A great home renovation follows seven steps: define your goals and budget, book a Discovery Call, develop the design and selections, receive your fixed-price quote, plan permits and scheduling, complete the build, and finish with a final walkthrough. Following a clear, proven process is what keeps a Calgary renovation on budget and on schedule. Jonathan Edwards is involved at every step, so you have one point of contact from the first call to the final walkthrough.
“A great renovation is a partnership between you, your designer, and your contractor. Here’s how it should go.” — Jonathan Edwards, Owner, Olympic City Renovations
Are you ready for a renovation? Sick of your kitchen? Maybe your bathrooms? Maybe the entire main floor of your house? We’ve got you covered—and here’s where to start.
Step 1 — Dream Big
The best place to start is to get on Pinterest and Instagram and dream a little bit. Save images of kitchens, bathrooms, or whatever rooms you’re renovating. Don’t filter yourself yet—just collect ideas that make your heart sing.
The point of this stage isn’t to finalize anything. It’s to start building your visual vocabulary so you can communicate with your designer.
Step 2 — Set A Realistic Budget
Before you talk to anyone, get a rough sense of what you’re willing to spend. Calgary renovation costs vary widely by scope, but having a number in mind keeps the rest of the process grounded.
A good contractor will help you stretch your budget to its maximum potential—but they can’t do that if you don’t have one.
Step 3 — Talk To A Contractor
With a rough budget in place, it’s time to talk to a contractor about your project. Because you’ve done a little homework already, you’re going to help your contractor and their designer narrow down your choices and find the materials that are appropriate for your budget.
Many homeowners have a ton of random ideas of what they think they like, but it’s all stuck in their heads. Meet your contractor with some basic ideas—their job is to help you find YOUR style.
Step 4 — Find Your Style With A Designer
“But what if I don’t even KNOW my style yet?” you say. That’s where a good contractor and their designer will help you.
A good designer is not there to impose their style on you. It’s about helping you find your style—and that’s what they’re good at doing.
They will help you get to a final design that reflects who you are and how you live. Whether you’re after interior design help, a kitchen renovation, or a full bathroom renovation, the right designer makes the difference.
Step 5 — Get A Fixed-Price Agreement
Once your selections are locked in, your contractor creates a fixed-price agreement based on the scope of work. This is the piece most homeowners skip—and it’s where most renovations go sideways.
With a fixed price, there are no surprises. You know exactly what you’re paying and what you’re getting.
Step 6 — Trust The Process
Once the work starts, trust the team. There’s no doubt about it: renovations can be stressful. But remember that your contractor, their designer, and you are a partnership.
Together you will get this renovation over the line. It truly is a few weeks of a mess for a lifetime of enjoyment.
Step 7 — Enjoy Your New Space
When the dust settles, invite your friends over. Make coffee in your new kitchen. Soak in your new bathtub. This is the payoff for all the planning.
Ready To Start Your Renovation?
If you’re ready to stop dreaming and start planning, let’s talk. Book a Discovery Call with Michelle and we’ll walk through your vision together.
Frequently asked questions
Start by defining what you want to achieve and a realistic budget, then book a Discovery Call so we can understand your goals and assess your space. From there we move into design and selections before any fixed-price quote is prepared.
It depends on scope — a single bathroom moves faster than a whole-home renovation involving structural changes and permits. We set a clear schedule with you up front so you know what to expect at each step.
Structural changes, plumbing, electrical, and additions all require permits in Calgary. We manage the permitting and inspections as part of the process so nothing is missed.
Locking your scope and finalizing selections early, then working from a fixed-price quote, is what prevents surprises. Your fixed-price quote will vary based on your selections and square footage, and appliances are a separate purchase you make that we install.
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