Project Third
Guelph Kitchen & Main Floor Renovation
Rooted in the charm of Guelph’s rural living, this kitchen and main floor renovation was all about honouring simplicity while elevating functionality. Balancing the comfort of country spirit with refined craftsmanship, the redeveloped open concept layout meets modern needs while striving for that connection between living spaces and the natural environment surrounding the home.
Location: Guelph, ON
Photography: Lauren Weiler Photography
Design and Construction: Otis Interiors
Project Third Tour
Welcome to Project Third - a warm and inviting kitchen renovation just outside Guelph, Ontario. The design blends cozy, country charm with modern touches to reflect our clients’ family-focused lifestyle and semi-rural setting. Every detail, from the soft cabinet colours to the patchwork backsplash and breakfast nook, was chosen to feel timeless and personal. In this video, we walk you through the transformation, sharing the story behind the space and the unique challenges we faced along the way.
Our Clients
With retirement in mind, our homeowners had been planning for their dream kitchen that would both inspire this next phase in their lives while looking for a way to better entertain their extended families.
Their home was once located in the heart of Guelph but had been physically moved to a semi-rural setting on the outskirts of town, so there was some history and charm that needed to be preserved and honoured.
Project Features
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Fireplace & Wall Removal
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Reconfigured Kitchen Layout
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Custom Kitchen Cabinetry
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Dedicated Coffee Nook
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Kitchen Island with Waterfall Detail
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Quartz Countertops
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Refinished Hardwood Flooring
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New Lighting & Fixtures Throughout
Project Details
The previous kitchen was isolated from the living area and featured a hand-painted mural archway by previous homeowners that divided the kitchen and the eating area. The existing homeowners dreamed of opening up the kitchen layout to better interact with the main living room and feature a kitchen island.
We worked through a structural analysis to accommodate the newly designed kitchen layout we developed and worked through the permitting process to have the plans approved for construction.
We then set to work on making the new layout come to life.
This included wall removal of one load-bearing and one non-load-bearing wall, levelling out the ceilings and floors so that drywall and cabinetry would be plumb, and upgrading the lighting plan and mechanicals to suit the new kitchen layout.
When you enter the home now, you are greeted by the kitchen, which reimagines country comfort with refined craftsmanship. From the softly patterned tile to the layered wood textures and crisp cabinetry, every detail was selected to balance livability with quiet sophistication.
It’s a space designed to work hard and welcome warmly.
The Neighborhood
The serene semi-rural setting nestled just outside of Guelph makes it an appealing property.
The houses in this area are older homes on generously sized lots, and many of them are being renovated both inside and out.
Like many houses in this neighborhood, the houses in this area were designed and built for very different times than those we live in today, and are appealing for making modern upgrades to suit today’s flexible needs for families.
Cost, Timeline, & Challenges
Explore the estimated costs, time to completion and both challenges and solutions that were presented
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$125-$150K Plus HST
2025 pricing
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3 months
Property occupied during construction
Design and pre-construction planning (design, engineering, and estimating) for the project started in spring 2024, and we planned the construction to begin in January 2025 to align with the homeowners’ own timelines.
Once construction was underway, the project took approximately 3 months to complete.
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Developing an Intuitive and Functional Layout
We had to design around a step-down between the kitchen and living room, so we used contrasting flooring to make the transition safe and intentional. We also added a subtle waterfall island detail that tied the two spaces together and required close coordination with trades for structural support.Unconventional Details
To avoid costly changes to windows and doorways, we proposed placing the stove in front of an existing window. This unconventional choice required code approval, but it allowed us to create the most functional kitchen layout.Working Within an Old Home (Quirks and Charms)
Because the home wasn’t level, we spent time adjusting ceiling joists and applying self-leveler to the floors. This prep work was essential to ensure smooth drywall, stable flooring, and precise cabinetry installation.
Coming home should feel nothing short of amazing.
Reach out to us so we can book your Discovery Call and get started.