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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.

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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Amsted Wins Big Awards in 2022!

October 17, 2022

Earlier this month, we excitedly shared that Amsted Design-Build was named one of Ottawa’s Top Ten Places to Work in 2022. And the announcements just keep coming! After an exciting night at the Ontario Home Builders’ Association Awards of Distinction, last month, we took home top prize for: – Best Renovation under $250,000 for this…

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FREE Renovation Seminar!

October 12, 2022

With over 30 years of experience, Amsted is well-known for creating successful renovation projects. We also want to share our knowledge on just how to go about thinking about a renovation. Planning is the key to success! So, we’re back with our popular seminar series, where you will gain valuable information about renovating that will…

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Amsted Voted One of Ottawa’s Top Ten Employers!

October 5, 2022

We are proud to announce that Amsted has been named one of Ottawa’s Top Ten Employers by the Ottawa Business Journal! This was our first year participating in the survey by The Ottawa Business Journal and we are so excited by the outcome. One of the reasons we are able to maintain a 96% satisfaction…

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Amsted is nominated for 10 GOHBA Awards

August 26, 2022

We’re proud to announce that Amsted is up for 10 Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) Housing Design Awards! Eight of our projects have been named finalists AND we are a finalist for the coveted ‘Renovator of the Year’ and ‘Designer of the Year’ special awards. This is a testament to the power of our…

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Amsted on CTV: Using Paint to Update your Home

August 8, 2022

With Ottawa housing prices expected to grow by 13 percent this year, and historically low inventory of properties for sale, it’s no wonder that many are turning to home renovations as a way to enjoy the space they have now. Not everyone is in a position to do a major remodel of their home, but using…

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Brockville Launch Party

August 3, 2022

This June, Amsted Design-Build announced that the industry-leading team at Precision Contracting in Brockville had joined the Amsted Family. While most of the work was done behind the scenes to integrate Precision Contracting into our Amsted Design-Build brand and processes, our team came together to celebrate our expansion by throwing an official launch party on…

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