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A new kitchen for Kelly and Steph in Kanata.
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Angela and Brian’s kitchen is due for an update. We’re taking down a wall, removing much of the flooring throughout the main level and updating all kitchen components. Angela and Brian worked with designer Nicole Duguay of Solace Interiors to make design choices.
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Day 1: Kitchen before.
Angela and Brian’s family and friends have been impacted by cancer. Demo starts tomorrow with Fresh Reno for a new kitchen. This wall is coming down. The names and initials on the wall represent those friends and family. Brian absolutely smashed through the wall. (video to come)
End of day one. Demolition complete.
Did you start your Wednesday with a two-hour, non-stop shoulder workout? Sanding drywall today. Come on by for a workout!
Day 7: Caselgrande tile from Eurotile going down in the kitchen, laundry room and bathroom.
CTV was looking to speak to a renovator…
I’m more comfortable behind the tools than in front of the camera, but thanks to Annie Bergeron Oliver for making it easy to chat with her.
You can see the TV story that aired here.
Day 13: Cupboards going in.
Day 16: Cabinets and handles are all done. Temporary counter installed. Next, the counter installer will come measure. Counters will be delivered and installed in approximately two weeks. Then we’ll be back to do the backsplash tile.
Counters are installed.
We’re laying in Ascot Brickwall backsplash tile.
Wider shot of the Ascot Brickwall backsplash tile.
I accidentally touched a live 110 wire with a screwdriver yesterday and zapped myself.
Today Brian, the client, put up safety posters.
We are both massive Star Wars fans.
I accidentally touched a live 110 wire with a screwdriver yesterday and zapped myself. Today Brian, the client, put up safety posters. We are both massive Star Wars fans.
I accidentally touched a live 110 wire with a screwdriver yesterday and zapped myself. Today Brian, the client, put up safety posters. We are both massive Star Wars fans.
Finished kitchen!
Finished kitchen!
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Day 1: Kitchen before
Day 1: Pre-demolition artwork.
Day 7: The plumbing, electrical and flooring (Wicanders Cork comfort flooring in Fashionable Cement) is done. Today we’re installing the cabinets.
Pamela and Toby heard about us from their friends, Sue and Benoit, whose basement we renovated last year. Today Sue came by with cookies. Former clients bringing cookies to the current client’s house. We love how this is working!
Day 11: Cabinets are done. It will be a few weeks before the counters arrive and are installed. Then we’ll be back to tile the backsplash.
A few weeks later….
Pamela and Toby’s quartz counter has been put in by the installers. We were back to tile the backsplash and the kitchen is done!
Day 14: The kitchen is done!
Day 14: The kitchen is done!
Day 14: The kitchen is done!
Day 14: The kitchen is done!
Day 1: Old kitchen during demolition.
Day 5: Electrical is done and painting is nearly done. Today we put down Mohawk Antique Sable vinyl floor from Lowes.
Day 6: Ikea cupboards going in.
Day 8. This is quickly coming together! And check out how they’re using that under-the-stairs space as a pantry. We’ve put on a temporary counter until the permanent counter arrives in several weeks.
The quartz counter arrived! We went back to tile the backplash and connect the appliances. The kitchen is done!
The kitchen is done!
The kitchen is done!
Chrystal and JC made big changes to their house. They swapped the living room and the kitchen.
First we demolished the living room and made it into a kitchen. This way they could still use their current kitchen, which was going to become a living room.
Day 1. This is the current living room, which will become the kitchen.
We opened the living room wall and found a disaster. Structural, plumbing and electrical all needed major work. We reframed the wall, then the plumbers and electricians arrived to do their part to transform the room from a living room into a kitchen.
Demolished the living room to find a structural, plumbing and wiring disaster. Hard to look at.
Day 6: Structural, plumbing and electrical issues fixed. Now for the kitchen cupboards.
We are VERY grateful to homeowners who bake.
Thank you for the muffins!!
Day 16: The kitchen is done!
Day 16. Finished kitchen.
Natalie and Ben’s kitchen was in need of an update and they also wanted to reconfigure the layout.
Day 1: Kitchen before.
Day 5: The tiles are going down. Tiles are the Verde range from Interstone. Nice neutral colour choice.
Day 6: the tiles for Nathalie and Ben’s kitchen are laid and grouted. Cupboards go up on Monday.
Have a great weekend!
Day 12: Nathalie and Ben’s kitchen is nearly done. The cupboards are in, counters are installed and backsplash tiles are done. The electricians will come by tomorrow to connect the under-cabinet lights and ceiling pot lights.
Alex and Janine recently moved to Ottawa. We worked on their plans long-distance and it all came together so well.
Ripley looooooves to play tug with his octopus. (We started a new bathroom and kitchenette reno this week, but know you’d much rather see pictures of the dog than an empty space.)
Day four: We’ve created a basement bathroom where there wasn’t one. Brought in licensed plumbers and electricians. Next up is the city inspection (which we always pass).
Day 4: Basement kitchenette where there was previously a blank space.
You will give me the banana, Don.
Basement bathroom day 9: Floor tiles are going down. 12×24 “enigma” tiles from Home Depot. Paint is ‘Frozen Pond’ by Behr.
Basement reno day 11: Subway tile installed for the kitchenette backsplash. The basement will be finished this week.
Day 14: Alex and Janine’s basement renovation is done!
Day 14: Alex and Janine’s basement renovation is done!
They’ve wanted this for 20 years. Jonathan and Aline are thrilled to be renovating their kitchen. As a Postpartum Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor with Helping Hands Doula, Aline does sometimes work overnight, but thankfully has another place to sleep while we make lots of noise.
Day 1: The old kitchen.
Day 1: Kitchen demolition underway. Aline worked overnight and thankfully had someplace else to sleep.
Kitchen reno day 3: That’s the basement down there. Whoever did the previous kitchen renovation did a great job. The flooring layers were so well adhered that the old tongue and groove floor boards failed when we tried to get the sub floor up. The only solution is to rip it a all out and start again.
Day 6: The new opening is in a structural wall, so requires a new supporting telepost in the basement below. We worked with structural engineer Derek Mes of Adjeleian Allen Rubeli Limited (whom we’ve worked with several times and recommend), and this is a photo of the concrete footing for the telepost.
Kitchen reno day 8: Kitchen and dining room opened up and structural changes complete. Plus, we passed the city inspection (as always).
Kitchen reno day 11: The walls are sanded, primed and painted with one coat of “Kernel” yellow.
Kitchen reno day 12: the floor tiling is well underway. “Classic pulpis moca tile”.
Day 16: the cupboards and hood fan are going in. It’s really starting to look like a kitchen again. Thanks to clients Jonathan and Aline for treating us to lunch today!
Day 18: handles and toe-kick are done. The exhaust fan works… and the counter folks came this morning to measure for granite counters (takes a couple weeks for delivery).
A few weeks go by as the counters are prepared and we convert this bedroom into a bathroom for James…
Day 19: We were back at Jonathan and Aline’s kitchen today. Their counter installers came last week and we were back today putting up the backsplash: Soho subway tile in “linen”. Grout and caulk tomorrow, and the kitchen will be done for Christmas.
Day 20: The kitchen is complete.
Day 20: The kitchen is complete.
Day 20: The kitchen is complete.
Thanks to Aline and Jonathan for being great clients. Aline gave Don and I a hug on our way out, saying that she’s “super happy” and “can’t believe how well the kitchen turned out”.
Merry Christmas!
After renting out the lower level of their Ottawa home for years, the family is reclaiming and renovating the space.
Fresh Reno is renovating the kitchen and bathroom, including creating two large openings to connect the kitchen to the rest of the living space, and widening the doorway into a bedroom that is becoming the dining room.
This project is scheduled to take six weeks.
Kitchen ‘before’
Kitchen ‘before’. This wall will be opened during the renovation.
Day 2: The kitchen is demolished and we’re opening walls.
Day 3: Bathroom demolition.
Day 4: The new openings are supported by tripled-up 2x12s laminated with 2 layers of half-inch plywood—as recommended by the structural engineer. The kitchen is much more open now.
Day 6: Electrician Steve Legallez, of Legallez Electric, doing… well the electrical. Steve is the ONLY electrician we work with (this includes in my own home) and he’s excellent.
Day 9: The kitchen and bathroom electrical is complete and the reno passed the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) electrical rough-in inspection today. Drywall is almost complete.
Day 12: Drywall installation is complete and the first coat of mud is almost done.
Day 13: Boom! This hydro pole just exploded a few houses over. Fire Dept responded quickly.
Day 15: Drywall sanding underway. Happy Friday!
Day 17: Upper kitchen cabinets going in.
Day 19: Cupboards going in. Well hello! It’s starting to look like a kitchen again.
Day 21: Spring has finally sprung on the final day of March. So, we’re cutting bathroom tiles outside.
Day 21: Tiles going up in the bathroom.
Day 24: Bathroom done.
Day 24: Bathroom done.
Day 20: The counter installers came in to measure. We’ve installed temporary counters and will be back when the permanent counters arrive.
This renovation is nearly complete. Permanent counters have been ordered and we’ll be back when they arrive.
Happy new year! We hope everyone had a very restful holiday.
We’re starting the year with this kitchen renovation in a great old neighbourhood in the west end of Ottawa, near Ikea.
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| Day 1: Kitchen ‘before’. |
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| End of Day 1: Demolition nearly complete. |
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| Day 3: Big opening from the kitchen to the dining room. We also re-insulated the exterior wall. Plus, the wall attached to the neighbour has a new layer of Roxul Safe ‘n’ Sound insulation… not that we haven’t enjoyed the neighbour’s musical choices so far… |
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| Day 6: Drywalling the ceiling. AKA shoulder workout. |
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| Day 6: Passed the first City of Ottawa inspection with flying colours. |
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| Day 7: The drywall is up and mudded three times. Sanding and priming are up next. |
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| Day 9: the kitchen floor tiling is underway. |
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| Day 10: Kitchen floor tiled and grouted (cleaned twice so far). Walls and ceiling are painted. |
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| Day 11: Kitchen cabinet installation is underway. This is starting to look like a kitchen again. |
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| Day 15: All cupboards installed, handles on and the sink is in. Did trim pieces today. Temporary counters are in place while the laminate counters are cut. We’ll be back once the counters are installed, in approximately two weeks. |
“I stopped by yesterday; the tile installation is wonderful, and the space so bright and light with the wall colours.” — Nat, Decorator
Day 16: Two weeks later… Today we’re back in Queensway Terrace North to put the finishing touches on a kitchen reno. The laminate counters ordered by the homeowner have been installed (www.eastopcounters.com), so we’re back and laying 3×6 subway tiles for the backsplash.
Day 16: Finishing touches now that the counter has arrived. Subway tile backsplash installed along with an extra shelf and lazy susan for the corner cupboard.
Day 17: This Ottawa Kitchen renovation is complete.
Day 17: This Ottawa Kitchen Renovation is complete.
One of the most dramatic before and after shots.