This was my third builder home — and by this point, I’d lived the learning curve. I’d made the safe choices, skipped the wrong upgrades, and navigated enough design centre chaos to know exactly what mattered. Gracewood was where it all came together: a builder-basic house, elevated through smart decisions made at just the right moments.

It’s also why I do what I do now — because no one should have to go through multiple homes just to get it right. I help clients make confident, lasting choices from the start — so their first home feels like the one they meant to build all along.

Built in 2012, this was the second builder home I bought — and while it could use a fresh coat of lighter paint and a few furniture updates, the bones still speak for themselves. Beautiful quartz counters, real wood cabinets with generous storage, and stunning black walnut floors gave this house a head start — even before design trends caught up. It’s a reminder that when you make smart foundational choices, a home can age gracefully and stay effortlessly livable.

Bought in 2008, this was my very first home — and my first real introduction to builder design decisions. Looking back, there’s a lot I’d do differently now. But even without the hindsight I have today, I still made a few smart foundational choices that have stood the test of time.

The finishes could use an update — lighter paint, better lighting, maybe a new sofa or two — but the core holds up. Corinth Private was where I learned how to see beyond surface trends and start thinking about what makes a home truly work. And now, I get to help others skip the trial-and-error and start with confidence.

The upstairs of our Plymouth Street rental had potential — but it needed a reset to really work. The bathroom had only a tub and a hand shower (not ideal for four university girls sharing a space), and one of the bedrooms was being used as a walk-in closet. Great for shoes, not so great for rent.

We opened things up, added a proper shower, demoed the closet-turned-bedroom to get another renter in (heads in beds!), and gave everything a fresh coat of paint. A smart, durable kitchen reno tied it all together. It’s a great example of how practical upgrades and good design can completely shift a space — and the rental return that goes with it.

This was our first rental property — and our first real test. The basement started as an illegal granny suite: awkward layout, poor lighting, and definitely not up to code. But we saw the potential.

We took it down to the studs and rebuilt it as a legal, fully functional one-bedroom apartment — complete with smart storage, classic, durable finishes, and a surprisingly spacious layout (yes, we fit in ensuite laundry). What started as a patchwork basement is now a cozy, well-loved home — and seeing how our tenant made it their own? That’s the best part.

This one’s a great example of what happens when you pair thoughtful design with practical upgrades — even in a tight footprint.