banksidedesignstudio

banksidedesignstudio Designing & Renovating Modern Homes

Not every project begins at the first sketch.For this home, the architectural design had already been developed before w...
07/17/2026

Not every project begins at the first sketch.

For this home, the architectural design had already been developed before we joined the project. Our role was to shape everything that happens inside the walls, refining the material palette, lighting, millwork, and interior details so the finished home felt complete.

Some of the big improvements were also the quietest. Widening door openings, refining transitions between rooms, and designing custom millwork all contributed to a home that feel comfortable, connected, and easy to live in.

Its a reminder that good interior design isn't separate from architecture. Its what brings a home to life once the framework is in place.

Design: | Architecture: | Millwork: & | Photography:

The best outdoor spaces don't feel separate from the home.When we design a custom home, we think about the experience be...
07/15/2026

The best outdoor spaces don't feel separate from the home.

When we design a custom home, we think about the experience beyond the exterior walls just as carefully as the rooms inside them. Outdoor spaces aren't added at the end of the project. They're part of the home rom the very beginning.

For this home, the covered lounge, pool, patio and surrounding landscape were designed to work together as one connected environment. Each space has its own purpose, but moving between them feels effortless, making it just as comfortable to spend time outside as it is inside.

That's one of the advantages of designing both the architecture and the interiors. Every decision contributes to the same experience, creating a home that feels connected from the inside out.

Design: | Builder: | Photography:

The biggest transformation in this project isn't what you see in the finished photos.It started with a floor plan.This h...
07/13/2026

The biggest transformation in this project isn't what you see in the finished photos.

It started with a floor plan.

This home didn't have a dedicated primary ensuite, so rather than simply renovating the existing bathroom, we reimagined the second floor to create a more intentional layout. The new plan introduced a private ensuite connected to the primary bedroom while reserving a comfortable family bathroom for the rest of the home.

Once the layout was established, the focus shifted to creating a space that felt calm, timeless, and comfortable to use. Natural light, generous storage, custom millwork, and carefully considered materials all work together to create a bathroom that feels like it has always belonged.

Swipe through to see how the second look evolved. The plan tells the story of the renovation, and the finished spaces show what the planning made possible.

Design: | Builder: | Millwork: @m2contractors | Photography:

Some homes are worth preserving.From our first conversations, it was clear this project wasn't about replacing what was ...
07/10/2026

Some homes are worth preserving.

From our first conversations, it was clear this project wasn't about replacing what was there. It was about building on it with the same level of care and attention that had shaped the home over time.

The rear deck was designed to feel like a natural extension of the architecture rather than an addition to it. Every decision, from the proportions and detailing to the material palette and pergola design, was considered in the context of the existing home and the people who love living there. The pergola itself was carefully studied to provide shad during the summer while maintaining views to the sky from inside the house.

The result is a series of outdoor spaces that feel connected to one another and, more importantly, connected to the home itself.

Design: | Builder:

The kitchen wasn't actually small, it just felt that way.The dining table had to be moved whenever someone wanted to ope...
07/06/2026

The kitchen wasn't actually small, it just felt that way.

The dining table had to be moved whenever someone wanted to open the patio door, entertaining felt disconnected, and the formal dining room rarely felt like part of everyday life.

Rather than expanding the home, we reworked the main floor to make better use of the space that was already there. The kitchen, living, and dining spaces now feel connected, making everyday routines and larger gatherings feel much more natural.

Sometimes good design isn't about adding more. Its about removing the things that quietly get in their way.

Design: | Builders: .construction | Photography:





A backyard doesn't need to be bigger to work better.When we first looked at this project, the pool wasn't the problem. N...
07/04/2026

A backyard doesn't need to be bigger to work better.

When we first looked at this project, the pool wasn't the problem. Neither was the size of the yard.

It was the journey between everything.

Getting from the house to the pool meant weaving through different deck levels and a series of steps. Three were places to sit, but they felt separate rather than connected.

Our goal was to simplify the experience.

The new design brings the outdoor spaces together on one level, making it easier to move between the house, the pool, and the places people naturally gather. A covered seating area offers shelter from the afternoon sun, while an outdoor kitchen makes it just as easy to cook outside as it is to stay there for the evening.

Good outdoor spaces shouldn't ask you to think about where you're going next. They should simply make spending time outside feel easy.

Design:

More families are finding new ways to live together while still giving everyone space of their own.This lower level was ...
07/02/2026

More families are finding new ways to live together while still giving everyone space of their own.

This lower level was redesigned as an additional residential dwelling unit, creating a home that feels comfortable, functional, and completely its own.

Working within the existing footprint, we reconfigured the layout to include a full kitchen, dining area, separate entrance, and generous living spaces. Every decision was made to support everyday life, whether the suite becomes home to family, guests, or future tenants.

For us, projects like this are about more than adding another unit. They're about helping a home adapt to the people who live there and the way their lives evolve over time.

Construction is now underway, and we're excited to see it come together.

Design:


This room had slowly become a space for everything that didn't quite belong anywhere else.Part guest room, part home gym...
06/05/2026

This room had slowly become a space for everything that didn't quite belong anywhere else.

Part guest room, part home gym, part storage overflow, it was being used constantly but never n a way that actually supported the home well.

The goal was to turn it into a true secondary suite, somewhere guests could comfortable settle rather than simply stay overnight.

One challenge quickly became clear: there wasn't enough space for a traditional closet without compromising the layout.

Instead of forcing additional furniture into the room, we designed storage directly into the architecture. Built in millwork surrounding the bed provides concealed storage while also giving the room a stronger sense of structure and permanence.

The transformation is subtle, but it completely changes how the space feels to live in. Guests have space to unpack, the room feels calmer and more resolved, and what was once a catch all room now feels fully connected to the home.

Design: | Contractor: | Millwork: | Photography:

The original pool area worked for swimming, not much else.Once the sun shifted or the weather changed, the backyard empt...
06/03/2026

The original pool area worked for swimming, not much else.

Once the sun shifted or the weather changed, the backyard emptied quickly. There was nowhere shaded t gather, nowhere comfortable to linger, and no real connection between the pool and the way the family wanted to spend time outdoors.

The goal for this project wasn't simply to add another structure. It was to create a pool house that felt integrated into everyday life, somewhere to change, entertain, relax and move easily between indoors and throughout the day.

The covered lounge and bar area create a sheltered lace to gather, while retractable screens allow the space to adapt as conditions change, open when the weather's ideal, enclosed when shade, privacy, or protection is needed.

What was once a purely functional corner of the property became a space that supports how the home is actually lived in: slower mornings, long afternoons outside, and evenings that naturally extend beyond the interior.

Design: | Contractor: | Millwork: | Photography:

Older homes often lose their best architectural details through layers of renovation.In this space, the original church-...
06/01/2026

Older homes often lose their best architectural details through layers of renovation.

In this space, the original church-style window had been partially concealed by a lowered ceiling, interrupting both the proportions of the room and the presence of the original trim work around it.

Rather than simply designing around the condition, we wanted to understand what the space was originally meant to feel like.

By investigating the structure above, we were able to raise the ceiling and fully reveal the height and detailing of the window once again. The change transformed the room, bringing in more natural light, restoring balance, and allowing the architecture to feel open and uninterrupted.

The new ceiling height also created the opportunity for a statement fixture that feels properly scaled to the room and emphasizes the vertical character already present in the architecture.

Good renovation work is not always about adding something new. sometimes its about uncovering and restoring the qualities that made a space special to begin with.

Design: | Builder: | Millwork: | Photography:

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Waterloo, ON
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