In 1989 I was living in Winnipeg and starting an apprenticeship in construction. I bought an abandoned house and began to renovate it. Over many months of living in the house, I first tore it apart and then rebuilt it from the ground up. What had been a condemned building was given new life as a charming, solid structure, and in the process I learned a valuable series of lessons that not only complimented my formal training in constructionbut solidified my love of renovation, design, and reconstruction.

In the decades since then, I’ve continued to study and learn as my career has progressed, evolved, and expanded into diverse areas related to construction and renovation. I began as the sole female in an apprenticeship program that had me working concrete on high-rise buildings, and today one of my specialties is refined concrete for residential applications – custom formed and polished concrete sinks, tubs, and countertops. Since renovating my Winnipeg home, I’ve worked on million-dollar houses, heritage buildings, country studios, urban lofts, tiny apartments, and even yoga studios.

One of my greatest strengths is an in-depth understanding of space; one of my greatest pleasures is working closely with clients. As a designer/builder I get to combine these, listening carefully to my clients and creating spaces that fit their needs and desires. Nothing beats a client who is surprised by an end result that exceeds expectations.

It’s a challenge I love and which continues to offer opportunities to learn. After 25 years of design and renovation, I still get a thrill from changing a cramped dingy apartment into an expansive and efficient living space.

Since 2010 when I opened my Montreal studio, my design/build work has gained another dimension. By repurposing materials salvaged from my renovations I honour the unique qualities of old timber and give new life to what would otherwise end up in a landfill.

Renovations

Consultations

Thinking of buying a new home but worried what it will really cost to renovate? Have you narrowed down your choices to three but aren’t certain which one will best suit your needs? Maybe you’ve found a home that has almost everything on your wish list except for the storage you know you’re going to need in another year. I can help.

Commissioned Work

When you’re shopping for a new home or a location for your business, you’ve got a lot on your mind, a thousand variables to consider, or sometimes emotional responses to a space that make it difficult to step back and analyse the options. If you’re not in the business of design and renovation, how can you make informed choices when trying to select the property to best fit your budget, your present and your future needs?

I can do that. I can see beyond the current state of a property and show you its potential. Perhaps rearranging the walls of one house is less expensive than buying another and would offer you exactly what you want rather than a compromise. Maybe all a house needs to fulfill your dreams is a well-positioned window, skylight, or bank of custom-fitted closets.

For a small fee ­- waived if you hire me to design or renovate later – I offer consultation services to help you find the perfect home or business location. Part building inspection, part design and renovation consult, I offer on-the-spot services:

• A knowledgeable opinion on whether or not the property is a good investment for your needs
• Immediate rough estimates of design and renovation costs to bring the property up to your full wish list
• Pros and cons, with associated costs, for each on your list of property choices

If you’re looking to purchase or lease and need help unravelling the options, contact me for a consultation.

Recycled Wood

Since 2010 I’ve maintained a woodworking studio where I transform lumber discarded from renovation sites I’ve worked on – most of it milled more than 100 years ago – into beautifully finished tables, benches, and shelving.

Each piece of wood is unique; aged and showing the marks of its original intent – holes where pipes ran through, the marks of hand-forged nails, or the imprint and wear of a thousand footsteps – and when creating a piece, I work to reflect that original purpose and history in the final design. The result is a range of tables, benches and other pieces that are a blend of antiquity and contemporary design.

All are hand finished to a satiny touch and stamped with a provenance including the address of the building were the wood originated, the date on which it was constructed, and the date when I created the finished piece. Some works are commissioned by clients who want to preserve a part of the home they’ve had renovated and others are made on spec.

Please see my portfolio for pieces currently for sale or for ideas on what you might like to have made. Depending on the wood available, designs can be modified to fit your home.

Concrete

Concrete is a remarkably versatile product. It can poured into moulds, stamped, dyed and stained, made to look like marble, embedded with objects, or polished to a shiny smooth finish. It is also tough and easy to maintain. My custom concrete work has included countertops, bathroom and kitchen sinks, bathtubs, shower pans, and kitchen counter/sink/ drainboard combinations.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood includes plywood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) usually used for beams, headers, and other structural elements in a building. Modular shelving, seating and tables made from these materials gain a modern, industrial look and feel enhanced by the grain and textural patterns of the wood. Because of its strength, engineered woods are perfect for multipurpose furniture.