Take a walk on the INSIDE
By Anita Murray
If you plan to renovate, one of the first things you need to do is research potential renovators. That’s where RenoMark® Reno Tour comes in. Started in 2015, Reno Tour lets you assess the work of some of Ottawa’s top renovators to see if they are a good fit for you.
Normally done in person during a one-day blitz, last year the COVID-19 pandemic forced the tour into an online format that proved wildly successful and that continues this year.
“The innovation of launching a virtual tour allowed us to reach more people than ever before,” notes Jason Burggraaf, executive director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association, which puts on the tour. “Since the launch last year, over 2,500 individuals have toured the projects on RenoTour.ca, which is far more than we could ever hope to see in person on a single day.”
Thanks to the 3D imaging technology of Ottawa’s Point3D Commercial Imaging, you can — from the comfort of your home — explore eight stunning renovation projects, “walking” through them at your own pace and at a time that works for you.
“From kitchens and bathrooms to full-home renovations, each 3D tour is packed with the details of the project, including the concept, the process, and even certain products and finishes used during the build,” says Spencer MacPherson of Point3D. “Using the multimedia tags with the tour, users can engage directly with the renovator for more information and potential ideas for their own future renovations.”
This year’s projects include whole-home renovations, additions, energy-efficiency upgrades, innovation, and clever repurposing of existing features and finishes. They can be visited as of early October at RenoTour.ca.
Anita Murray is the co-founder of AllThingsHome.ca, Ottawa’s only comprehensive source of unbiased information on the local housing industry. The veteran journalist and former Homes Editor for the Ottawa Citizen has covered the Ottawa housing industry since 2011.
RND Construction: Family Friendly and Stylish
A project that was initially meant to be a few changes — new kitchen, ensuite and kids’ bathroom — grew to become a whole-home renovation. It showcases family friendly, durable, easy-to-clean finishes and increased storage and fits the pop-art-inspired style of the parents. The most challenging part of this project, as it is for any renovation, was the unexpected problems, which in this case included water damage and improperly installed windows. Once fixed, attention could be turned to the esthetic changes of this home, which turned out great.
ARTium Design Build Renovations: Elegant whole-home reno
This was an extensive, whole-home renovation, with significant structural alterations, multiple bathrooms, a complete kitchen redo, as well as every other room in the home. The house was gutted to the studs and major structural work allowed for the removal of a significant number of walls, creating wonderfully open spaces in what had previously been a chopped up rental property. The design also included fixtures and finishes that brought the home to life in a stunning way, reflecting the homeowners’ personal taste.
Carolyn Munro Design Build: Stunning kitchen makeover
It was time to update this kitchen that Carolyn Munro originally designed in the 1990s. The layout suited the homeowners’ needs at the time while raising their family. Now empty nesters, they wanted a change, but one that maintained the traditional style of their home. The layout and the look were changed, but part of the kitchen was reused. “There are other options to installing a brand-new kitchen,” she says, and this project shows how you can do that.
Amsted Design-Build: Upstairs and downstairs
Amsted Design-Build offers two extensive remodels. One reconfigured an underutilized walkout basement with stunning waterfront views to create the ultimate entertainment space that includes a hidden TV screen, kitchenette, NanaWall and more.
The other rebuilt a poorly insulated century home, creating a more functional main floor and adding a 15-foot-high second-storey addition for a treehouse-like master suite amid the backyard urban canopy, designed to minimize the impact on a mature Japanese Walnut tree.
Lagois Design Build Renovate: Dramatic changes inside and out
Inside and out, this home was completely made over, creating a dramatic before-and-after effect. A non-functional rear addition was replaced to allow room for an entertainer’s kitchen that integrates outdoor living into the heart of the home. An angled front entry was also added that, along with new exterior cladding, seriously ups the curb appeal of the home. Walls were removed, creating a bright and open concept main floor. Bedrooms and the main bathroom got an upgrade, as did the home’s energy-efficiency measures. Overall, it was quite the transformation.
Urbacity Design Build: Exquisite design and finishes
A new two-storey addition accommodates a roomy kitchen on the main floor and the master suite while offering an abundance of natural light and large entertaining areas. Features and finishes are luxurious, with incredible attention to detail. This project is also an example of the challenge that COVID-19 has had on the industry. From limiting the number of workers on site to supply delays and the unknown of what the next days or weeks would bring, this project is a testament to teamwork and planning in an ever-changing time.
Reno Tour 2021 Super Heroes
Great events don’t happen all by themselves. Behind the scenes of Reno Tour are the heroes who encourage and facilitate the fun and inspiration – and raise money for Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa.
Reno Tour is presented by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association – the first hero in the lineup. Next comes the audience – you, as viewer, with your gift of a donation that benefits Habitat for Humanity.
Reno Tour heroes are the renovators who share their projects and the homeowners who open their homes to show their stunning renovations. And they are the financial and in-kind donors – Deslaurier Custom Cabinets (deslaurier.com); Urban Quarry (urbanquarry.ca); OakWood Designers and Builders (oakwood.ca); Ottawa Renovates (ottawarenovates.com); All Things Home (allthingshome.ca); and Point3D Commercial Imaging (point3d.ca).
Thank you to all.
