projects on the tour range from an en suite bathroom makeover to whole home renovations, additions and even a coach house in Hintonburg.
“This is the only time of year that you can go and see a neighbour’s renovation up close and personal and ask questions of the professionals right there in the home,” says the association’s executive director, Jason Burggraaf.
It’s the fifth year for the tour, which is also a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa, the charity that is dedicated to helping families realize the goal of affordable home ownership.
Tickets are $10 and are available online at renotour.ca, at the tour stops (on tour day only), and at any of Habitat’s three ReStore locations: 768 Belfast Rd.; 7 Enterprise Ave.; and 3 Iber Rd.
Amsted Design-Build — whole home renovation with income suite
This Glebe home serves two purposes: the main floor has been restored as a model home for Amsted, where clients can come and meet with the company; while the upper floors have become a modern and generous income suite that is not normally open to the public.
“It made for a really exciting project for us,” says Amsted president Steve Barkhouse, who likes that it shows how you can take an older Glebe home and rather than have to downsize when the kids move out, you can “stay there comfortably but get a passive income from a tenant.”
Artium Design Build — whole home renovation
This project is an example of an extreme bungalow transformation, morphing from a home weighted by strong colonial detailing, pillars and archways to an open-concept, minimalist feel that shows off the vaulted ceilings.
“It’s striking in its change from what it was,” says Artium owner Norm Lecuyer. Walls were taken down, the colonial styling was removed and the ceilings became the focal point. The kitchen redesign was inspired by clean-lined European designs and emphasizes the horizontal lines.
Carleton Kitchen & Bath — main-floor renovation
The challenge with this old Westboro home was in balancing the desire of the owners to hang onto elements of the space that held special meaning, like a secondary staircase into the kitchen that had become the backdrop for family photos, with the need to significantly improve the flow and function of the main floor.
It took many months of planning and revising to come up with a design the owners truly loved. The most dramatic change is in the kitchen, which has been opened up and reconfigured to make the most efficient use of the space while creating a hub for entertaining.
“We probably had five or six renditions of options,” says Carleton president Brent Young. “In the end, it turned out really well.”
Gladwin Building Services — ensuite makeover
The en suite in this home was roomy enough but it was dated with an awkward layout.
“The original bathroom was dark and closed in,” says Gladwin owner David Gladwin.
The location for sinks, toilet, shower and tub did not change but all were given a major update, with a bit of room snatched from the adjacent walk-in closet and a linen closet to enlarge the shower.
The project shows how you can overhaul a bathroom without a significant change in the layout.
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