Urban Studio

Home Additions
Toronto ON M4L 3Z6
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Reviews for Urban Studio

Average customer rating:
9.7 10 (56 reviews)

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Stacey in Toronto
Stacey in Toronto
5 reviews Old Toronto, ON
10/10

Century Home Renovation

I hired Urban Studio to renovate the 2nd floor of my century home, which included a full gut, update of all electrical, plumbing and HVAC, the removal of two walls and shifting the kitchen to a new location. Joseph and team were incredibly efficient, finishing the renovation 4 weeks ahead of schedule. Im very satisfied with their work and would recommend them highly for anyone looking to renovate their home.

Approximate cost of services:
$152,000.00
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Company Response

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. It's wonderful to hear that you're satisfied and we are delighted that Joseph and our team could deliver the project ahead of schedule. If there's anything else we can assist you with or any other feedback you'd like to share, feel free to let us know!

Howard  from Toronto
Howard from Toronto
3 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

House Renovation: First and Second Floors

We highly recommend Urban Studio for your home renovation. We renovated the entire first and second floors of our house except the kitchen and bathroom. Here are the key considerations:
1. The price quoted in the contract was firm. There were no additional costs.
2. The work was completed two weeks ahead of schedule.
3. Joseph was a very good Project Manager. He was knowledgeable, efficient, and always ready to answer our questions.
We contacted three other renovation companies for the project, but Urban Studio was by far the best.
Thanks also to Tasha, the interior designer, for her advice, and Ana, the administrator.

Approximate cost of services:
$165,700.00
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Company Response

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience and feedback on our renovation services. We're thrilled to hear you're satisfied with the results, and we appreciate your kind words. We're also grateful for your acknowledgment of Tasha, our interior designer, and Ana, They both play important roles in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for our clients. If you ever have any further questions or require assistance please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to assist you.

Janelle from East York
Janelle from East York
2 reviews Toronto, ON
9/10

Main Floor Reno

I found Urban Studio via HomeStars and can say that thusfar, I have been happy with their consultation service!

Their project manager, Joseph, has been very transparent and honest about the different options we have and what we can expect with the project moving forward. He provided us with a clear schedule on deliverables and cost, including the designs on proposed work on our main floor. I really appreciate his ability to come up with a proposal that both meets our needs and our current budget. He has also been very patient in the process as we did take some time to carefully review our alternatives and always made time to go over any questions we had.

We're excited for the renos to start in January and look forward to the main floor and upstairs bathoom transformation!

Approximate cost of services:
$115,000.00
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Company Response

We are thrilled you have been happy with our consultation and design services. It’s our goal to ensure that our clients are well informed and comfortable with their renovation projects, and your feedback on Joseph's efforts in providing you with different options and clear cost breakdowns reaffirms that we are on the right track. We are pleased that Joseph was able to create a proposal that aligns with both your needs and budget. Our team is excited to start the renovations in January. We are committed to ensuring the process goes smoothly and that you are thrilled with the final results. We look forward to delivering exceptional results and exceeding your expectations.

Ivan in Toronto
Ivan in Toronto
0 reviews Toronto, ON
8/10

Impressive tranformation

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing a full renovation of my house, and I must say it has been quite the journey. The transformation was nothing short of impressive, and I'm generally satisfied with the results. Here's a breakdown of my review:

Design and Layout (5/5): The design team did an excellent job in helping us modernizing and optimizing the layout of our home. They managed to create an open-concept living space that feels more spacious and functional than ever before. We went from a bungalow with not livable basement to a two story house with finished basement.

Quality of Work (3.5/5): The quality of the renovation work was generally good. The contractors paid attention to detail, and it's evident in the finish. There were a few minor hiccups along the way, however these were promptly addressed, but it did cause a bit of inconvenience.

Communication (3.5/5): Communication with the renovation team could have been better. There were times when I had to follow up on the project's progress, and it would have been reassuring to receive more frequent updates without prompting. Clearer timelines and expectations would have improved the overall experience.

Cost and Value (4.5/5): The renovation was a significant investment, but I believe it added substantial value to my property. The cost was within the budget we had set, and I appreciated that there were no hidden fees. However, I would have liked a more detailed breakdown of expenses.

Timeline (3.5/5): The project took longer than initially estimated, which was frustrating at times. It would have been beneficial to have a more realistic timeline from the start, considering the scope of the renovation.

Customer Service (4/5): The customer service was courteous and professional. The project manager was responsive to my concerns and worked to resolve issues promptly. They were patient in addressing my questions and providing guidance throughout the renovation process.

Overall Satisfaction (4/5): Despite some hiccups and minor issues, I am overall satisfied with the full renovation of my house. The transformation is impressive, and my home now feels like a modern, comfortable space that I'm proud to live in. With a few improvements in communication and timeline management, the experience could have been even better.

In conclusion, I would recommend Urban Studio to others looking to transform their homes, but I would advise being proactive in communication and setting realistic expectations regarding project timelines specially if you have to rent while the house is ready. The end result is undoubtedly worth the effort and investment.

Approximate cost of services:
$600,000.00
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Company Response

Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed review of your experience with us. We appreciate your feedback and are delighted to hear about your overall satisfaction with the transformation of your home. We're especially pleased that you found our design team services to be impressive. Designing and Building a two-story house with a finished basement from a bungalow is indeed a significant achievement, and we're thrilled that you are pleased with the outcome.

We appreciate your ratings, Your feedback highlights an area where we can enhance our services. We understand there were some minor hiccups along the way, and we apologize again for any inconvenience they may have caused. Your suggestions are duly noted and will be considered for future projects.

Your positive feedback in regards to the “firm price” and “no hidden charges” is greatly appreciated. We’re pleased to hear that you found the cost and value of the renovation to be satisfactory. We're also thrilled to hear that you found our customer service to be courteous and professional. Our team is dedicated to addressing concerns promptly and providing guidance throughout the renovation process. Regarding communication, we apologize for any lapses. Your feedback highlights an area where we can enhance our services, and we will work diligently to provide more frequent updates and clearer timelines for future projects.

Thank you again for your valuable feedback. We are committed to enhancing our services and ensuring that future projects run even smoother. We wish you many happy years in your newly renovated home!

Christina in Barrie
Christina in Barrie
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Home Addition and Renovation

I am thrilled to share my experience with Urban Studio, a design and build company that was highly recommended to us by a family friend who had previously undertaken an addition project with them. In our pursuit of a suitable contractor for our project, we did a careful research and deliberation, engaging in discussions with not just Urban Studio, but also two other local contractors in our area. After comparing quotes and assessing our overall comfort level, we confidently chose to move forward with Urban Studio. Looking back, I can confidently say that this decision has left us entirely content and pleased with the final outcome.

Our Toronto residence, is an older home that demanded extensive renovations. The project was thoughtfully divided into two distinct stages, each with its own set of challenges and goals. The initial stage was the critical task of underpinning the existing basement, and also expanding the basement towards our backyard. The subsequent phase, stage two, construction of a two-story addition that seamlessly integrated with our main and second floors, effectively expanding our living space.

Throughout the journey, Joseph and his team exhibited a level of professionalism and expertise that resonated with us. The transparent communication, and skillful execution of each stage of the work all contributed to a renovation experience that was remarkably smooth, given the complexity of the project. Joes familiarity with working on older homes, like ours, was evident and very reassuring. His commitment to client satisfaction, and exceptional management skills makes him an standout choice. Urban Studio left us with an experience that defied the stereotypes often associated with renovation projects.

The fixed-price agreement gave us a profound sense of reassurance throughout the entire project, Knowing that there wouldn't be any unexpected costs or surprise expenses.

If you're in search of a company, Urban Studios track record of delivering exceptional results, sets them apart from others in the industry. Thank you Joseph and Urban Studio.

Approximate cost of services:
$600,000.00
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Company Response

We are absolutely delighted to read your heartfelt review of your experience with Urban Studio. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback. First and foremost, we extend our sincere gratitude for choosing Urban Studio as your design and build partner for your extensive renovation project.

Word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients like your family friend mean the world to us, and they reaffirm our commitment to delivering exceptional results. Your careful research and deliberation in selecting the right contractor for your project show your dedication to making the best choice, and we're honored that you chose us. Your kind words about Joseph are greatly appreciated. Reviews like yours motivate us to continue striving for excellence in every project we undertake. Once again, thank you for choosing Urban Studio.

Jane Lawrence in Toronto
Jane Lawrence in Toronto
0 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Major Renovation

We hired Urban Studio to do a major renovation of our home in Leslieville. (complete gut of main floor and second floor). We are very happy with the quality of the work and the new space. Joseph is very knowledgeable. He ensured our project was completed effectively. He is responsive and quick to resolve any issues. He offered insightful ideas during the project on what to upgrade and made sure we were satisfied with the work completed.

The team is very professional and organized with a thorough planning process. Our project progressed according to schedule with regular updates and progress reports on weekly bases. However, we had some delays, The 4 months timeline turned to be 6 months but after voicing our concerns about the situation, Joseph explained that some of the delays are due to extra work weve requested, but he agreed to split the two months of delays and cover one month of rent for our temporary rental unit. Joseph have a very high standard for his work which my husband and I greatly appreciated. We are pleased to write this review recommending him and his team with no hesitation.

Approximate cost of services:
$300,000.00
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Company Response

Your kind words about our team mean a lot to us and it's wonderful to know that you found Joseph's knowledge and commitment to be valuable to your project. We also appreciate your understanding regarding the delays. It's great to hear that the resolution to split the two months of delays and cover one month of your rental unit helped to alleviate some of the inconvenience. We truly enjoyed working with you and your husband on this project, Thank you for choosing Urban Studio for your renovation, and we wish you many years of enjoyment in your beautifully renovated home.

Christian in Scarborough
Christian in Scarborough
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Design and Build

Construction can be a daunting proposition so it was very important for my family to find people whom we can trust with our home. We feel very lucky that we found Joseph and his team exceeded our expectations.

We embarked on a second floor addition and a full renovation of our bungalow. Urban Studio helped us design and apply for city permits for the work both inside and outside our property. They are professional, respectful, kind and most importantly trustworthy. Joseph helped us to make decisions and few times helped us change our minds when needed. He is very punctual and easy to work with.

Looking out window we often see cars stopping to take pictures of the house! We are thankful for our well-constructed home. Thank you everyone at Urban Studio.

I would like to wholeheartedly recommend Joseph the gentlemen who runs this company as he worked tirelessly to deliver high quality workmanship and making sure my family is happy and satisfied.

Approximate cost of services:
$750,000.00
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Company Response

Christian thank you so much for your kind words. We are thrilled by your feedback and thankful that we had the opportunity to work with you and your lovely family.

Lorrie in Toronto
Lorrie in Toronto
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Our Leaside home remodeling

My husband and I been contemplating on remodeling our house for few years. We wanted to make the main area completely open concept and add addition at the back to increase our living space on both floors.

After interviewing many contractors we chose Urban Studio based on their understanding of our ideas in the initial consultation. Joseph and his team listened to our ideas and what we wanted, and made valuable and creative. The quotation they provided included a firm price and milestone payment schedule which secured our confidence.

This was a large project and from the start, they arranged all the architectural drawings, permits needed for the project. As the construction phase started, Joseph made us feel at ease and communicated to us on weekly bases. The entire crew at Urban Studio were courteous and respectful of our family. During the project, we came across a number of unexpected surprises which they repaired without an extra charge.

The project finished on time, within the budget and today we have a modernized open concept home which looks amazing! We will be using Joseph and his team again in future and highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a reliable and trust worthy company.

Approximate cost of services:
$500,000.00
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Company Response

Thank you Lorraine for taking the time to write us this fantastic review! It is definitely rewarding to hear your kind words. It was a pleasure working with you and your family. We sincerely hope that you and your lovely family will enjoy your newly renovated home this summer and for many years to come!

Private User
Private User
Private User reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Bungalow Build Up

We have decided to expand our current bungalow in North York and have interviewed 6 different contractors. Most came within a similar quote, a couple much higher and a couple much lower than expected, some seemed organized and others not so much. Joseph and team seem to be the right balance of a one stop shop between design and contractor as well as pricing right in the middle of the others in terms of quote. More importantly is an emphasis on doing the renovation the right way, detailed, not rushing, while listening to our concerns throughout the design process to help us not only get what we want but guide us to keep us within our budget.

Dena (architect) is creative and provides great solutions to design and keeps the homes design flow top of mind which is important to us. As a Realtor I see A LOT of new and old homes that are poorly designed and this holds back their value and livability. Joseph & Dena are being patient with us as they realize this part of the process is important to us as well as the outcome of the project. Most of the work, the back and forth needs to be done before the build has begun so as to negate any suprises and not all contractors have this type patience.

Joseph is a great problem solver and at times when required suggests alternative, creative ideas to help us achieve what we want. It's obvious he cares about the outcome of the project as he prides his work.

In the first couple months we have worked with Urban Studio to start designing our home we are very happy with our decision and highly recommend working with them for anyone looking to do a home renovation. We will be updating this review when our home is completed. Thank you Joseph, Dena and Urban Studio team

Approximate cost of services:
$100.00
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Company Response

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and for your kind words Gus! We are pleased to hear you are happy with your experience thus far. We look forward to the construction phase of your new home!

Jen
Jen
0 reviews Toronto, ON
10/10

Workers Cottage Top-Up, Gut and Underpin

We recently completed our renovation with Urban Studio and were very pleased with the end result. We purchased our 1913 workers cottage with the intent of renovating it as it was in dire need of some love and modern conveniences. The one storey structure had beautiful 10-foot ceilings and was on a nice sized lot but we needed more space for our growing family. Urban Studio assisted us through the design, a very iterative process, where I was able to infuse my vision into every square inch of what we wanted for our "new" home. We went from a one-storey 1 bedroom + den and 1.5 bath house to a two-storey 3 bedroom (+1) and 3.5 bath house. We gutted the main floor, underpinned our basement to 8 foot ceilings (previously 6 foot) and added a brand new second storey addition. Throughout the process Joseph was very hands-on and responsive to our needs and concerns. He was also very patient as I was a very hands-on client and was regularly at the house doing site checks and quality control/ contract administration. I had a very specific vision in mind for our home and Joseph and the Urban Design team helped execute exactly what I wanted, bringing my vision to life.

We chose to renovate during COVID and while this brought a set of challenges (material cost increases, etc.) Joseph was very communicative and oftentimes took on any additional costs to see our project through to the finish line. We had anticipated a 36-week construction timeline and he pushed the team to maintain our timelines despite the uncertainties and material challenges throughout the pandemic. At the end of the project, we only had a 4-week delay which is near perfect if you've ever undertaken a construction project of this magnitude.

Joseph kept us up-to-date on all things going on at the house, and took time out of his busy schedule to arrange for face-to-face meetings at the house on a bi-weekly and at times weekly basis. He provided a list of many suppliers which served as a great basis/ starting point for sourcing materials (flooring, tile, vanities, baseboard, moulding, etc.) and we had a great experience with many of his trades (particularly his fine finishing carpenters Rezo and team who were absolutely incredible and very open to building items I had hand sketched).

Joseph's kitchen designers were amazing and very responsive to my vision. They not only delivered exactly what I was looking for but worked with me in their warehouse to design the perfect shaker cabinet fronts, custom cutting a shallow depth front. The cabinetry is very high-end and amazing quality, all soft close and wonderful built-in garbage, recycle and composting solutions. They were also open to my suggestions and accommodated all of my kitchen requests. The kitchen designer also built our living room built-ins and front entryway bench and shaker shelving. They took my hand sketches and turned them into beautiful, high-end pieces that add so much character and charm to our home.

Everything in our home is exactly how we wanted it to be and I was able to flex my passion for design while being supported by knowledgable trades. As with every construction project, there will always be unexpected things you encounter but Joseph was quick to inform us and support us in pivoting our design to accommodate any changes. If you're not comfortable taking the design lead, Joseph is also very knowledgable and can provide his depth of experience to assist in decision making. If there is something that you want and you are clear in your expectations, he will ensure your vision is brought to life.

Following our move in, Joseph has also been very responsive in "fixing" any small details we may have missed, and was quick to send out trades to complete my check-list of items. He also provides a 5-year warranty on his services so we can sleep easy knowing that he will be there to support us down the line if anything comes up.

Things to keep in mind if you plan on signing the dotted line:
- Go check out Joseph's work and follow-up with his references. He provided us with a long list and it helped us make the decision to go with him. See projects in every phase/stage of design so you know what to expect and so you also get to see his workmanship throughout each stage of the project
- Be sure to purchase your fixtures and finishes in advance so you're able to find exactly what you want (lighting, bathroom fixtures). Having these ready to go will avoid any rushed purchases
- Find precedents of what you like (Pinterest, Instagram, etc.) so these can guide your design and decisions throughout the process
- Know that you will hit a point of decision fatigue, make sure you have thought through the details in advance so you're prepared to make decisions promptly

All in all we are so pleased with the outcome of our project. We have received so many compliments from neighbours and passersby and oftentimes look out our window to find people admiring our new home.

Thank you to Joseph and the Urban Design Studio team for being so great to work with, I know I wasn't the easiest client but they were patient, friendly and delivered on everything I dreamed.

Approximate cost of services:
$550,000.00
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Company Response

Hi Jen, thank you for sharing your entire experience from start to finish. As you mentioned, renovating during COVID came with some obstacles and challenges, but we are pleased that you are now enjoying your brand new home! Happy to hear we could provide the love that your home needed in order to shine!

The reviews on this page are the subjective opinion of the Author and not of HomeStars Inc.

More about Urban Studio

Urban Studio specializes in large-scale renovations and home addition projects. With a core focus on some of the older neighborhoods of Toronto such as Leaside, Davisville, The Beach, Upper Beaches, Leslieville, and the surrounding East York neighborhood, We are a full-service company working with you from conception to completion. Each project is managed by one of our professional project managers who work with each client one-on-one from start to finish to obtain the best results above industry standards.

CATEGORIES
Home Additions, Builders, General Contractors, Design/Build, and Architects
SERVICES
Home Additions, Full Residential Renovations
SPECIALITIES
Home Additions
WEBSITE
https://urbanstudio.design
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2010
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
30
RETURN POLICY
N/A
PAYMENT METHOD
Cheque, Money order
LICENSES
Licensed contractor
MEMBERSHIPS
BILD, RenoMark, Houzz
LIABILITY INSURANCE
Yes
DIPLOMAS
PhD Urban Planning
WORKERS COMPENSATION
Yes
PROJECT MINIMUM
$150,000
BONDED
Yes
WRITTEN CONTRACT
Yes
WARRANTY TERMS
Labour: 5 years, Roofing: 10 yrs
Company profile information is not moderated by HomeStars. Ask the contractor to verify before hiring.