KITCHEN RENOVATION, BATHROOM RENOVATION
LOCATION: WILLOWDALE
The Vision
After more than 20 years in the home, the homeowners were ready to give their kitchen and bathrooms a fresh start.
The goal was to update the home without losing the sense of familiarity that came with having lived there for so long. They wanted spaces that felt more current, comfortable and cohesive, while making practical improvements that would allow the home to continue working well for them in the years ahead.
The renovation also offered an opportunity to look beyond the immediate needs of the home and make thoughtful choices with long-term use in mind.
The Challenge
Some of the home’s existing spaces were no longer functioning as comfortably as they once had. Aging bathroom fixtures, a malfunctioning tub faucet and a leak affecting the laundry room ceiling below the primary ensuite all pointed to the need for more than a simple cosmetic refresh.
The renovation also uncovered conditions that could not be fully understood until the existing finishes were opened up. The primary ensuite shower was identified as the source of the leak, while mould concerns in the basement required further investigation around the carpeting and baseboards.
At the same time, the homeowners planned to remain in the home throughout the renovation, making communication, cleanliness and day-to-day coordination especially important.
The Approach
Golden Bee Homes took a practical, long-term approach to the renovation, addressing immediate issues while looking for opportunities to improve how the home would function in the future.
One of the most important recommendations was to reconsider the kitchen as a complete renovation rather than simply replacing the existing appliances. Designing new appliances around the old cabinetry could have limited future options, so the team recommended planning the cabinetry, appliances and work surfaces together.
As construction progressed, the Design and Production teams adapted to existing conditions, including concealed plumbing in the front ensuite and an existing pipe within the basement bathroom bulkhead.
With the homeowners living in the house throughout the 14-week renovation, a foyer whiteboard gave them a simple way to record questions and concerns each day. The Site Supervisor reviewed each item daily, helping keep communication clear and the project moving forward.
The Details
The renovation combines a contemporary design direction with the homeowners’ preference for black and subtle retro-inspired elements, refreshed for today.
- New kitchen slab countertops and backsplash
- New kitchen appliances
- Complete renovation of the front bedroom three-piece ensuite
- Complete renovation of the basement three-piece bathroom
- Renovated primary bathroom shower
- Quartz bathroom countertops
- Custom vanities and vanity mirrors
- Bathroom tile and updated plumbing fixtures
- Glass shower enclosures and shower bases
- Grab bars incorporated into the bathrooms
- Pot lights and new lighting fixtures
- Relocated switches and receptacles
- Interior painting from the basement to the second floor
- Hardwood floor touch-ups
- New stair carpeting
- Updated interior door hardware
- Trim carpentry
- Alarm system upgrades
The Transformation
The home now feels refreshed, cohesive and distinctly more comfortable for everyday life.
The updated kitchen and bathrooms bring a more contemporary feel to the longtime home, while thoughtful lighting, improved layouts and practical accessibility features support how the spaces are used today—and how they can continue to work well into the future.
The front bedroom ensuite has a particularly calm, spa-like quality, adding a sense of retreat within a home that has been given a new lease on everyday living.
