We thought it would take four weeks. It took eleven. And that’s not counting the two weeks we waited for the city to approve permits.
But let me back up.
We live in Oakville. Our house was built in the late ’90s, and you could tell. The kitchen had that orangey wood look, the kind that makes you wonder if the builder had stock in a cabinet company. The bathroom upstairs had a tub so big it never got used. And the basement? Mostly forgotten. Just boxes and dust.
Like a lot of people, we figured we’d “get around to it.” But the tipping point came one night when the kitchen faucet snapped off in my hand.
That was it. We were finally doing it. Kitchen. Bathroom. Basement. All of it.
Starting With the Kitchen
We began with the kitchen because it’s the part of the house you walk into first—and, honestly, because it bugged us the most. It was the kind of layout that made everything harder: a weird angle between the fridge and the stove, no space for more than one person to move around, and barely any light after 4 PM.
We found a kitchen renovations Oakville contractor with good reviews and set up a meeting. He walked in, looked around, and said, “You’ve got good bones. But the layout isn’t doing you any favors.”
That stuck with me.
We didn’t want something fancy. No gold handles or smart fridges. Just a space that didn’t feel like it was built in a rush. So we reworked the layout, removed a small wall, and finally made room for a proper island.
But here’s something you don’t hear often: no matter how many photos you save on your phone, the real-life choices still feel overwhelming. You stare at twelve shades of “off white” and wonder how anyone makes decisions without losing their mind.
Also? Everything costs more than you expect. Every single thing.
Still, when it was done, the space felt… right. Not because it looked perfect, but because we stopped walking around each other just to make dinner. That part changed everything.
The Bathroom in Burlington: A Cautionary Tale
My sister lives in Burlington, and when she heard about our renovation, she decided to finally fix her upstairs bathroom. The timing lined up, so we joked about being in it together. Renovation buddies.
Her mistake? Rushing.
She picked the first contractor who answered the phone. Didn’t check references. Didn’t ask many questions. He promised it would be done in two weeks. Took almost two months. The tiles didn’t line up properly, the shower door wouldn’t close all the way, and the paint peeled within the first week.
It was frustrating to watch, especially since her budget was tight to begin with.
What she learned the hard way: a lower price often comes with hidden costs later. And that bathroom—what should have been a peaceful, clean space—just stressed her out.
She ended up hiring someone else to redo parts of it. In Burlington, a lot of older homes have similar challenges: tight layouts, awkward plumbing, limited airflow. It’s not impossible to fix, but it does take someone who knows what they’re doing.
I asked her what she’d do differently if she could go back.
Her answer? “I’d wait another month and hire the right person instead of the fast one.”
Basement in Mississauga: Not Just for Storage Anymore
Our friends in Mississauga tackled their basement around the same time we were wrapping up our kitchen. At first, they just wanted a home office. But the idea grew. Suddenly it was: home office, guest suite, and a playroom for their twins.
They had a good setup to start with—decent ceiling height, a rough-in for a bathroom, and no water issues. But even then, there were surprises. The ductwork had to be moved. Electrical needed an upgrade. And one of the supporting walls couldn’t be touched without an engineer’s sign-off.
Still, the result? Worth it.
They now have a space that actually gets used. Guests have privacy. The kids don’t have toys scattered across the living room. And my friend works from a soundproofed office downstairs while the rest of the house goes on above him.
But the most interesting part? They realized the renovation wasn’t about square footage. It was about how their house felt. Before, it always felt tight. Now, it feels like it finally fits their life.
What No One Tells You
People love to talk about design trends—matte black faucets, waterfall islands, freestanding tubs. But no one talks about the stuff that actually makes or breaks your experience.
Like the noise. Or the dust. Or the fact that you might not have running water for a couple of days.
There’s a morning I remember clearly. The water had been shut off for tile work in the kitchen, and I completely forgot. I went to brush my teeth and stood there, staring at a dry sink like an idiot. Then I laughed, because what else can you do?
And you’ll probably fight with your partner. Even if you’re on the same page going in. Decisions build up. Fatigue kicks in. It’s normal. But it helps to go in knowing that.
Also, you might not love it right away.
When we finished the kitchen, it felt strange at first. Like it wasn’t our kitchen. We didn’t know where to put anything. It took weeks to feel natural. That part caught me off guard. I expected a big reveal moment—something dramatic. But it was slower than that. More personal.
The bathroom was different. That one felt right from day one.
Should You Renovate?
If you’re reading this and thinking about starting a renovation in Mississauga or Oakville—or maybe you’re in Burlington and wondering if it’s finally time to fix that old bathroom—here’s the truth:
Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it takes time.
But when it’s done well, you stop thinking about it altogether. You just live in your home the way you always wanted to.
So, should you do it? Only if you’re doing it for the right reasons.
Not because you saw it on Pinterest. Not because someone told you it’s good for resale. But because you live here. And you want it to work better.
That’s enough.
One Last Thought
We didn’t do it perfectly. We messed things up. Picked a paint color we had to change. Ordered a vanity that didn’t fit up the stairs. Paid for a rush delivery that never arrived on time.
But would we do it again?
Yes. Probably not all at once, but yes.
We eat together at the island now. The bathroom doesn’t leak anymore. And our basement isn’t just a place to dump boxes.
It’s funny how changing a few rooms can change the way you feel about your entire home.
If you’re in Oakville, and your kitchen makes you sigh every time you walk in… or you live in Burlington, staring at the same old bathroom tiles… or maybe you’ve got a Mississauga basement that’s just sitting there collecting dust…
Maybe it’s time.
Just plan better than we did. And buy more takeout containers than you think you’ll need.