Looking for inspiration? Researching renovators? Then be sure to check out the 2025 RenoTour Parade of Homes on Oct. 19.
This popular annual event, which is free to attend, offers a twist on the typical house tour, letting you walk through stunning renovated homes to check out how they’ve been remodelled — and ask questions of the renovation team on site.
“Whether you’re dreaming, planning or simply curious, RenoTour gives you the chance to experience how thoughtful design and craftsmanship can elevate daily living,” says Jacob Kirst, president of tour participant Lagois Design-Build-Renovate. “It’s about more than inspiration; it’s about seeing what’s possible when your home reflects who you are.”
There are seven stops on this year’s tour, from kitchen renovations and whole-home transformations to coach homes and a striking custom infill, that will show you what’s possible for your own home. Highlights include a home elevator, a sculptural staircase, a kitchen and sunroom connection, reimaging a choppy floor plan on a narrow lot, transforming an older home — or building one new — to be extremely energy efficient, and the evolution of coach house development with two projects on the same street.
The companies involved are all part of RenoMark, a national program that identifies professional contractors who have signed on to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association RenoMark renovators code of conduct that protects the homeowner.
This year’s renovators are:
- Amsted Design-Build: whole-home transformation in Westboro
- ARTium Design Build: reimagined main floor in Kanata
- Lagois Design-Build-Renovate: kitchen and sunroom renovation in Carlington
- Ottawa General Contractors: two secondary dwelling units on the same street in Hintonburg
- Revision Built: whole-home transformation in North Gower
- RND Construction: custom infill home in Westboro
“Seeing a real renovation up close gives you a better sense of how a space can be transformed and often sparks ideas you might not have considered for your own home,” says Jason Burggraaf, executive director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA), which is organizing the tour.
“It’s an opportunity to experience the quality, creativity and attention to detail that professional renovators bring to their work. If you’re planning a renovation, I encourage you to explore what’s possible when you work with a trusted professional.”
While there is no charge to attend, donations are being accepted for the Ottawa Food Bank (both food and money). The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 19. If you can’t make it to the in-person event, there will be 3D virtual tours available afterwards.
“The tour offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience thoughtfully designed and expertly built homes firsthand,” says Nick Karrandjas, senior project consultant at Ottawa General Contractors, which has two projects on the tour. “It allows guests to see quality craftsmanship, innovative design solutions and functional layouts in real-life settings — something that photos or plans alone can’t fully capture.”
For details, visit the tour site or stop by the GOHBA booth at the Ottawa Fall Home Show at the EY Centre Oct. 2-5.
Here’s a look at the stops on the 2025 RenoTour Parade of Homes:
Amsted Design-Build: whole-home renovation in Westboro
This project is a total reinvention of an older urban home. By bringing in more light, optimizing the layout and embracing bold, contemporary design, a long-overlooked structure has been transformed inside and out into a stylish, future-ready gem with spaces thoughtfully reimagined to better suit the homeowners’ lifestyle and make the most of a narrow footprint.
Changes included reworking the main floor to create open-concept sightlines, adding a powder room, ensuite and laundry, and building a compact addition for a mudroom-style back entry to add everyday function without exceeding footprint constraints.
ARTium Design Build: reimagined main floor in Kanata
This award-winning kitchen and main-floor project offers a warm, contemporary update to an older home and shows how smaller, individual spaces can be transformed into a more open-concept main floor with improved flow — even when taking down all the walls is not an option.
Features include modern finishings and the addition of a large peninsula, removing the need for a dining table and allowing for full-height pantry cabinetry and a built-in storage bench under the window. The living room fireplace was also modernized and a custom bar was added to the living room for entertaining.
“We’re proud to highlight both the visible and behind-the-scenes features of this open-concept main-floor project,” says ARTium designer Carley Mulligan.
Lagois Design-Build-Renovate: kitchen and sunroom renovation in Carlington
More than giving a refresh to a tired kitchen, this project was about connecting the rear yard, which had been cut off from the back of the home. A window in the kitchen became a full-glass door leading to a new screened-in porch and windows were added to the dining room to give a significant boost of natural light in the home.
The project “represents what so many families hope for: to stay in the home they love but evolve it to support a new chapter,” says Lagois president Jacob Kirst. “This was about more than improving a layout; it was about restoring clarity, comfort and joy to a home with deep meaning.”
Ottawa General Contractors: two coach homes on the same street in Hintonburg
These two coach homes, which are located on the same street, offer a good example of the arc that Ottawa General Contractors has taken in building secondary units. One is an example of one of the first coach homes the company built, a 500-square-foot unit meant as a short-term rental, and the other is one of the first secondary dwellings approved in Ottawa under Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act.
“There wasn’t a clear precedent, so we had to work closely with the City of Ottawa to navigate new policies and ensure the design met zoning and building requirements,” says OGC’s Nick Karrandjas.
The more recent unit is a full one-bedroom suite built above a detached garage. “This project demonstrated what’s possible when we push for gentle densification in existing neighbourhoods,” he says. “It provides valuable housing options for families, aging parents, adult children or even rental income — all without disrupting the fabric of the neighbourhood.”
Revision Built: whole-home transformation in North Gower
A drafty 1970s bungalow plagued with aluminum wiring, pest infestations and staggering heat loss has been transformed by Revision Built into a home for tomorrow that is guided by principles of durability, occupant health and energy efficiency. It was stripped back to the stubs and rebuilt with a “perfect wall” assembly to keep the outside out and the inside in, and several other energy efficiency features.
The home is also registered with Natural Resources Canada as a net zero ready renovation case study. It’s “a showcase of what’s possible when craftsmanship meets building science,” says Revision Built founder Phil Coe. “Feel the difference in air quality; hear the quiet; see the details that make this home built to last for generations.”
RND Construction: custom infill home in Westboro
This award-winning home designed by Ha2 Architecture + Design and built by RND Construction showcases exquisite design and features, including a sculptural staircase, elevator, high energy efficiency and cantilevered island counter.
“Even though our project is not a renovation, we are presenting a home design that bears striking resemblances to our renovation projects,” says RND founder Roy Nandram. “This home is innovative and boasts distinctive elements… As people explore this home, they will notice the exceptional renovation finishes we can offer in the bathrooms, kitchen, flooring, staircases, office and outdoor living areas.”
For the tour brochure and more information, visit renotourparadeofhomes.ca.
