OakWood Blog
Ottawa Infill Housing Explained: What You Can (and Can’t) Build in Westboro, Hintonburg & The Glebe
Ottawa Infill Housing Explained: What You Can (and Can’t) Build in Westboro, Hintonburg & The Glebe Infill housing in Westboro Hintonburg Glebe has become one of the most complex and closely regulated forms of residential construction in Ottawa, shaped by zoning...
Accessory Dwelling Units Ontario: A Complete Homeowner’s Guide
Accessory Dwelling Units Ontario: A Complete Homeowner’s Guide Accessory Dwelling Units Ontario homeowners are increasingly exploring flexible housing solutions that allow families to adapt their properties to changing needs. Whether the goal is multigenerational...
8 Kitchen Design Choices That Improve Daily Living
8 Kitchen Design Choices That Improve Daily Living The kitchen is the most used space in the home, and kitchen design for daily living plays a direct role in daily comfort, efficiency, and enjoyment. Small design decisions here can have an outsized impact on how...
9 Design Choices That Make a Custom Home Feel Intentional, Not Overbuilt
9 Design Choices That Make a Custom Home Feel Intentional, Not Overbuilt One of the biggest risks in custom home design is overbuilding. More space, more features, and more materials do not automatically result in a better home. In many cases, the opposite is true....
8 Things to Know Before Turning Your Basement Into a Legal Rental Suite
8 Things to Know Before Turning Your Basement Into a Legal Rental Suite Adding a legal basement rental suite can be a smart way to increase your home’s value, create long-term income, or support multigenerational living. But it is not a simple renovation. A legal...
10 Things Homeowners Should Know Before Starting a Major Renovation
10 Things Homeowners Should Know Before Starting a Major Renovation Major renovations can dramatically improve how a home functions, feels, and supports daily life. They can unlock unused space, correct long-standing issues, and adapt a home to changing family needs....
7 Things Most Homeowners Do Not Understand About High-Performance Homes
7 Things Most Homeowners Do Not Understand About High-Performance Homes The phrase high-performance home shows up everywhere today. It is often tied to advanced materials, complex building science, and a sense that it belongs only to the top end of the market. For...
The Costs of Building a Commercial Property in Ottawa
Building a commercial property in Ottawa is a strategic investment that requires careful planning, thoughtful design, and a clear understanding of the cost drivers that influence the final budget. Whether you are developing an office, retail space, light industrial...
ROI on Investment Property Construction
Building a purpose-built investment property in Ottawa has become one of the most reliable ways to generate predictable income and long-term asset appreciation. New construction offers investors a distinct advantage by allowing every element of the property to be...
Your Guide to the Real Cost of Renovating a Home in Ottawa
A home renovation is one of the most effective ways to enhance comfort, functionality, and long-term value. Whether you’re modernizing an older property, updating a single room, or transforming your entire home, understanding the true cost of your renovation in Ottawa...
Understanding the Cost to Build a Custom Home in Ottawa
Building a custom home is one of the most meaningful investments a homeowner can make. It’s an opportunity to design spaces that reflect your vision, support your lifestyle, and stand as a lasting legacy for your family. In Ottawa, where design innovation meets...
What Every Homeowner Should Know About Kitchen Renovation Costs in Ottawa
A kitchen renovation is one of the most impactful ways to elevate your home. It’s where design and function meet: where every choice, from layout to lighting, shapes how you live every day. Whether you’re refreshing a dated space or reimagining your entire kitchen,...
Buying a pre-built home vs custom home building pros and cons
The decision to purchase a home versus building a new custom home will directly affect the gap between reality and your dream home. Both prebuilt (otherwise known as prefabricated) and new-construction homes have its own sets of pros and cons, which makes this an...
Top 10 Design Trends for Custom Homes in 2025
Custom home design is continuously evolving with new trends and technologies in 2025. Whether you are looking for sustainable and eco-friendly materials or technologies to make your home smart and high-performance, you need to create stunning spaces that are...
Don’t Believe These 5 Myths About Multi-Unit Properties
Multi-unit investment properties are great sources of revenue for many investors as they provide benefits that are not typically available for single-family investment properties. As an industry leader within Ottawa’s Design and Build industry for multi-unit...
Building Your Dream Home: The 5-Phase Process Explained
Building your dream home is a big milestone for most people. It typically marks a significant moment in their lives where new chapters begin. Your home-building adventure can be seamless and enjoyable with our 5-phase approach. Let’s take a closer look at the 5-...
Start Your Custom Home Journey: OakWood’s Consultation Phase
Are you thinking of building a custom home in Ottawa? Building your dream home is an exciting process, but it’s important to have an experienced and knowledgeable design and build team, like OakWood, who will be with you every step of the way. In this blog post, we...
Contractor Showdown – Small vs. Large? Which is Best for You?
Whether you are planning a home renovation or thinking about building a brand new custom home, choosing the right contractor is a critical decision you can make to ensure the success of your project. By carefully selecting your custom home builder or home renovation...
Creating a Functional and Stylish Open-Concept Kitchen
Open-concept kitchens have become a hallmark of modern home design, offering a blend of aesthetics and practicality that appeals to homeowners and buyers alike. For Ottawa residents keen on renovating or building an open-concept kitchen, understanding how to balance...
How to Avoid Costly Mistakes: Top 5 Tips for Planning Multi-Unit Rentals
Are you thinking about investing in a multi-unit rental property in Ottawa? Planning you’re an investment into multi-unit rental projects in Ottawa can be a profitable move for you but there are critical aspects that you must carefully think about in order to avoid...
5 Top Trends for Ottawa Home Renovations in 2024
Renovating your home is more than just updating the aesthetic appeal of your personal living space. It’s also a huge investment that improves your quality of life, the value of your home and possibly also makes your home much more sustainable. OakWood has been a...
Debunking Common Myths About Investing in Multi-Unit Properties
Investing in multi-unit properties is often seen as an investment that comes with many challenges that can quickly become overwhelming for the typical investor. These myths and perceptions regarding costs, difficulty, and the time commitment to manage these...
Top 5 Tips For Modernizing Your Home In 2024
Currently at the end of 2024, it’s an exciting time with huge opportunities within the home renovations space if you’re thinking about transforming your home into more modern retreats from the outside world. OakWood’s track record and expertise means that anyone can...
Basement Renovation Tips: 3 Critical Considerations for 2024
A basement renovation is a great and exciting way to boost the functionality and overall value of your home. From creating a more usable space that can offer entertainment or a home office, a basement renovation needs proper consideration and planning to ensure a...
The Ultimate Guide to Custom Home Building-From Vision to Reality
Building Your Custom Home-The Journey The process of designing and building your custom home in Ottawa is a special and emotional journey that lets you personalize and create a living space where every small detail is tailored to your wants, needs, preferences and...
Navigating the Custom Home Building Process: OakWood’s Expertise From Start To Finish
Buying your custom home is a significant investment and milestone for your life. Should you be lucky enough to be in this position, having a detailed roadmap and a reliable partner you can trust like OakWood can make your custom home building process much smoother and...
Top 5 Things To Look For In Custom Home Builder Showrooms
Are you building a custom home? The custom home-building journey is among the most incredibly rewarding and exciting milestones for many homeowners. One key component of this journey is visiting a custom home builder showroom to compare and discover quality materials,...
Tips for a Successful Home Addition in 2024
Are you looking for guidance and tips on building a custom home addition in 2024? You’ve come to the right place! When planning a home addition, it is important to consider specific factors to ensure that it successfully boosts your home’s value and caters to your...
How to Plan a Kitchen Renovation: A Step-by-Step Guide
A kitchen renovation can dramatically improve the look, feel, and functionality of one of the most important rooms in your house! Whether you’re dreaming of a modern home transformation or a classic kitchen redesign, carefully planning your design and build project is...
Discover OakWood’s Design Centre
Designing Dreams with OakWood Design CentreIn the world of home design and construction, the importance of a well-thought-out and functional living space cannot be overstated. One company that understands this better than most is OakWood, a leader in the homebuilding...
15 Reasons Why People Love Open Floor Plans
Open floor plans have transformed the way we design and live in our homes. This architectural trend eliminates barriers and creates a seamless flow of space that connects different areas of the house. Whether you are designing your dream home or renovating your...
Fall Home Maintenance Tips for Ottawa Homeowners
OakWood Shares Fall Home Maintenance Tips As the capital city of Canada, Ottawa experiences the full beauty of the fall season, with vibrant foliage and crisp, cool air. While you may be eager to embrace the cozy atmosphere indoors with a warm cup of cider, don't...
Common Mistakes People Make With Bathroom Renovations
Common Mistakes People Make With Bathroom Renovations and Why You Should Work With OakWoodIntroduction Undertaking a bathroom renovation is an exciting prospect. It’s a chance to breathe new life into one of the most-used spaces in your home, enhancing not only its...
Renovating Your Home to Prepare for Aging in Place
A Comprehensive Guide Aging in place involves creating an environment that caters to your changing needs while maintaining the comfort of your home. Renovations play a crucial role in achieving this goal. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to renovate your home to...
Sustainable Living: Building Your Custom Home on an Infill Lot
Building Sustainably in Ottawa's Established Neighborhoods As Ottawa continues to grow and evolve, the importance of sustainable development becomes increasingly apparent. Building a custom home on an infill lot within the city's established neighborhoods offers an...
The Transformative Power of Custom Cabinetry: Enhancing Every Room in Your Home
Built-Ins Transforming Spaces: The Allure of Custom Cabinetry in Every Room Custom cabinetry is a versatile and dynamic solution for homeowners looking to elevate the functionality and aesthetics of any room in their home. From kitchens and closets to built-ins,...
Custom Panel-Faced Appliances and Exquisite Cabinetry Unite in the Perfect Kitchen Design
Smart Strategies: Hiding Your Appliances in Plain Sight and Customizing Cabinetry for an Extraordinary Kitchen Design Designing a kitchen that is both functional and visually appealing is a top priority for many homeowners. A popular trend in modern kitchen design is...
Unveiling the Excellence of OakWood: Ottawa’s Custom Home Builder with Over 65 Years of Experience
Introduction Building a custom home is a cherished dream for many, requiring meticulous planning, creativity, and expertise. In Ottawa, one name stands tall as the pinnacle of custom home building excellence – OakWood. With a rich legacy spanning over 65 years,...
OakWood Achieves 2023 Consumer Choice Award for Home Renovation & Design
[OTTAWA,ONTARIO May 31, 2023] - OakWood, recognized as Ottawa’s most established name in Design and Build, proudly announces its notable achievement as the recipient of the esteemed Consumer Choice Award for Excellence in Home Renovation & Design for the 16th...
Spring Cleaning and Home Maintenance Tips
Learn Spring Home Maintenance Tips for Homeowners Spring is the perfect time to tackle all those cleaning and maintenance tasks around the home that may have been neglected during the winter months. In this article, we will go over some helpful tips for homeowners in...
Learn the Benefits of Working with a Specialized Kitchen Designer and Installation Team
When it comes to designing and installing a new kitchen, many homeowners try to tackle the project themselves in an attempt to save money. While this may seem like a cost-effective solution, it can actually end up costing more in the long run if mistakes are made or...
Common Mistakes People Make With Custom Homes
Building a custom home can be a thrilling experience, but it can also be a challenging one. Designing and constructing a custom home requires careful planning and attention to detail, and there are many common mistakes that...
Benefits Of Custom Bathroom Renovations
Custom bathroom renovations are a popular way to enhance the functionality and style of your home. Bathrooms are one of the most utilized areas of a home, and a well-designed bathroom can add significant value to your property. In this blog, we will explore the...
OakWood Wins Consumer Choice Award for 15th Consecutive Year
OakWood Designers & Builders has been honoured with the coveted Consumer Choice Award in not one, but two categories this year. OakWood won the award in the category Best Home Builder for the first time and the award for Best Home Renovation & Design Company...
OakWood Takes Home Three Awards at 2021 GOHBA Housing Design Awards
The 2021 Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association (GOHBA) Awards recently took place on November 19th, 2021, and ended with OakWood taking home three awards at the event. OakWood received a total of 17 nominations this year - the most finalist entries by a single...
OakWood Breaks GOHBA Record
OakWood recently achieved another milestone by breaking the record for most finalist entries awarded to a company in a single year at the 2021 Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) Housing Design Awards. OakWood received a total of 17 project nominations...
Whole Home Transformation
A majestic circular staircase, stunning black walnut countertop, and 4D tiles are just a few of the notable design elements that bring this tired home into the 21st centuryMake it contemporary but cozy Our client had wonderful memories of raising a family in their...
The Times They Are A Changin’
The Times They Are A Changin'Pandemic fuels changes in how we live and use our homes in a trend OakWood calls ‘Your Home is Your Hub’The pandemic has fundamentally changed how people are using their homes – and plan to use their homes post pandemic. Activities that...
OakWood Uses Modular Building Technology on Semi-Detached
OakWood Uses Modular Building Technology on Semi-DetachedMajor construction is completed on two-story multi-unit home in a single-day minimizing neighborhood disruption and accelerating time to new rental revenue for a property investor!At dawn’s first light on a cold...
OakWood celebrates becoming a qualified Net Zero Home Builder
OakWood Celebrates Becoming a Qualified Net Zero Home BuilderOakWood recently met another important milestone by becoming a Qualified Net Zero home builder through the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA). The achievement was celebrated by CHBA on October 1,...
The Ultimate Entertainment Basement
A state-of-the-art in-home theatre, gym and game room transform an unfinished basement Do you enjoy big movie experiences? Have you ever dreamed of having your own home theatre system to rival a Landmark Cinema complete with surround sound and recliners? If so, you’ll...
Designated Hazardous Substances
Designated Hazardous Substances: What you must do to protect workers, yourself and family members from harmful materials If you’re planning any type of renovation or home improvement project that involves contractors coming into your home, here’s something you may not...
Award Winner
Rich textures create a visually stunning home transformation Time for a Refresh Nooks that were great for creating clutter. Finishes and flooring that looked tired and outdated. An overall style and function that wasn’t working any more. This and more got our client...
All in the angles
Reclaimed wood flooring. A dramatic mirrored coffer ceiling. Interesting angles. These are a few of the outstanding features of this unique renovation.From THIS…To THIS!This is an inspirational story about a kitchen renovation in Ottawa that was almost two-decades in...
Green building with Structural Insulation Panels
OakWood tests an airtight building system that reduces costs, uses less energy, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions Part 1 of a 2 Part Blog that is reporting field information in real-time OakWood recently made a new custom home client an offer they couldn’t...
Modern Daydream
A dark, dated, early 80s home is transformed into a sparkling contemporary jewel Love it or leave it This is a familiar story to our design team. A homeowner loves the location of their home and established neighborhood with its mature trees. But their home feels...
Taking Advantage of Untapped Property Investment Opportunities in Ottawa
OakWood recently sponsored a special investment report to see why Ottawa has emerged as one of Canada’s most attractive real estate markets and the implications for property investors. Several leading sources including the Bank of Montreal (BMO), Royal Bank Economic...
OakWood Honoured to be Finalists
OakWood Honoured to be Finalists in Prestigious Local and Provincial Awards Chosen in several categories including the coveted Renovator of the Year award OakWood joins a short list of distinguished local and provincial builders who made the finalist list for the...
Net Zero: the future of home building and what it means
New building standards, what homeowners want, where your energy really goes Recently OakWood invited Andy Oding, the Vice president - Director of Building Science at Building Knowledge Canada, to provide a day of training and information sharing for our team of...
New technology in energy-efficiency for homes
New technology in energy-efficiency for homesOakWood beta tests advanced new technology for reducing a home’s energy requirementsThis past March, OakWood sent a small contingent to the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas – the largest event of its kind in North...
Green is Beautiful
Energy efficient materials and minimalist design create a stunning multi room, eco-friendly addition Not long ago, building green seemed like a trade-off. Yes, it was environmentally friendly and the right thing to do, but did it look sensational. Good for the...
How to make your home an energy-efficient champ
Like most homeowners, chances are you’re interested in lowering your heating, cooling and energy costs. Here’s the thing: unfortunately, there’s no single product or a magic solution for achieving savings and improving energy utilization. It takes a whole house,...
Renovate or Move?
5 questions to help with the renovate or move decision. You love your neighbourhood but your home is well past its best before date. Do you stay and renovate or go through the misery of a move? Here are five questions to help with the renovate-or-move decision.1. Are...
Drab to Dramatic
While somewhat tired and dated, these homeowners still loved their period home. Unfortunately, with a growing family the house no longer met their needs. It was dark, compartmentalized, and dysfunctional. It was time to move, which they did not consider an option, or...
The biggest renovation cost driver in your renovation
It’s not what you think! Many renovators and expert sources suggest that the size of your renovation is the biggest single determinant of cost. On the surface that makes some sense. The bigger the space, the more materials you need. The more materials you need, the...
From Tired to Trendy
Here’s a familiar story of a homeowner who absolutely loved the neighbourhood and area she had been living in for years. The actual home? Not so much! Instead of moving, she decided to stay and renovate – and make her retirement dream home. Relocating the garage...