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Amsted Blog

Learn more about Amsted by reading our latest news or watching our informative videos. If you’d like Amsted’s latest projects and special announcements delivered directly to your inbox, simply sign up for our quarterly newsletter at the bottom of this page.

tips on lighting 1

Marty’s Tips on Lighting up Your Life

October 23, 2017

As the days get shorter and the nights longer and darker, it seems like a good time for some tips on lighting. Whether you’re looking for general tips or specifically lighting for the Christmas season, we’ve got you covered.

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Meet the Finalist: Balancing the Scale of a Home

October 16, 2017

It’s always a joy to work on a project in which balancing the scale of a home brings out its true charms. Such was the case with this impressive Carp home that sat alone atop a hill, and it resulted in two finalist nods for the upcoming Housing Design Awards.

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kitchen renovation

Planning a Renovation? Then Check Us Out on the Reno Tour!

October 10, 2017

If you’re planning a renovation, what better way to check out a prospective renovator than to visit them at one of their completed projects? That’s the thinking behind the RenoTour, an annual showcase of Ottawa renovation projects and trends that’s now in its third year.

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powder rooms

Have Some Design Fun With Your Powder Rooms

October 2, 2017

Powder rooms make a great canvas for having some fun. They’re small, contained spaces where adding extra oomph doesn’t seem like too much of a commitment and they offer a bit of an unexpected pop for your guests. That was the case with this powder room renovation, one of our finalists in this month’s Housing…

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An Addition in the Winter? Absolutely!

September 25, 2017

Think you can’t do an addition in the winter? It’s a misconception that you need to wait until Spring to “break ground”. The key is in the planning!

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Team Returns From a Successful Volunteer Weekend at Camp Smitty

September 20, 2017

Every year staff from Amsted Design-Build and Promus Ottawa make time to come together and volunteer for a weekend at Camp Smitty, a Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa initiative that ensures kids of all means have access to the summer camp experience.

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Opening up Spaces in a Dated Home

September 18, 2017

Many of our renovation projects involve opening up spaces. Once upon a time, dividing rooms by their function was the way to design, but many of today’s families prefer a more open concept so that family members can still be together even when they’re doing different activities.

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Also on Ctv News: Your Fall Maintenance Guide

September 12, 2017

It’s that time again, when we prepare for the changing seasons with fall maintenance on our homes. Steve offers his tips on getting your home ready for winter in his latest appearance on CTV News at Noon with Leanne Cusack.

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On Ctv News at Noon: Organizing Your Entryway

September 12, 2017

School’s back in, fall routines are gearing up and that shift in seasons makes this a perfect time to think about organizing your entryway. In President Steve Barkhouse’s latest appearance on CTV News at Noon with Leanne Cusack, he shares several mudroom projects to provide inspiration for your own entryway updates.

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Meet One of Our Awards Finalists: A Kitchen Makeover With Character

September 5, 2017

A kitchen makeover doesn’t have to cost a fortune to create a striking end result, as this finalist in the 2017 Housing Design Awards shows.

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Chuck Mills Joins Amsted as Director of Design

August 30, 2017

Amsted is excited to announce that industry leader Chuck Mills Design has joined our in-house team as our new Director of Design.

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In the Citizen: Rescued From a 1980s Outdated Reno

August 28, 2017

We’re often called in to help homeowners who love the potential of their home, if not its outdated reno. That’s what happened with this Centretown home, which was renovated with a two-storey addition in the 1980s.

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We’re an Awards Finalist Eight Times Over!

August 21, 2017

While validation of our work comes from a homeowner’s satisfaction in a job well done, it’s also a thrill to be recognized by our peers. That’s why we always look forward to awards season!

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Why It’s a Good Idea to Finish Your Basement

August 14, 2017

What’s lurking in your unfinished basement? Valuable real estate that’s often underutilized.

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In the News: Transformation in Wellington West

August 7, 2017

What does it take to turn a choppy floor plan into a welcoming space made for entertaining that meets the needs of today’s families? A thoughtful and well-executed design that turned this hidden gem in Wellington West into a multi-award winner.

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Why It Works: Blending Century-Home Charm With Contemporary Living

July 31, 2017

Renovating a century-old home to incorporate a modern design aesthetic is a lot more challenging than staying true to its original style. But finding the balance between the classic and the contemporary can result in a home that gracefully adopts today’s needs while respecting the past.

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Inspired Ideas: Mixing Materials Makes a Statement

July 24, 2017

Are you on the hunt for ideas to help spark your creative juices when it comes to your next renovation project? We love it when we have inspiring examples we can share. One of our favourite trends this year is the focus on mixing materials for a unique finished result.

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are you sure your home has clean air

Indoor Air Quality: Are You Sure Your Home Has Clean Air?

July 17, 2017

It’s often said the air inside our homes can be worse than the air outside. And with the weather heating up and many of us resorting to closing windows and turning on the air conditioning, poor indoor air quality can be a problem.

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In the News: Bringing an Old Home Into a New Century

July 10, 2017

When the location is a right fit even if the home isn’t, what do you do? For this Old Ottawa South family, the choice was clear: transform the home into a space that works for you.

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Why It Works: Finding a Home’s Hidden Beauty

July 4, 2017

So often, when we are called in to help clients find a new reason to love their home. Success comes from being able to combine the key ingredients of creating a space to fit the owners’ needs, making the most of its assets, and stretching a budget to get everything accomplished.

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Ottawa Citizen: Adding Personality in a Thoughtful Reno

June 26, 2017

Putting their own stamp on their home while increasing its functionality was key for our clients recently featured in the Ottawa Citizen, who were seeking an updated kitchen and finished basement.

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6 Things You Didn’t Know About Amsted

June 19, 2017

Amsted is proud to be one of Ottawa’s premiere design and build firms and we have been around for more than 25 years. But despite being a leader in the field, here are six things you likely did not know about the company.

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Tips for Building Your Own Deck on Ctv News at Noon

June 12, 2017

While we often think of the backyard when it comes to planning outdoor spaces, it’s important to take a look at your property as a whole. Creative outdoor living can happen anywhere around your home, even your front entry, where it’s important to design a pleasing space to come home to.

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On Ctv: Inside Out – Incorporating Creative Outdoor Living

June 12, 2017

Summer is coming! We’ve just had our best week of the year, and I’m sure we’re not the only ones who took advantage of some time in the sun. If you’re still longing to get outside, one of the best ways to make the most of our short Canadian summers is to create your own…

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