
In-house design and build
Layout, materials, technical work and site coordination line up from day one, which means faster communication and fewer surprises.
Kitchen renovation · Markham, York Region
We design and build kitchens across Markham, from Unionville to Markham Village, where we usually find subdivisions from the 1970s onward around 19th-century village cores. Before pricing anything, we measure what the walls and plumbing allow.


RoomTownhouse kitchen, North York
DetailWaterfall quartz over walnut
What’s included
A Markham kitchen is four parts of one job, planned together. Where the layout moves plumbing or a wall, the first drawing already allows for a permit from the City of Markham Building Standards Department.

Where you prep, how people move around the island and how storage should work, all decided before anything is built.

Slim Shaker doors, modern slab fronts or detailed trim, laid out for everyday use with clean proportions.

Quartz, porcelain and other durable surfaces, chosen for wear, upkeep and looks, with every edge and seam planned in advance.

Layered lighting and practical switch planning, with the wiring brought up to what modern appliances and islands need.
How it runs
Four stages, each finished before the next begins, with you informed throughout.
We learn how you use the kitchen and what the house allows. 1 wk, from week 0.
We help you pick cabinets, counters, backsplash, flooring and lighting. 3 to 4 wks, from week 1.
From demolition on, each phase is scheduled and managed daily. 4 to 6 wks, from week 4.
Alignment, touch-ups and cleaning, then a final walkthrough with you. 1 wk, from week 8.
One project manager, start to finish
Timings are typical. Hatching marks where a step can run longer. Each job gets its own schedule.
Why Nuance
Design and construction stay with one team, so every decision is made with both in mind.

Layout, materials, technical work and site coordination line up from day one, which means faster communication and fewer surprises.

We show you where the money does the most, whether that is cabinetry, countertops, lighting, appliances or flooring, and where to save.

Clear scheduling and daily supervision at every stage, with $5 million liability insurance and WSIB coverage.

Cabinet alignment, even grout, clean edges, balanced lighting and tidy transitions between materials: the details that decide how refined a kitchen feels.
Client reviews
Google reviews from the homeowners and business owners we have built for.
They did a great job renovating my bathroom and creating one in my basement. Kevin was very easy to work with and was able to accommodate all our requests. Everything looks really good!
Nuance Construction did an amazing job on our custom bathroom addition on the 1st floor. The team was professional, punctual, and kept everything clean throughout the project. … They completed the work on time and within budget, which was a pleasant surprise. … The final result exceeded our expectations.
Kevin and his team helped me renovate my new home, which was done incredibly well. They're nice and easy to work with, and offered many suggestions to how my home could look like when I lack ideas. They pay good attention to details to …
I recently had the pleasure of working with Nuance Design Build for our new office renovation project, and I must say that my experience with them was nothing short of outstanding. From the initial consultation to the final walk-through, their professionalism, craftsmanship, and attention to detail were truly impressive.
Kevin and his team were instrumental to bringing my condo redesign vision to life! They were professional, knowledgeable in their trades and maintained great communication. They were a pleasure to work with and I would work with them again!
Kevin and his team completed a full renovation of our ensuite bathroom, shared bathroom, and laundry room and the results are amazing! Their craftsmanship and attention to detail really show in every part of the project. …
Just wrapped up our full home renovation with Kevin's team, what an amazing experience! Kevin and his crew made everything so easy from design to finish. The quality and craftsmanship completely exceeded our expectations. Couldn’t be happier with how our home turned out!
Thank you for turning my bathroom into one of those magazine bathrooms. Also excellent work on remove popcorn ceiling and adding pot lights.
I had an exceptional experience with the Nuance team. They were professional, transparent, and incredibly detail-oriented throughout the entire project. The workmanship was of the highest quality, communication was clear and consistent, and everything was completed on time as promised. I highly recommend Nuance Design Build for anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy partner to bring their vision to reality.
Highly recommend Kevin and his team! They recently helped us finish our sunroom, and the whole process was smooth from start to finish. He’s very knowledgeable, easy to communicate with, and has a great attitude. We’re really happy with the result.
We just finished a full home renovation with Nuance! Kevin and his team made the whole process smooth—from design ideas to picking materials. The craftsmanship and quality blew us away. My wife and I couldn’t be happier with the results!
Kevin and his team are true professionals. We had a wonderful experience working with them on our home renovation. highly recommend Kevin and his team !
Kevin and his team are very professional, dedicated and easy to approach to. They can always provide the best advice based on my needs. I would definitely recommend them to my friends.
Kevin and team brought our visions to life. He understands our requests and relay the message to the team efficiently. Always ready to answer our questions/ concerns :)
I am really so much happy for the work you and your team has done there is no complaints you have great friendly people to work with keep up and wish you great success in your future Thanks 🙏
Reasonable price. All work finished on time. Efficient workers. Delivered what we expected.
01
Selected projects
Seven recent renovations across the GTA. Each one is paired with a photo from the job, taken before or during the work.


North York2026
Warm white cabinets and walnut tones suit the home’s existing dark floors. The island has waterfall edges at both ends. Custom pantry cabinetry runs into the living area behind a large pocket door, with a robot-vacuum bay and open display shelving at its centre.



GTA
Charcoal cabinetry runs floor to ceiling around a black marble island and a matching backsplash, the white-and-gold veining carried across every face. Open shelving and cream stools keep the dark room from feeling heavy.



Downtown TorontoSpring 2024
The client’s parents live on the first floor, so we rebuilt the two above it. Load-bearing structure was modified for an open plan, the laundry moved out of the kitchen, and the third-floor terrace was extended to fit a new bathroom.



Brampton2025
The owners gave the design free rein. Their basement became a lounge with a custom wet bar and a powder room, plus a nook built into the wall for the household’s cat.



UnionvilleSpring 2026
The wall around the water closet came out and the tub became a walk-in shower behind frameless glass. The double vanity, makeup desk and full-height storage are Egger shaker panels under Taj Mahal-style quartz.



UxbridgeWinter 2024
The old garage came down, a new basement was excavated beneath it and two levels went up on top: a full three-storey addition, with the garage moved to the front of the lot.



Thornhill2026
The tub came out, and the bedroom entrance moved to the exterior wall behind a pocket door. A walnut slim-shaker vanity pairs one sink with a makeup area; the shower sets a marble floor against antique-brass fixtures.

Gallery
Kitchens, ensuites, basements and additions, with the framing and steel that come before the finishes.
Tap any photo to see it full size.Drag a row to scrub through it, or open any photo full size.
29photosKitchens, baths, basements & additions
Where we work
Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions and whole-home renovations in York Region, Toronto, Peel, Halton and Durham. The rings show roughly how long the drive is from our office, outside rush hour.
4 regions
York Region
Toronto
Peel & Halton
Durham
Not on the list?
We take on projects across the Greater Toronto Area. Tell us where the house is and we’ll let you know.
Get A Free EstimateQuestions & answers
Short answers on kitchen renovation in Markham. The Markham tab covers permits, local rules and the houses themselves, and the other tabs cover cost, timing and insurance.
Only for some of the work. In Markham, new cabinets, counters and a backsplash in the same layout need no building permit. Moving a sink or a gas line, adding a window or taking out a wall does, and that permit comes from the City of Markham Building Standards Department. We prepare the paperwork and the application as part of the job.
Yes. Markham is within half an hour of our Richmond Hill office, outside rush hour, so we come out and measure the house in person, then return with a kitchen layout and a quote for the cabinetry, counters and lighting. One project manager runs the Markham job from demolition to the final walkthrough.
Plan around the house as it was built. Much of Markham is subdivisions from the 1970s onward around 19th-century village cores, and that decides how far a kitchen’s plumbing can move, whether the wall to the dining room carries the floor above and how level the floor is for new cabinets. We check all three at the first visit, before we draw a layout.
It covers layout planning, custom cabinet installation, countertops and backsplash, lighting and electrical upgrades, and flooring, all designed and built by one team. We manage every stage ourselves, from demolition and rough-in through installation, finishing and final detailing.
Yes. We plan layout changes from what we see at the site visit: how people move through the kitchen, where the appliances sit and how the room connects to the rest of the house. Moving plumbing adds cost, so those changes are decided early, with the budget in view.
We install quartz, quartzite, marble, porcelain and other durable surfaces, chosen for performance, upkeep and style. Waterfall islands, edge profiles, the sink and a backsplash that continues the counter are planned together, so the whole surface reads as one piece.
About 9 to 10 weeks from the first visit to handover. The site visit, design and material selection take the first four weeks or so, then construction runs 4 to 6 weeks, with final detailing at the end. Those are typical estimates; your scope sets the real schedule.
A straightforward kitchen update with Nuance Design Build starts around $35,000. A fully customized kitchen, with premium cabinetry, quartz, quartzite or marble counters, upgraded lighting and a new layout, often runs $45,000 to $60,000 or more. Where yours lands depends on the cabinet material (Thermofoil, painted MDF, Egger or hardwood), the countertop, any plumbing changes, flooring that runs into the next rooms, built-in appliances and the lighting design. Settling the design early keeps the budget and the build in line, so the cost stays predictable.
Design comes first. Nuance Design Build settles the design before construction starts and keeps design, budgeting and construction with one team, so the project can be priced accurately early on. We show you which elements add the most value (cabinetry, countertops, lighting, flooring transitions) and where extra spending won’t show. After the first consultation you get a detailed, transparent quote built around your priorities, with no hidden costs, and your project manager tracks the budget through construction.
Nuance Design Build visits your home. We talk about how you use the space today and what needs to change, and take the measurements needed to start the design accurately. We also look at layout options, structural limits and where the utilities run, so the project starts from a realistic direction rather than a wish list. From there we prepare a detailed, transparent quote for the full scope, worked out around your budget and priorities.
At a standard finish, a 3-piece bathroom with a tub starts from $11,900, a 3-piece with a walk-in shower from $13,500, and a 4-piece master bathroom of 60 to 100 sq ft from $17,500. Bathrooms over 100 sq ft start from $20,000. Premium and luxury finishes raise each figure. Beyond size, the price follows layout changes, plumbing relocation, tile size and material, vanity customization, waterproofing and fixture quality. In older homes, problems hidden behind the existing finishes may need fixing first.
In Toronto, a one-storey addition can start at about $300,000. Costs average around $200 per square foot and can pass $350 per square foot for more involved work. Labour, quality materials and professional design fees are the largest costs, and the addition’s size and complexity decide where it lands in that range. Nuance Design Build offers a free consultation and cost estimate, and builds the addition on a single contract, from the first idea to the occupancy permit.
Construction on a basement renovation in Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan or Toronto typically takes 6 to 10 weeks. The whole process, design and permits included, usually runs 2 to 4 months. Small cosmetic updates can finish sooner. Legal basements, secondary suites and jobs with plumbing or structural work can push construction closer to 10 to 12 weeks. Careful planning and a properly prepared permit application are what keep the schedule predictable once work begins.
Every Nuance Design Build project has a dedicated project manager who is your single point of contact. They coordinate the trades, run the schedule, oversee quality and keep you informed through demolition, rough-in, installation, finishing and the final walkthrough. You get a detailed construction schedule, updates before you have to ask, budget tracking and quality-control inspections, so you never have to chase different people for answers.
It depends on the scope and the municipality. Structural changes, additions and legal basement suites need a building permit, and the application itself can depend on where the home is. Nuance Design Build prepares the drawings and paperwork, works through the by-laws and zoning rules with the city and stays on it until the permit is approved. During construction we schedule and manage every required inspection.
A basement suite is legal in Ontario if it is a self-contained unit (a secondary dwelling unit) that meets the Ontario Building Code and local zoning by-laws and has passed municipal permit inspections. It usually needs a separate entrance, a full kitchen with proper ventilation, a 3- or 4-piece bathroom, bedrooms with egress windows, fire-rated separation between units, an independent or properly balanced HVAC system, soundproofing, ESA-certified electrical, and interconnected smoke and CO alarms. Without permits, it cannot legally be rented.
Not every basement qualifies as it stands. Before anything is designed, Nuance Design Build runs a feasibility assessment of the ceiling height, the foundation and structure, existing plumbing and electrical capacity, the HVAC system, zoning eligibility and where a separate entrance could go. Some basements need larger windows or mechanical upgrades to comply. You get an honest answer at this stage, before you commit to design or permit drawings.
Yes. Nuance Design Build is fully licensed and insured. We carry WSIB coverage and $5 million in commercial liability insurance, which protects your home and investment for the whole renovation. Every project is professionally managed, with clear scheduling, daily coordination and supervision from demolition to final detailing, so workmanship, safety and cleanliness stay consistent at every stage.
Nuance Design Build’s warranties run from 3 to 10 years, depending on the scope and category of work, so the coverage lasts well past the end of the project. Every renovation finishes with detailing, a post-construction quality inspection and a final walkthrough before handover. Legal basement conversions also come with clear documentation of the approved work and ongoing support once the unit is complete.
Nuance Design Build works in 18 cities across the GTA: Richmond Hill, where we are based, plus Vaughan, Markham, Thornhill, King City, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Brampton, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Aurora, Newmarket and Stouffville. We take on kitchens, bathrooms, basements (legal basement conversions included), home additions and full home renovations. Condo and commercial renovations are not offered yet.
Still have a question?
Ask us directlyPeople also ask
Questions people across the GTA type into a search bar before they renovate, with short answers. Search them, or open one and follow where it leads.
23questions
Custom cabinetry usually makes the biggest difference. A full-height pantry, deep drawers, integrated appliance panels, hidden waste bins, a coffee station and better corner storage all add usable space. That matters most in Toronto homes, where layouts vary widely and stock cabinets rarely fit well.
People also ask
Usually not. In many homes, more thoughtful planning does what extra space would. Working out where preparation happens, how people move around the island and how storage should work often solves what feels like a size problem.
People also ask
Quartz is the easier countertop to look after; quartzite is the pick for natural stone. Quartz is engineered, non-porous and needs no sealing. Quartzite is very hard, with natural veining, but it needs periodic sealing. Nuance installs both, plus marble and porcelain.
People also ask
For most GTA homes, yes. Finishing the basement is the most cost-effective way to add usable square footage without making the house any bigger. A legal secondary suite can also bring in monthly rent that goes toward the mortgage, and a permitted unit appeals at resale to investors, multi-generational families and buyers looking to offset carrying costs.
People also ask
Size sets the starting price. After that, the cost depends on layout changes, plumbing relocation, tile size and material, vanity customization, waterproofing requirements and fixture quality. In older Toronto homes, problems behind the existing finishes often have to be corrected first (a floor levelled, plumbing adjusted), and that adds preparation time and cost.
People also ask
Home additions in Toronto average about $200 per square foot, and more involved work can go past $350 per square foot. A one-storey addition can start at around $300,000. Most of the money goes to labour, quality materials and professional design fees, and the size and complexity of the addition decide where it falls in that range.
People also ask
Good to know
What is different about kitchens in Markham: who reviews the work, which rules apply and the houses we tend to find. Every by-law links its source.
When a Markham kitchen does need a permit, the application goes to the City of Markham Building Standards Department. It shows the new layout, the plumbing and any structural change, and an inspector checks the rough-in before the walls close.
Electrical work in Markham is filed separately, as it is across Ontario, with the Electrical Safety Authority. The ESA inspects the new island and appliance circuits as they go in.
Source: City of Markham (opens in a new tab)The kitchens we open up in Markham are in subdivisions from the 1970s onward around 19th-century village cores. Two-storey houses from the 1980s and 90s usually have enough room, so the work is a better layout, an island and storage that reaches the ceiling. In a newer house the plumbing and wiring are usually sound, and the budget goes into cabinetry, counters and lighting instead of what sits behind the walls.
Book a consultation
We visit, take the measurements and talk through what you have in mind.
Get A Free Estimate
Track record
While we build
After handover