The owners of a Conklin Road townhome in Brantford wanted the whole main level done at once — not phased over years, but coordinated properly so the flooring goes in after the cabinets, the backsplash goes in after the counters, and the painting happens in the right order. This is how a multi-scope renovation should run: one crew, one schedule, and a sequence that doesn't require you to redo work.
Kitchen
The kitchen scope focused on the base-cabinet peninsula and the full backsplash and countertop replacement. The design direction was matte black paired with a terrazzo-look laminate counter — a combination that reads modern without being trend-dependent.
- Matte black shaker base cabinets — 30" wide ×32" high ×12" deep, three units under the bar top peninsula, with soft-close hinges and gable end panel
- Countertops: Belanger Terrazzo 2325-SD laminate with a 2500 profile, installed and trimmed
- Backsplash: Urban Zebra - Color Art in Black — 24 sq ft, supplied and installed by HandKind including mortar, grout, metal edging, and levelling clips
- Sink: Supply and install new under-mount sink with plumbing rough-in by our plumber
Laundry room
The laundry room went from a functional but unfinished space to a properly built-out room with storage, a folding surface, a coat rack area, and a recessed dryer duct — the last item being one of those details that matters a lot to livability and code compliance but rarely makes it into a basic laundry room renovation.
- Appliance pedestals: 2×10 platform framing with plywood top, finished with LVP and painted trim — raises the machines to a comfortable working height and provides storage underneath
- Countertop above machines: Painted MDF surface set approximately 2" above appliance height, on wall cleats
- Upper cabinets: 33"×24"×24" white shaker soft-close above the machines; 24"×30"×12" white shaker above the coat rack area
- Base cabinet: 15" single-door unit between washer and dryer
- Crown moulding: Two 8' runs to cap the upper cabinets
- Built-in coat area: Integrated upper cabinets plus metal clothing rod and gable panel — full-height structured storage in the corner
- Recessed dryer duct box: Installed in wall — keeps the dryer tight to the wall without crimping the duct
- Painting: Walls and trim painted (homeowner supplied paint)
Flooring
650 sq ft of LVP throughout the kitchen, dining area, and hallway. The substrate preparation was as important as the flooring itself — the existing floor had enough height variation that a 3/16" mahogany overlay was installed first, screwed and glued flat, before the LVP went down glue-direct.
- Polyflor Expona — Saffron Oak 4057 LVP (with 15% material overage for cuts)
- 3/16" mahogany overlay substrate, stapled and glued to prepared subfloor
- LVP glue-down installation (Uzen 2000 adhesive)
- Installed perpendicular to the staircase for correct visual flow
Handrails
The existing stair spindles were replaced with 40 matte black tapered metal pickets with boots — drilled in, not surface-mounted. White painted filler strips close the gap at top and bottom rail. The newel posts and handrail cap were retained, giving the staircase a fresh look without the cost of a full replacement.
Bathroom update
The bathroom scope was a targeted refresh rather than a gut job. The bones were sound; what it needed was a cosmetic and functional update.
- Tub reglazing: Repair of holes where the old frame had been installed and a small crack near the drain, then full reglaze of tub and wall surround — work was performed by a specialist, scheduled and coordinated by HandKind
- Vanity top: New Belanger laminate countertop with undermount sink, backsplash strips, and square edge profile
- Medicine cabinet: Kohler Embark Slim 30"×26" frameless double-door with interior glass shelves — installed level and fastened to studs
- Toilet: New elongated full-flush toilet (the homeowners were clear: no low-flow models)
Running five trades through one condo unit in sequence takes planning. The value of a general contractor on a project like this isn't any single trade — it's the schedule, the coordination, and making sure the drywall finisher doesn't show up before the electrician's done.
Why do it all at once
Phasing a renovation over years costs more — flooring gets protected and re-protected, dust gets managed twice, trades make two trips instead of one, and the sequencing problems compound. On a project like this, doing it in one run with a coordinated crew saved the homeowners both time and money compared to tackling each scope separately.
If you're considering a kitchen or interior renovation in Brantford, see our kitchen renovation services or book a free on-site estimate.