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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.

CHBA finalist

2024 Canadian Home Builders’ Association Finalist

April 18, 2024

We are proud and honoured to announce that 4 of our stunning projects have been nominated for awards with the Canadian Home Builder’s Association (CHBA). It is an incredible feeling for our work and our client’s homes to be recognized at a national level. Check out these highlights below and visit our gallery for more…

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Amsted Design-Build is Building for the Future

April 12, 2024

2024 is a big year for Amsted. Not only does it mark our 35th year in business, but also our owners, Steve Barkhouse and Kirk Haw, are preparing for retirement. Amsted was recently feature in Ottawa’s Faces Magazine to discuss our continued success with a new leadership team, ensuring a lasting legacy for Amsted Design-Build.…

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Planning Your Cottage Getaway

February 28, 2024

As the days grow longer and the promise of warmer weather beckons, it’s the perfect time to start envisioning your upcoming cottage getaway. Whether it’s loved ones gathered around the bonfire, the smell of pine in the air, or the sound of waves lapping at the shore, we know how important your cottage life is…

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Ontario home builders association award, renovator of the year 2023

2023 Ontario Renovator of the Year

February 7, 2024

Amsted Design-Build has been crowned 2023 Ontario Renovator of the Year by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA)! At the OHBA Awards of Distinction Gala held in October 2023, our team was honoured to receive this prestigious award. This marks the fifth time receiving this esteemed accolade since its introduction in 2013. This achievement is…

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Home renovation ottawa living room

Design Trends for 2024 and Beyond

January 12, 2024

The world of home renovation and design is always evolving with exciting new trends that promise to elevate our living spaces. This year, we’ve notices a demand on creating warm, inviting environments that seamlessly blend modern aesthetics with natural elements. Here’s a glimpse into the design and selection elements that are currently taking centre stage…

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Renovation seminar Ottawa Brockville

“Beat the Winter Blues” – 2024 Renonation Seminars

January 11, 2024

Beat the winter blues with a burst of inspiration! As we find ourselves spending more time indoors during the winter months, it’s natural to become acutely aware of the aspects of our homes that could use a little TLC. Those outdated fixtures, worn-out floors, or inefficient layouts suddenly become glaringly apparent. If you’ve been contemplating…

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Best Ontario Renovator 2023

December 8, 2023

2023 has been another banner year for our team at Amsted Design-Build! Here are a few of the highlights from our award-winning season:   Ontario Renovator of the Year! Last month Amsted was honored with the prestigious title of Ontario 2023 Renovator of the Year for the 5th time (since the award was created 9…

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The Amsted Ambassador Rewards Program is Here!

October 27, 2023

The truth is – we couldn’t do this without you! That’s why we’ve designed a program to turn your loyal support into exciting rewards! The Amsted Ambassador Rewards Program is our way of saying a heartfelt ‘thank-you’ to everyone who’s kind words, referrals, and engagement have been the cornerstone of our success for nearly 35…

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Amsted does Camp Smitty

October 3, 2023

17 years. That’s how long Amsted has been volunteering at Camp Smitty. Since 2006, we’ve contributed hundreds of hours, amounting to over $1 million in-kind, to keeping up and improving the camp so that more kids could have the opportunity to experience the life-changing power of summer camp. This year, 115 Amsted staff and partners,…

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Construction team building a house

Come Learn More at our Fall Seminars

October 2, 2023

  Perhaps you saw or met with us over the weekend at the Ottawa Home Show or the RenoMark Reno Tour. If you are serious about embarking on a home renovation and wanting to learn more about the Amsted Advantage, we have 2 upcoming seminars to help you know more! With over 30 years of…

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2023 Housing Design Award Finalists 🤩

September 24, 2023

What’s got us so excited? If you have worked with us, you know the team at Amsted takes great pride in the work we co-create with our clients. Crafting a home that brings your dreams to life is our passion. And sometimes, when the stars align, others see the magic in these dreams as well.…

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Maison Maitland – an Amsted Brockville success story

July 24, 2023

  A couple of weeks ago we had the privilege of co-hosting a fantastic evening at the Villas of Maison Maitland.  Located about 5km from the city of Brockville, Ontario, along the St. Lawrence river, the villas are built between the stone walls of the original carriage house and feature two 2-bedroom Villas for guests…

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Renovation Ottawa Exterior

Design-Build: The what and the how of it

June 2, 2023

Written by Christopher J Mulholland, 2022 Designer of the Year While common to us (it’s in our name after-all), Design-Build isn’t a term everyone is familiar with. But if you’re considering a renovation or custom home, it’s a method of delivering a construction project that we think you should look into. Far from being a…

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2023 Client Appreciation Event

May 23, 2023

The number 1 way clients find us is through referral.⁠ ⁠ We never forget those of you who have journeyed with us through every season of your home ownership journey and we never stop looking for opportunites to say ‘Thank You!’.⁠ ⁠ To that end, recently we invited a huge group of folks who have…

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Embark on an Exclusive Behind-the-Drywall Tour

April 30, 2023

Do you have an upcoming renovation project in mind, or are interested in building a custom home? If you find the thought of undertaking this process daunting, you’re not alone! We have heard this from homeowners many times over the years, but it doesn’t have to be a mystery. Join us on May 27th for…

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Your Trusted Brockville Home Renovation Experts

April 28, 2023

If you’ve checked out our website, you may have noticed a service we offer called  Home Care. Home Care is a special division within Amsted that offers the same award-winning craftsmanship and service Amsted is known for, but on smaller projects. From fixing a DIY mishap, to building a deck or sunroom, putting up a…

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Your Guide to a Successful Renovation – FREE Seminar

April 10, 2023

Learn all you need to know to comfortably plan your next successful renovation. It has been our pleasure to transform Ottawa homes for the past 34 years. And now we’re proudly serving all the way to Brockville and everywhere in between. If you’re planning an upcoming renovation, let us help you overcome the unknown and plan for…

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Steve Barkhouse Talks Lighting on CTV News

Steve Barkhouse talks lighting on CTV News

March 24, 2023

From flooring to paint to cabinetry, the choices can feel endless when designing your renovated space, and it can be easy to overlook the importance of some choices over the more obvious larger decisions. Take lighting, for example. Lighting can sometimes fall through the cracks when you are considering your design, but poor lighting choices…

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Ice Ice Baby – Steve Barkhouse talks Ice Damming

March 4, 2023

Ice damming is something we get questions on year after year. Heavy snowfalls, particularly coupled with fluctuating temperatures, can cause serious problems for your roof. Left untreated, ice dams can damage your roof, gutters, paint, insulation, drywall, structure and even contribute to mold! In his latest appearance on CTV News at Noon with Leanne Cusack,…

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Design-Build in Brockville

February 15, 2023

If you’re planning a home renovation project, chances are you’ve come across the term “Design-Build”. But you may be wondering – what does a Design-Build company do and how is it different from a contractor or typical renovator in the Ottawa and Brockville areas? What is Design-Build anyway? As the name implies, Design-Build companies handle…

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How to Avoid Renovations Gone Wrong

February 10, 2023

Recently, a local Ottawa Renovation Company went bankrupt leaving many homeowners with unfinished projects. When renovations go wrong, the impact on homeowners is more than monetary.  It can feel deeply personal.  After all, our homes are one of the most personal possessions we have.  We guard them and those who live within our walls with…

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Custom Home Exterior

11 Reasons Why a Custom Home is Worth it

January 6, 2023

Building your dream home can be thrilling. A professional Custom Home Builder, can help you create a home you’ll never want to leave – one that brings a sense of peace and joy into your everyday.  Given the challenges of purchasing a pre-owned home it’s no wonder that many folks are choosing, instead, to start…

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Subtle Pendant Lights by Amsted Design-Build

Lighting Fixtures – Top Tips from a Designer

December 14, 2022

Would it surprise you to learn that one of the toughest parts of a renovation is often the decision making? It’s easy to assume that choosing the details of your project is the “exciting” part of your renovation or custom home, but for many people, it’s easy to feel stressed by the volume of decisions…

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Amsted at Camp Smitty

Amsted Volunteers at Camp Smitty!

November 2, 2022

Our team had a blast volunteering at Camp Smitty again this year! After 17 years of donating our time and talents to help upkeep the camp, we continue to be inspired by this magical place that helps hundreds of kids each year be able to experience the life-changing opportunity that is summer camp. Never heard…

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