Posts by Mark Ashton
How to Choose Paint Colours for Contrast and Safety
Accent Walls Usually paint colours are selected on the basis of personal choice along with how they interact with other elements in the home. Does the paint work well with the flooring, the tiles in the bathroom, or the furniture? Some of our clients here in Toronto also attach a mood to their paint colours.…
+ Read MoreWhat to Expect When Renovating During Covid-19
Significant Changes to Renovations On May 19, 2020 the Province of Ontario will be lifting ALL restrictions on construction. When speaking with CBC Toronto News on May 14, 2020 Ashton Renovations shared 4 major changes you will now see during Covid-19 on most job sites and your renovations. Physical Distancing of Trades In order to…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovatons Covid-19 Update
Our Priority With the current situation we are all living through, the health and safety of our clients, contractors, and employees is our utmost priority. Current Status (Revised November 21, 2020) As of Monday, November 23, 2020 Toronto will once again move to Lockdown in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Ashton Renovations…
+ Read MoreHow to Renovate Your Condo Bathroom: When you Want to Sell!
Focus on What Your Buyer Will Want Begin with the end in mind, as bathroom design and renovations in Toronto have become a matter of very personal taste. There are so many products and designs to choose from, and by fixing up your bathroom to sell with too many personal elements, you may discourage some…
+ Read MoreToronto IKEA Kitchen Installations
IKEA Kitchen Planning The first step to planning out your IKEA kitchen is to select the style. All that’s required here is to decide on the door/drawer style. After that IKEA has an online planner, where you can design your kitchen, or you can call us. We have over 20 years experience designing and ordering…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Wins NKBA 2nd Place for Best Bathroom
Last Saturday, February 8, 2020 the NKBA held its Gala Celebration to honour the 2020 Design Competition Winners in Toronto. This year the theme was “winter wonderland” and guests of over 300 members gathered among colleagues for great food, stories, and music. It’s always a lot of fun to get together with the other designers…
+ Read MoreInterior Design Show Toronto 2020 Best Products
We visited the IDS 2020 in Toronto to connect with some of our suppliers and also seek out other interesting local products and design ideas. This year we discovered 7 awesome products that will help with any home renovation, or improvement project including your kitchen and bathroom. Akustus Sound Panelling We renovate a lot of…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Featured in National Post: Ten Things to Consider When Renovating Your Home in Toronto
3D Renderings Help Communicate a Vision of Your Kitchen & Bathroom
Chief Architect/3D Max Using the technology of design software to create a visual interpretation of your kitchen and bathroom helps EVERYBODY, including the trades who require a set of drawings/instructions. Specifications are much needed sources of information, but what better way to communicate your vision that an actual image of the finished product. Almost ANY…
+ Read More5 Tips for Renovating Small Bathrooms in Toronto
1. Install a Stand Alone Tub Some of the bathrooms we encounter are just too small for a shower. A standalone tub with a faucet attached to the deck is a great alternative and looks fantastic. This type of bathing experience can be rejuvenating and certainly luxurious, and the time it will take to fill…
+ Read More4 Tips for Making Things Easier at Home
There are many new products & innovations available on the market that we here at Ashton Renovations again want to share with you. Some of them are brand new, like flo by Moen, and others are fairly recent, like the Kanto TV mounts. They all have been shown to be truly fantastic on our recently renovated projects in Toronto. Please…
+ Read MoreDid You Know the Dishwasher was Invented in 1886?
In Shelbyville, Ohio, Josephine Garis Cochran was the first person to build a working dishwasher. Tired of her chipped china, she began working in her shed putting together a frame to hold dishes, cups, and saucers. These were then placed on a wheel and would circulate using a motor while soapy water squirted up. On…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Featured in Reno & Decor Magazine Apr/May 2019
As part of the NKBA Design Competition, Reno & Decor Magazine publishes the winners every spring, and we are again proud to be mentioned along with all the other wonderful fellow design winners. Our Downtown Toronto Condo Bathroom took 2nd place in the small bathroom category, and details of that renovation can be found here.…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Wins 2019 NKBA 2nd Place for Small Bathroom, and Nominated for People’s Choice Award for Best Kitchen in Toronto
The yearly NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) Design Competition Gala was held this past February in Vaughan and was a blast! The best of the best in our industry attended, and it was wonderful to experience all the innovative designs and award wining projects. As always, having an opportunity to talk with other designers…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations in Toronto Receives 6th Best of Houzz Award 2019
Ashton Renovations is proud to say that this is the 6th straight year we have won Best Of Houzz for Service. We value our clients’ feedback and appreciate all the time they take to visit Houzz and review us for others to see. It’s a fantastic site, and we encourage our clients to search through and get great ideas…
+ Read MoreOpen Concept Kitchen Design On The Toronto Danforth
Over the years we have renovated many kitchens in the Toronto area. This featured kitchen in Parkview Hills, is pretty much a representation of the typical layout seen in the older homes on the Danforth. Original footprints usually have a dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room at the back of the house,…
+ Read MoreAdd An Easy Track Closet Organizer To Your Toronto Renovaton
Having an organized closet is essential to saving time and reducing the daily stress of getting dressed in the morning. When you know where everything is you will start to find the things you want, dress better, and look great. And an organized closet is a wonderful thing to look at. Ashton Renovations…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Now Certified Toronto Installer Of Nuheat Heated Floors
Ashton Renovations is now a certified installer of Nuheat heated flooring. With this comes an automatic 25 YEAR WARRANTY with all installed products. This includes Nuheat’s Signature Thermostat that works with NEST, as well as their cable & membrane heated flooring systems with Ditra Heat. With years of countless successful heated flooring installations, Ashton…
+ Read MoreChief Architect 3D Viewer Can Help Visualize Your Renovation In Toronto
Using Chief Architect’s 3D Viewer is part of Ashton Renovations’ planning and design process. This interactive model can be viewed on a phone, tablet, or webpage and is a great way to really see what your finished project will look like. Chief Architect is the leading software designer for the Kitchen & Bath Industry and…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations In Toronto Receives 5th Best Of Houzz Award 2018
Ashton Renovations is proud to say that this is the 5th straight year we have won Best Of Houzz For Service. We value our clients’ feedback and appreciate all the time they take to visit Houzz and review us for others to see. It’s a fabulous site, and we encourage our clients to search through…
+ Read MoreWhat’s The Best Way To Ensure Your Toronto Renovation Goes Smoothly?
The best way to address this question is to first assess what the most common complaints homeowner’s have regarding their renovations. And they usually fall within the FIVE categories listed below: Faulty Work/Poor Workmanship Unskilled Workers Construction Delays Runaway Costs, or Over Budget Lack of Selections So what do you do? How…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Now Certified Pro Wedi Installer For Curbless Showers In Toronto
Ashton Renovations is now certified to install ALL Wedi products for your bathroom needs. Although somewhat new to the North American market, Wedi has been available in Europe, based from Germany, for over 30 years. Its waterproofing is incorporated into its foam properties rather than as an applied membrane, which has advantages. It is also…
+ Read MoreAmazing Legrand Electrical Switches, Outlets, Timers, and Nightlight Upgrades In Toronto To Try Right Now
When renovating your home in Toronto consider upgrading your electrical devices that will both look more beautiful and create more functionality. Legrand offers a wide variety of devices not offered in years past including bettering night lighting, USB outlets, timers and switches. These little details will transform your home and bring enjoyment with each…
+ Read MoreCustomizable Shower Technology. U By Moen For Your Toronto Bathroom
Adding Home Automation elements to your home is pretty important. It can provide a whole set of ease of use solutions. There are the obvious choices such a Nest products and lights controlled by your phone with Apps, but what about your shower? For years digital thermostats have been available. They mostly were quite…
+ Read MoreWood Decorative Wall Panels By Finium For Your Toronto Renovation
Adding elements of nature into your home with light, water, colour, and stone can prove to be calming and reduce stress. This can also be achieved by adding the natural element of wood. Real wood with it’s texture, colour, and real natural feel can have a dramatic impact in any room. …
+ Read MoreBathroom Upgrades That Will Make Your Toronto Renovation Stand Out
It’s great to get a new bathroom with updated fixtures and tiles, but adding a few upscale items can make that space more comfortable and useful. Here are a few to be considered that are quite popular. Legrand Wall Plates, Switches & Plugs – This is a very simple and cost effective…
+ Read MoreRadiant Heating Panels For Your Bathroom Renovation In Toronto
Warmly Yours ember radiant heating panels are an excellent accessory to add to your bathroom. It can also be added to many other renovated spaces. Perhaps the nicest spot is behind, or to the side, of your soaker tub, where the air can be warmed and you may enjoy in greater comfort.
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Now Offering Concore Kitchen Cabinetry In Toronto
Ashton Renovations is excited to offer exceptionally made cabinetry from Concore in Markham. Concore offers stock cabinetry available in 3 colours at exceptional prices to contractors. As they are a stock item, there are no long order delays usually associated with other types of similar cabinets. Features of this cabinetry line that…
+ Read MoreChief Architect 3D Bathroom Renderings
Ashton Renovations can offer you a full perspective of your new bathroom renovation, beyond your typical floor plan using Chief Architect, the industry standard for 3D Architectural Renderings. Now you can see your dreams realized, in detail. Elevations along with floor plans are also useful documents to visualize height measurements and better assist with…
+ Read MoreGreat Cooking Tools For Your New Kitchen
Every new beautiful kitchen needs a new set of tools. And these two products are recommended after testing by our staff. Misto, and Analon pots and pans. Both are available at any local Toronto Bed, Bath, & Beyond location. Here is why we like them so much: Misto is a gourmet…
+ Read MoreChoosing A Colour The Easier Way For Your Renovation
For many years, the typical way colours have been chosen for you home are as follows: go to the store, look at swatches, imagine what they might look like in your room, and then hope for the best that you like it once your space is painted. If you are lucky, sometimes swatches are…
+ Read MoreA Kitchen Sink That Will Make Your Life A Lot Easier
The Galley Workstation is probably the most versatile kitchen upgrade you can make. What makes this sink so unique are the integrated accessories that allow you set them into the sink and slide them over and under each other without having to remove them. They include a cutting board, colander, bowl, and drying rack, which…
+ Read MoreThe Ultimate Shower Rainhead Experience From Kohler At KBIS 2017
Ashton Renovations visited KBIS & IBS in Orlando this week, where suppliers from all across North America showcased many of their innovative products and services. By far the most exciting product was from Kohler. The “Real Rain” shower experience rainhead. This product will be available soon and is available in a variety of trim…
+ Read MoreShower Niches For Your Toronto Bathroom
Adding a niche to your shower is becoming a very popular and practical choice. No longer do you need to add unsightly after market products to your shower walls. And often these units either rust, get incredibly dirty, and leave holes drilled into your tile. Adding a niche begins with installing a Schluter…
+ Read MorePhilips Hue LED Lighting For Your Toronto Home Renovation
Philips Hue is a personal LED wireless lighting system. At Ashton Renovations, we think it is a must for your home. It allows you to control as many lights in the home as you wish. You can dim them, add scenes with colour and moods, place lights in pretty much any area you can…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Featured In Toronto HomeStars Photo Of The Day
Ashton Renovations has been featured on HomeStars photo of the day. The photo features our laundry room completed this year in the Toronto Don Mills area.
+ Read MoreRustic Wood Tile Look For Your Bathroom in Toronto
Porcelain tile manufacturers have come a long way to make their tiles look like just about anything they want. They have done an excellent job in emulating the look of stone, and now they have accomplished the same with wood. So if you are trying to get the look of wood in areas of your…
+ Read MoreCustom Kitchen IKEA Drawers And Doors in Toronto
Ashton Renovations is proud to announce that we have access to suppliers who provide retrofit solutions for IKEA Akurum and Sektion drawers and doors. These retrofit solutions will guarantee a custom look for your kitchen whether it’s modern, or classy. Our suppliers can customize almost every single style of their five-piece doors, or slab style…
+ Read MoreSchluter Kerdi Decorative Drain Replacements For Your Toronto Bathroom
Introducing Designer Drain’s decorative Schluter Kerdi drain replacements. It’s better looking and comes in 8 different categories. Ashton Renovations recommends you replace your basic Schluter Kerdi Drain for Designer Drain’s decorative drain replacements. These inspirational drains are perfect for someone who wants better decor. Whether you want a classic look, an oceanic look, a nature…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Featured In Toronto’s Reno & Decor
Reno & Decor magazine has featured Ashton Renovations as part of the display of National Kitchen & Bath Association Ontario Chapter winners of best design for 2016. The article features Ashton’s best small bath design. Many other wonderful winning kitchens and bathrooms are displayed as well.
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Winner of 2016 NKBA Best Small Bathroom
Mark Ashton, AKBD, B.A., B.A.S. of Ashton Renovations in Toronto has won the 1st place prize for best small bathroom from the National Kitchen And Bath Association. The award was given at the NKBA awards Gala on April 9th. The bathroom was completed in the fall of 2015 in Rosedale Toronto and features a traditional…
+ Read MoreYale Real Living Touch Deadbollt For Your Toronto Home
Ashton Renovations recommends Yale touch locks for our clients. Not only is it more convenient as a key is no longer needed to enter the home, access can be gained through your smart phone. You can also be notified when the door is opened and wether your house is locked.
+ Read MoreToronto Kitchen & Main Floor Renovation In Little Italy
The objective of this Toronto Renovation was to create a main floor open concept family area. The growing family of this home wanted contemporary design with aspects of traditional elements, which were present. Some of the design challenges involved the original structure, which required support including the opening of a masonry wall through to the…
+ Read More10 Tips for Bathroom Renovations in Toronto
1. USE QUALITY PRODUCTS No matter how good the craftsman, if they don’t have quality materials to work with, it’s impossible to construct a functioning, durable, and eye pleasing bathroom. Products for your bathroom should be well constructed, designed properly, suitable for the intended use, and all work well together. Make sure styles and finishes…
+ Read MoreAshton Renovations Toronto Pool Deck 3D Rendering
This photo truly represents what you can really do with Chief Architect. Another job that is going to look great using TREX! This program will allow us to create any type of project you can imagine, whether it is a bathroom, kitchen, or whole house interior, we can create it! Exactly as described, is exactly…
+ Read MoreOXO Stronghold Suction – Great for your Toronto Bathroom
Aside from installing a niche in a shower, which can be expensive and requires the entire shower, or bath to be waterproofed, the Good Grips by OXO we have found to be an excellent product for our Toronto Bathroom Renovation clients. They adhere to the bathroom walls exceptionally and are durable and easy to clean.…
+ Read MoreTorlys Ultimate Flooring In Toronto – Smart EverWood & EverTile!
Introducing Torlys Smart EverWood and EverTile! Your ultimate flooring. It beautiful, durable, and waterproof. We found this product at Ashton Renovations to be amazing on our projects. Why? WATERPROOF! Top layer and core are both impervious to prevent water damage. WARM! Warm to the touch with CorkPlus attached cork underlay DURABLE! Ultra-thick .5mm wear…
+ Read MoreMark Ashton Now Certified Toronto Kitchen & Bath Designer
Mark Ashton earlier this fall attained the designation of Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. This designation, which is recognized across Canada and the United States, will allow Ashton Renovations in Toronto to provide design services. Our in house estimating will be available with planning and design using Chief…
+ Read MoreTouchless toilet perfect for your Toronto Bathroom Renovation
There are many products that come on the market. We are always encouraged by innovation on our Toronto renovations, but we have to be careful. Some seem good at the time, but they aren’t tested long term, and can lead to problems. However, Kohler has come up with a great new product. And we trust…
+ Read MoreThe Weirdest House Renovation I’ve Ever Seen in Toronto
There is a lot of modern home renovations going on in Toronto right now. Some of them look pretty amazing, although they may not be in keeping with the neighbourhood. Standing out too much may lead to issues later. It’s always a good idea to build your home, or do any renovation, with recognized styles…
+ Read More