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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.

Meet the Finalists: A Full-Service Renovation

September 9, 2019

Kitchen and bathroom renos are among the most popular projects homeowners undertake. What’s not as common is a renovation that includes a full-service upgrade to a vintage car lover’s garage. We’ve written about part of this project before, but now we’re sharing all of it with you as a finalist for two renovation awards, one…

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kitchen renovation black and white

Meet the Finalist: Modern and Timeless in a Black-And-White Kitchen

September 3, 2019

A black-and-white kitchen is a classic look that’s also timeless, elegant and definitely on trend. In this Barrhaven main-floor renovation, traditional styling with a modern twist has helped this kitchen become a finalist in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association Housing Design Awards this fall!

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Bathroom renovation

Meet the Finalists: A Stunning Rockcliffe Renovation

August 26, 2019

As we get ready for both the Ontario Home Builders’ Association Awards of Distinction on Sept. 24 and the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association Housing Design Awards in October, we’d like to introduce you to our wonderful projects that have been nominated for awards, starting with this Rockcliffe Revamp.

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Behind the Scenes at Amsted: Meet the Team 11

August 19, 2019

For several months we’ve been periodically introducing you to the members of our fantastic team. We would not be the company we are without them and it’s a pleasure to share them with you. This time you’re meeting Kevin, Hugh and the big guy — our founder Steve.

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Bathroom renovation

It’s Awards Season and We’re Nominated for 11 Provincial and Local Awards!

August 14, 2019

It’s an exciting week for us here at Amsted — awards season is upon us and we’re up for a whopping 11 trophies! Announcements were made this week naming finalists for both the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association Housing Design Awards and the Ontario Home Builders’ Association Awards of Distinction.

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Poll Numbers Show the Value of Planning Your Renovation

August 5, 2019

A recent poll by CIBC offered some sobering statistics that just go to show the importance of planning your renovation. We’ll take a look at some of the numbers, then explain how to make sure you aren’t on the negative side of them.

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The Biggest Employee Milestone of Them All: 30 Years at Amsted!

July 29, 2019

We like to recognize employee milestones here at Amsted and there’s none bigger than company founders Steve Barkhouse and Kirk Haw, who are marking 30 years at Amsted this month!

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kitchen renovation

The Importance of Choosing the Right Kitchen Appliances

July 22, 2019

We do a lot of kitchens. The kitchen truly is the heart of the home, which is why it’s often what drives a renovation project or a new home design. There are many elements to consider, but one of the most important has to be your kitchen appliances.

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Reno Roadblocks: 9 Things That Can Stall Your Renovation

July 15, 2019

If you’re thinking of renovating, beware of the reno roadblocks that can slow down or stall your project. It happens easier than you might think, but being prepared can go a long way toward ensuring your renovation is carried out smoothly and with few bumps in the road.

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designated substances asbestos Amsted Design-Build after kitchen

Counter Intelligence: Choosing a Kitchen Countertop

July 8, 2019

Wondering which way to go when it comes to choosing a kitchen countertop? Here’s a quick guide to 11 popular styles.

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Your Summer Maintenance Checklist

July 2, 2019

It’s officially summer! And over the summer, there are a number of indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks to look after. To help you stay on top of them, we’ve included our handy checklist here.

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Bbq Fun: Celebrating and Thanking Our Trade Partners

June 27, 2019

A huge part of Amsted’s success is the strong relationships we have developed with our trade partners. That’s why it’s important for us to celebrate and nurture those partnerships. One of the ways we do that is through our annual trade partner barbecue!

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women in the trades Amsted Design-Build Ottawa renovations

Ally Goes to School: Empowering Women in the Trades

June 24, 2019

Amsted Lead Carpenter Ally W. went back to school last month to mentor a group of high school girls and show them how rewarding it can be for women in the trades. “Thank you for sending us Ally! It was an amazing experience for our students!” said teacher Natalie Wainwright of St. Francis Xavier High…

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Amsted Design-Build Ottawa renovations kitchen

Behind the Scenes at Amsted: Meet the Team 10

June 17, 2019

For quite some time now, we’ve been introducing you to the members of our team through a series of questions and answers. We have such an awesome team that we are thrilled to share them with you! Today’s trio includes two who have been with us for some time — Stephanie and Chris — and…

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Amsted Design-Build living room presentation centre

It’s Official! Our Glebe Living Room Presentation Centre Is Open!

June 10, 2019

How many house-warming parties have you heard of where the mayor stops by? When your “house warming” is the official opening of your newest Living Room Presentation Centre, having Mayor Jim Watson help with the ribbon cutting is all part of the celebration!

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Amsted Design-Build renovation seminar

Renovation Advice: Planning a Reno? Join Us for Your Guide to Success

June 3, 2019

If you’re thinking of remodelling, get our renovation advice by joining us at our latest reno seminar. It’s free and it’s your guide to a successful renovation!

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Amsted’s Fearless Leader: Steve Barkhouse as Superman?

May 31, 2019

Is Amsted President Steve Barkhouse Superman? Maybe not, but we couldn’t resist having some fun with this photo of him that’s popped up on the latest cover of Canadian Contractor magazine. After all, we think he’s super!

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Keeping Your Home Cool This Summer

May 25, 2019

Hot and muggy, that’s the theme of our Ottawa Valley summers. If you’re like most homeowners, you probably have an air conditioning unit keeping your home cool, but skyrocketing your energy bill. In today’s energy-conscious world, this just doesn’t cut it. So, we’re sharing some tried-and-true ways you can reduce costs and be a little…

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Amsted Design-Build renovation hire a design-build firm

8 Reasons to Hire a Design-Build Firm

May 21, 2019

Should you hire a design-build firm? If you’re thinking of a renovation, addition or custom build and are wondering how to proceed, design-build may be the way to go. Here’s why.

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GuildQuality Guildmaster Award

Wow! Our 9th Consecutive Guildquality Guildmaster Award for Client Satisfaction

May 14, 2019

Wow, thanks to our awesome clients, we’ve just won an amazing 9th GuildQuality Guildmaster Award in a row for customer satisfaction! Here’s how.

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Behind the Scenes at Amsted: Meet the Team 9

May 6, 2019

Welcome to the latest instalment of our meet the team series! For the past several months we’ve been introducing you to our awesome staff. They’re a fun, dedicated bunch and a huge part of the reason clients continue to give us great reviews and referrals. Today, meet Mark, Bryce and Randy.

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Before and After: A Kitchen Transformation

April 29, 2019

There’s a real sense of satisfaction in being able to take a space and update it so effectively that it is unidentifiable from what it was to start. Such was the case with a recent kitchen transformation that stayed in the same location, but benefited immensely from a small bump-out.

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Getting Ready for a Renovation: 9 Ways to Pare Down and Organize Before a Home Remodel

April 22, 2019

Getting ready for a renovation can be more involved than you might think. Decluttering, clearing out and getting organized is an important step in the process. With that in mind, our staff have drawn on their experience to create this list of the 9 things a homeowner should do before the construction starts.

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Meet the Amsted Team 8: Say Hello to 3 of Our Project Managers

April 15, 2019

Welcome to our Meet the Amsted Team series, where for the past several months we’ve been introducing you to our awesome staff. In this instalment, meet three of our Project Managers: Marty, Aaron and Jason.

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