What an Etobicoke kitchen renovation actually costs in 2026, from a husband-and-wife design-build team who works on your block.
We are Chris and Julie. We design, draw, permit, and build kitchen renovations for Etobicoke homeowners. Real projects in this neighbourhood land between $80,000 and $250,000. This page tells you why, what changes the number, and how to get a straight answer for your home.
Fully insured. General liability and WSIB coverage on every project, plus a one-year defects warranty on every home we build.
In-house Architectural Designer. Drawings, permits, and structural changes handled under one roof, never subcontracted out.
23 completed projects within 5 km of this page in the last 36 months.
We started Waterfront for the same reason most renovations go sideways.
Chris was a builder long before he was an owner. He spent years watching homeowners get handed off between four or five companies for one renovation. Every handoff is a chance for a number to drift, a deadline to slip, or a detail to land in the wrong inbox.
Julie came from the design side and saw the same pattern. We started Waterfront Home Improvements in 2017 to put architectural design, interior design, and construction back under one roof, run by one couple who answer their own phone.
That is what we call the Waterfront Family. It is not a slogan. It is a small team, a single point of contact, and the same two names on the contract, the drawings, and the final walkthrough.
Three things we promise about how we communicate.
Most renovation horror stories are not about bad workmanship. They are about a contractor who stopped answering the phone in week three.
- You hear from us every week, in writing. A short Friday note that says what got done, what is next, and any decision we need from you.
- Numbers do not move without your signature. If a wall opens and we find something the original drawings did not show, we stop, send you a photo, send you a price, and wait.
- Two owners, two phones, one number. When you call, you reach Chris or Julie. We pick up, or we call back the same business day.
A four-step process under one roof
- Step 1
Consultation
30-minute call or in-home visit. We confirm scope, share comparable projects, and tell you whether we are the right fit. No charge, no obligation.
- Duration:
- 1 day
- You talk to:
- Chris or Julie
- Step 2
Design and pricing
We draw the layout, spec the finishes, and write a fixed-range proposal with the trades, the timeline, and the inclusions named in writing.
- Duration:
- 2 to 4 weeks
- You talk to:
- Julie plus our Architectural Designer
- Step 3
Build
Permits filed, demolition begins, trades sequenced, weekly written progress notes to you.
- Duration:
- 10 to 16 weeks on site
- You talk to:
- Chris plus the on-site lead
- Step 4
Walkthrough and warranty
Final inspection with you, deficiency list closed within 30 days, one-year defects warranty on every home we build.
- Duration:
- 1 week
- You talk to:
- Chris and Julie
Common questions
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Etobicoke? +
Why not a lower price like the $25,000 to $40,000 quotes I see online? +
Are you insured? +
Do you use a real designer or just a contractor with a clipboard? +
How long will the kitchen be unusable? +
Do you handle permits? +
What happens if you find something behind the wall that was not in the plan? +
Do you work outside Etobicoke? +
Can I see real projects, not staged photos? +
What is the next step? +
Real numbers, real timelines, real photos from your block.
You have read the page. If a husband-and-wife design-build team that works on your street sounds like the right fit, take the next step. Send the form. We will send the cost guide right away and call you within 48 hours. If we are not a fit, we will tell you on that first call.