Architekten und Architektenbüros in Ashton

“My husband and I live in a suburban house that had never been renovated. It had walls everywhere and I sometimes felt like my house was a prison. I approached OakWood to get some conceptual ideas of how to open up the ground floor. Oakwood came and measured my house and a week later I was staring at a big screen TV where they had modeled my house. They had different options of walls being removed and how it would look like from any angle possible. They had realistic pricing associated to each concept. We really felt comfortable moving forward with such a well organized company. The construction went exactly as per plan, a schedule was presented every week so we knew what to expect in our house. I would for sure recommend Oakwood to anyone looking for renovations to be done.”

“I used Design First Interiors in June 2010 when I was doing a complete renovation of my 1920’s home and wanted a design that would complement and enhance a very modern interior design in a home that had a staid and formal exterior presence. Friedemann’s design gave me exactly what I was looking for and the kitchen remains a focal point for the ground floor and continues to get great reviews. Friedemann provided detailed drawings, supervised the installation and delivered his work on time and within budget which is not something that happens with every renovation.”

“We had lived in our home for two decades and certain areas, like the kitchen and basement- level laundry, were not really functioning as they should. We’d thought of selling and moving but the more we scrutinized homes for sale in and around the Ottawa area, the more we realized we really liked where we were: the location, our neighbours, lot size and privacy. That's when we decided we’d put our money into doing a major renovation instead of looking for a new place. The online ‘homework’ and due diligence we did -checking out a range of local builders and renovators - led us to Amsted Design Build. They suggested we categorize our ideas as ‘Needs – Wants - Wishes’. This proved to be an excellent way of framing and prioritizing our expectations. It ultimately determined scope and budget. The final drawings and plans maximized the soundness of the ‘bones’ of the house, while substantially redefining our living space. This was especially true of the kitchen, probably the central design point of the renovation. With Gina’s [Deslaurier] help, guidance and ability to incorporate our needs and aesthetic preferences resulted in a working kitchen that gave us all we had wanted, excellent fit and finish in a standout design. During the design phase, in order to help explore the realm of the possible, Amsted recommended we browse Houzz for design ideas. Amsted further recommended that we visit key suppliers to finalize our selections. The guidance we received on our trips to their recommended specialist collaborators for kitchens, flooring, finishing, plumbing, electricals and appliances (Deslaurier, Boone Mondeau, Marchand Electrical and Universal Appliances) helped us select items that integrated seamlessly with the overarching design. The build phase that followed demonstrated Amsted’s meticulous project management process. This included being stepped through the whole process before it began, walkthroughs by each trade, weekly status meetings to track progress and address issues in timely fashion. Scope and budget were closely monitored and all changes, by either Amsted or us, were managed through Additional Investment Requests (AIRs). This kept surprises to a minimum. Amsted proved to be very accommodating – they listened to all our concerns and helped iron out any apprehensions we may have had. At one point when we had reservations about the weathering properties of the proposed siding, Amsted followed up directly with the president of the company in the US and only proceeded once necessary guarantees had been obtained. The outcome: we approved use of the siding and it has proven to be one of the more distinctive features of the rebuild. Throughout, we were kept closely engaged. Where unforeseen circumstances intervened, for example, design changes in ducting resulting from shifting of the furnace, Amsted management got personally involved to help come up with acceptable solutions. This attention to detail and quality inspired confidence, especially as many changes were either considered credits or the additional costs absorbed if deemed part of Amsted’s responsibility. The build phase further reinforced Amsted’s professionalism. Because of the extensiveness of the renovation, we had moved out of the house during actual construction but visited the site daily. As a result, we not only saw the thoroughness of the demolition and disposal but the meticulous way the renovation was conducted. In effect, we saw the house stripped to the studs and then reconstituted with great attention to detail and quality. Throughout the build phase, the worksite was kept scrupulously clean. Critical milestone inspections by City of Ottawa officials were all passed without exception. All through the renovation, accounting was impeccable and the AIR process kept the budget on track. Further, meticulous and accurate statements of accounts later enabled us to avail of the Ontario’s HST Rebate Program on completion of work. Also, Amsted’s comprehensive warranty program has been a continuing source of solid reassurance. What set Amsted apart for us has been the quality and professionalism of the people who made up their team. Each and every person who worked on our site really gave it their all they each knew just what had to be done and did their jobs expertly. The finished product is a testament to their expertise and commitment to client satisfaction. Over the course of the project we came to trust the team explicitly: Steve & Michael Barkhouse, Chris Clarke, Chris Mulholland, Ray, Jim, Steve Mulley, Marty, Nick, Stephanie, Gina, Jeff, Marie-Josee, Veronica, Darrel Robinson, Rob, Gordon, Glen …so many we can’t name them all or thank them enough. Today, the house works: we're both proud and highly satisfied with the outcome. The change from a traditional ‘60s type bungalow to a dramatic open-concept space has truly been a transformation…family and friends who have since visited all vouch for this. When we look at the final product, what we got was even more than what we’d expected. It’s now almost 2 years since we moved back in and 1087 Cromwell is a great joy to live in. We sure made the right choice in picking Amsted as our renovator!”