Home sweet home takes on a whole new meaning when you invest in a substantial addition to your house. In our case, we embarked on an exciting journey with ACM Design and Build to transform our existing home into a more spacious, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing haven. Over the course of six months, we undertook a major home addition project that not only expanded our living space but also gave our home a stunning makeover. Join us as we share the story of our remarkable home addition journey, from the initial plans to the final reveal.
The Vision
Our journey began in the summer when we sat down with our Project Manager and owner of ACM, Beth Lennea to discuss the vision we had of creating a more functional and stylish living space. We had a checklist of priorities we wanted to tackle for this home…
- Larger primary bedroom with an ensuite bathroom & walk-in closet
- Renovation of the existing main bathroom for Knox to use
- Larger front entrance for more function
- Separate entrance to the garage
- Elevate the overall look of the home (since she wasn’t cute)
The Design
A project of this scale required careful planning and collaboration with architects and contractors. With the aid of MillBay Carpentry, they were able to help us plan the structure carefully and even saved us quite a bit of money with some of the lumber and beam choices.
We envisioned an addition that seamlessly integrated with our existing structure. To achieve this, we opted for a room over the garage, allowing us to maximize space without compromising on aesthetics. The front entrance would receive a makeover with a larger closet and a stylish new front door, enhancing curb appeal.
I would say we began working on the plans a year before we actually began construction. It took us a while to review and understand what would make sense for this house. Most importantly, we needed to evaluate the costs of this project – would it make sense financially from an ROI perspective to undergo such a costly renovation?
With months of planning and making small changes here and there, we were finally ready to submit our plans to the City of Oakville. The approval process from the city took about three months.
TIP: ALWAYS bring your Project Manager into the conversation with the architect before you submit your plans to the city. We did this and ACM was able to catch a few mistakes/save us money before the submission. Architects charge you quite a bit after you’ve hit the final stamp of approval so if you require any changes to be done afterward, you’re paying out of pocket for every hour they spend on your adjustments.
Also, another lesson we learned, architects are not designers! If you’re looking for direction on the design of your home, ACM does offer this help and/or can source a designer for you to assist in the aesthetic of your home.
Exterior Transformation
Demolition went smooth, it took only half a day to rip down the old garage, a few days later concrete came to begin pouring, and before we knew it… MillBay Carpentry came in to begin their framing. We couldn’t believe how quickly everything was coming together and it felt like our ACM was 5 steps ahead in scheduling the next trade to come in so there was never a quiet day at the house.
One of the COOLEST experiences was watching Beth use her existing experience working in the trades by hopping in a crane and lifting our roof on top of our new addition. The whole neighbourhood came out to watch as she navigated this new roof over a large tree, swung it around, and dropped it on top of the addition like it was no big deal – very cool!
One of the most striking changes in our home addition was the complete exterior transformation. We bid farewell to the old pink brick and aluminum siding and welcomed the elegant Maibec siding in their Sea Coast colour. This change not only enhanced the visual appeal of our home but also improved insulation and energy efficiency. The new siding gave our home a timeless, coastal-inspired charm that we absolutely adore.
Don’t ask us how many times we changed the colour of the exterior but it was so worth it in the end! The turnaround time to wait for our siding was about 4-6 weeks and installation took a lot longer than that but the work was done well!
A new addition meant a new roof so we replaced everything with new shingles to match our new aesthetic. The roof was done in a few days and once the roof was on, you could really begin to see everything come together.
Windows and Doors
The choice of windows and doors played a crucial role in the overall design, it also kept me up most nights with the style and size we wanted to go for – windows can literally make or break the look of a home so this was a huge factor. We opted for top-quality products from Golden Windows and Doors, ensuring both beauty and functionality. The new windows flooded our interiors with natural light, while the front door made a statement and complemented the exterior aesthetic. These changes not only enhanced the aesthetics but also improved energy efficiency.
Since we were into December at this point, ACM hustled our installers to work quickly because of a snowstorm that was about to rip through the city. Since half of our home wasn’t being renovated, we didn’t really want to deal with wet snow getting in and damaging existing floors, walls, etc. now that we were swapping out the windows. We were racing against time to get these windows installed and we ended up succeeding!
The Timeline
Our journey was not without its challenges. The timeline was tight, and we had to work even harder to meet our goal. Unexpectedly, our rental home was sold, necessitating an earlier move-in date. Our PM, Beth, and tradespeople rose to the occasion, working tirelessly to ensure we could move back into our home ahead of schedule.
I have to say, I was nervous with an older home like this that as soon as we began peeling back walls we would find asbestos, water damage or mold but luckily, we were clear of it all! Absolutely no major issues and we’re happy to discover that the home had good bones to begin with.
The Final Reveal
Finally, in May, we were able to enjoy our fabulous new home!! It had been transformed into a more spacious, stylish, and functional dwelling that perfectly suited our family’s needs. The primary bedroom offered a retreat-like experience, complete with a luxurious ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet. The revamped front entrance exuded warmth and welcomed guests with open arms. The exterior finally matched the aesthetic we were aiming for – everything came together beautifully!
Our Design Choices
The decisions around the finishes, flooring, colours, etc. were quite easy since half of the home was already complete. My vibe was coastal grandma and I wanted to keep it that way! There were a few choices though I desperately needed design assistance on so I called up West Coast designers, Rose and Funk for their expertise on a few design elements (I’ve credited them below for the help they provided).
Here’s a detailed list of the furniture, colours, etc. we went with for the home…
Details of the primary bedroom
- Bed: Crate and Barrel (6-month wait on this but SO worth it)
- Side tables: Ikea + hardware from Top Knobs
- Jute rug: Rugs USA
- Chandelier: Light House Co. (Rose & Funk’s Choice)
- Curtains and hardware: Pottery Barn
- Paint: Chantilly Lace by BM – Trim | American White by BM – Walls
Details of the primary bathroom
- Custom vanity & hardware: Barzotti (Rose and Funk assisted with the design elements with the initial layout, Barzotti then measured and assisted in final tweaks and recommendations)
- Sinks, faucets, shower hardware, toilet, toilet paper holder: DXV’s Oak Hill Collection
- Mirrors and glass shower: Custom cut by ACM’s trades
- Countertop: Quartz custom cut by ACM’s trades
- Lighting: Kelly Clarkson’s line from Wayfair
- Marble flooring: Granite and Marble Depot (these guys were AMAZING – could not recommend them enough – they cut the marble flooring and honed it at a reasonable cost and their turnaround was quick)
- Shower tile and niche: Sarana Tile
- Window treatment: Pottery Barn
- Paint: Simply White by BM
Details of the walk-in
- Built-in: California Closets (Rose and Funk assisted with the initial design elements, CC measured and assisted in the final tweaks and recommendations)
- Hardware: Top Knobs
- Countertop: Quartz custom cut by ACM’s trades
- Lighting: Light House Co.
- Paint: American White by BM
Details of the main bathroom
- Flooring: Sarana Tile
- Faucet, shower, bath: DXV’s Equility Collection
- Vanity: Home Depot US
- Hardware: Top Knobs
- Mirror: CB2
- Lighting: Pottery Barn
- Window treatment: Pottery Barn
- Area rug: Home Sense
- Wooden Stool: Home Sense
- Paint: Simply White by BM
Details of the stairwell lighting
- Chandelier: Lighthouse Co.
- Paint: American White by BM
Details of the front entrance + door
- Wall Paint: American White by BM
- Front door paint: Westcott Navy by BM (Rose and Funk’s top choice)
- Mirror: Anthropologie
- Side table: Crate and Barrel (5 month wait)
- Exterior gold lighting: Pottery Barn
Conclusion
Our home addition journey was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, hard work, and dedication. The end result, however, was more than worth it. Our home is now a reflection of our vision and personality, with added functionality and curb appeal. We’ve learned that with careful planning and the right team like ACM Design and Build, even the most ambitious home improvement projects can become a reality. We couldn’t be happier with our transformed home, and we look forward to creating cherished memories in our new space for years to come.
Photography of finished home: Craig Kellmann Photography
