Queen Victoria St
Design-Build Full Custom Home
Challenges & Objectives
This exceptional design-build project, winner of the 2024 Renomark Innovation Award, is a testament to creativity, craftsmanship, and problem-solving. Starting with a humble two-storey home pinned tightly between neighboring structures with less than 24 inches of access on either side, Woodsmith Construction took on the challenge of rebuilding the home from the inside out and adding a stunning third storey. The transformation is nothing short of extraordinary, and the clients couldn’t be happier with their dream home.
This project demanded innovative solutions and meticulous planning to overcome unique challenges:
- Tight Access: Navigate the extremely narrow lot with limited access on both sides of the home.
- Structural Transformation: Rebuild the home from the inside out while preserving stability and addressing aging infrastructure.
- Third-Storey Addition: Add a functional and stylish third storey to maximize space and enhance the home’s value.
- Award-Winning Design: Deliver a home that combined innovative design with exceptional functionality, meeting the highest standards of craftsmanship.
Our objective was to turn a modest home into a stunning, award-winning masterpiece that exceeded client expectations.
Design Solutions
Our team employed creative and technical solutions to deliver an extraordinary transformation:
- Tight Lot Solutions:
- Used innovative construction techniques to manage materials and equipment within the narrow lot constraints.
- Designed a build strategy that minimized disruption to neighboring properties while maximizing efficiency.
- Structural Overhaul:
- Rebuilt the home from the inside out, addressing all structural issues and creating a strong foundation for the new design.
- Seamlessly integrated modern systems and materials to enhance durability and performance.
- Third-Storey Addition:
- Designed a stylish and functional third storey with additional bedrooms and living spaces.
- Incorporated modern finishes and fixtures to create a cohesive design throughout the home.
- Award-Winning Design:
- Created an architectural masterpiece with clean lines, thoughtful layouts, and premium materials.
- Balanced form and function, delivering a home that is both visually stunning and highly livable.
Construction Process
The award-winning transformation was executed with precision and attention to detail:
- Demolition and Structural Rebuild:
- Carefully deconstructed the interior to preserve stability and maintain the integrity of the tight lot.
- Rebuilt the home’s structure from the ground up, creating a blank canvas for the new design.
- Third-Storey Addition and Interior Updates:
- Constructed the third storey to maximize living space and improve the home’s overall functionality.
- Updated all interior spaces with luxurious finishes and modern systems.
- Final Touches:
- Applied award-winning design elements, including innovative layouts and premium materials, to complete the transformation.
Results
The completed home is a true masterpiece and a deserving recipient of the 2024 Renomark Innovation Award. The third-storey addition and fully rebuilt interior provide the family with ample space and modern comfort. The clients continually express their love for the home, praising its functionality, beauty, and the transformative journey it underwent.
Our clients' experiences say it all
At Woodsmith, we believe our clients’ experiences highlight our commitment to exceptional customer service. Explore what real homeowners say about partnering with us to achieve their home renovation goals.
The Woodsmith team did a phenomenal job of rebuilding our house to match our dream on-time and within our budget. Chris (the owner) was always accessible, open to ideas and patient with questions. This made all the difference for us. He understands that a job of this scale is something that an owner will likely only do once, and he offered great advice and put all our fears at ease. We constantly knew exactly how we were tracking to our budget (to the dollar) and our job site was clean and orderly at all times (which our neighbours very much appreciated). We were nervous about our year-long adventure in renos (we've all heard horror stories), but Chris helped us spread out decisions over time and provided clear options for any challenges his team encountered, making that year a surprisingly pleasant one. All of the work was top-quality and has garnered unsolicited positive comments from anyone who sees our home (including other contractors working in our neighbourhood). I have no problem recommending Woodsmith; you will be in very good hands.
Dave Duncan
We were very pleased with the results of our renovation project completed by Chris and his team at Woodsmith Construction. As well as a great end-product, Chris provided excellent customer communication services throughout the whole process that were greatly appreciated! We would have no hesitation in recommending Woodsmith Construction and in fact have already booked them for a second project.
Lynn
We had a great experience working with Chris at Woodsmith Construction. He is honest, transparent, realistic, easy to get in touch with and makes himself available to his clients whenever they need him. I would gladly recommend Woodsmith Construction to anyone doing a renovation as Chris made a complicated process a positive experience.
Matthew Bernstein
We worked with Chris Smith and Woodsmith Construction Inc. on the design for a garage addition, and the experience was fantastic. The project included adding attic trusses to create a new walk-in closet and laundry room that seamlessly connected to our existing main bedroom. Chris’s goal was to make the addition feel like it had always been part of the home, and he absolutely nailed it.From the start, Chris took the time to understand what we needed and came up with a design that not only maximized the functionality of the space but also kept the style consistent with the rest of the house. He paid close attention to every detail, from the layout to the finishes, ensuring everything worked perfectly with our main bedroom.The design makes such smart use of the space, and it feels like a natural extension of the home rather than an afterthought. Chris was great to work with—responsive, creative, and incredibly knowledgeable. He even provided advice on how to approach the construction phase, which made us feel confident moving forward.If you’re looking for someone to bring your vision to life with a thoughtful and practical design, we highly recommend Chris Smith and Woodsmith Construction. The design he created for us has truly enhanced our home. Our construction is well under way and we are already seeing the great design come to life!
Steve F
Woodsmith Construction completed a project for us in a timely and professional manner. The quality of their workmanship is superb. Communication between them and us was informative, courteous and collaborative. We would highly recommend them.
Rick Wilson
Woodsmith Construction Inc. recently completed a full-home renovation on our place, including underpinning and adding a third floor. We couldn't be happier with the results and the level of service that we received from Chris and his entire team. Chris is an absolute professional who is extremely knowledgable, dedicated to his craft and was exceptionally responsive at all points in the project to all of our questions and concerns. For us, this timely communication provided a level of comfort and assurance - I cannot imagine doing a project of this scale without it! During the project, the worksite was kept so clean - our neighbours consistently commented on how great and respectful the team was. We were able to complete a huge project with very little tension and to me, that speaks volumes about the manner in which the project was carried out. In terms of the results, we are thrilled. The workmanship, detail and solid construction of our home are all that we hoped for. This workmanship and level of service continued through the final stages of the project, when we were completing the finishing touches. Chris ensured that every small detail was arranged for and completed. Obviously, we highly recommend Woodsmith Construction and are grateful to Chris and his team for the amazing work, professionalism and service they provided.
Natalie Zawadowsky