Case Study
Full Mid-Rise Condo Renovation In The Glebe, Ottawa
A Glebe Condo Reimagining
Location: Ottawa (The Glebe)
Scope: Full mid-rise condo renovation (kitchen, living, office, finishes + fireplace refresh)
Style: Mid-Century Modern (MCM) inspired
Standout Features:
- Concrete pillar integrated into peninsula
- Sink + range moved to peninsula
- Custom glass office door
- Refinished wood-burning fireplace
- Condo board approvals + downtown logistics
Quick Summary (TL;DR)
The problem
A closed-off 1980s layout with dated finishes, limited storage, and a structural concrete pillar that restricted design options.
The big change
The technical win
We relocated the sink (about 3 feet) and moved the electric range to the peninsula while keeping the floor height consistent.
The key design decision
Warm MCM layering: natural walnut + light oak for balance, plus champagne bronze details to keep the space feeling warm and current.
The result
A brighter, more connected condo where cooking, hosting, and everyday routines feel easier—plus smarter storage that keeps counters clear.
THE BEFORE
Even with a great location, the condo didn’t support real day-to-day living.
The main frustrations were:
- A closed-off kitchen with heavy cabinetry and awkward workflow
- Dated materials throughout, including bathrooms that didn’t feel comfortable or modern
- A raw concrete pillar limiting layout flexibility (typical for mid-rise slab construction)
- A floor plan that made cooking feel isolating, especially when guests were over
THE Big Change
We reimagined the condo around one clear move: open the kitchen to the living area and make the peninsula the hub.
What we changed (at a glance)
- Removed the wall between kitchen and living to create open flow
- Built an extended peninsula that integrates the existing concrete pillar
- Moved the sink + range onto the peninsula to improve workflow
- Added a custom glass office door to pull light deeper into the condo
- Refreshed the wood-burning fireplace so it fit the new aesthetic
How We Made Decisions
As the Artium Design Build team, every choice came back to 3 things:
Real-life Function:
storage that reduces clutter and supports daily routines
Light + Flow:
an open feel without losing privacy where it matters (office)
Condo Reality:
board approvals, material restrictions, elevator scheduling, and common-area protection planned upfront
THE STRATEGY
The pillar solution (making it look intentional)
The concrete pillar wasn’t a demolition surprise—we planned around it from day one. The peninsula gave us a way to:
- conceal the post cleanly,
- gain valuable storage,
- and make the structure feel like part of the design.
The hardest part: precision. We had to ensure cabinetry fit within tight restrictions, and the countertop wrapped seamlessly around the drywall finish with no gaps.
The behind-the-walls work (sink + range moved to the peninsula)
Relocating services in a condo can get complicated fast, so we kept it smart:
- The range was electric, which is easier to relocate once walls are open.
- The sink moved roughly 3 feet, allowing us to use the existing plumbing stack rather than forcing a major reroute.
- We maintained floor height by demoing old flooring, installing a new subfloor, then finishing with floating vinyl.
Keeping the office bright (without losing privacy)
The office only had one small window, so we used a custom large glass door to:
- capture more natural light from the patio doors,
- keep visual connection in an open plan,
- and still provide privacy and better acoustics for work.
The “Aha” Moment
Not every “aha” is dramatic—sometimes it’s a detail that makes the finished space feel truly resolved.
In this project, a big turning point was realizing how much of the condo’s “heaviness” came from elements that were blocking light and flow — so the solution wasn’t just new finishes. It was improving how the space behaves: sightlines, movement, and functional storage in the zones where people actually live.
The Materials (Chosen for Real Life)
We used mid-century warmth without making the condo feel dark.
Wood tones that balance the space
- The homeowners loved natural walnut and had pieces in mind early.
- Because the condo has reduced natural light, we paired walnut with lighter oak tones to keep the palette warm but not heavy
Why champagne bronze
We used champagne bronze instead of chrome/nickel to add warmth and better match the MCM direction. In spaces with multiple wood tones, chrome can feel colder and can make surrounding finishes look dated faster.
The “After”
First use
The renovation was designed so the homeowners could cook and host without feeling boxed in—prep, cooking, and conversation can happen in the same space.
Favorite features
Two functional details that keep getting used:
- Recycling center: easy to pull out and transport down the hallway, with larger bins that don’t need constant emptying
- Oil/spice pull-outs: keeps counters clutter-free while staying within reach during cooking
The result
This condo now feels like a bright, comfortable downtown retreat where:
- The kitchen isn’t isolated from the living area
- Storage is built into the workflow (not added as an afterthought)
- Structural constraints look intentional
- The office stays connected to the light of the home
What to Keep in Mind If You’re Planning a Condo Renovation Like This
Plan for structure early
In mid-rise buildings, pillars and slab constraints are real—design around them instead of fighting them.
If you’re moving a sink, distance matters
Small moves (like ~3 feet) can sometimes keep you on the existing stack and simplify the build.
Expect board approvals and logistics to affect timeline
Material approvals, heater restrictions, elevator bookings, and protecting common areas can add weeks—sometimes months—before construction even starts.
Choose finishes for daily use
Warm metals, practical surfaces, and smart accessories often make the space feel better long after the “wow” moment.
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Proudly Serving Ottawa & Surrounding Communities
- Ottawa
- Almonte
- Kanata/Stittsville
- Kemptville
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