Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms (IKA)

My husband and I recently completely a large renovation with Michael and his team at InStyle and we are incredibly pleased with both the final result and the process. We live in Bloor West Village and we renovated our kitchen, took the wall down between the kitchen and dining room, got built in cabinets and a banquette installed in the dining room, had new hardwood floor installed throughout main floor, a gas insert for existing fireplace, re-configuration of windows and doors at the back of the house, renovated the upstairs bathroom (including enlarging it and moving the door) and got new flooring/baseboards/interior doors in the basement, plus painting throughout (including painting out old woodwork). The project was completed in 12 weeks and everything occurred exactly on the schedule Michael provided - they showed up the day they planned, something happened at the house every day and they finished when they said they would.

Michael provides very helpful guidance throughout the planning process. There are tons of decisions and it was very helpful to see his own home (which he renovated a few years ago) and some other houses he has recently completed in the neighbourhood so you can see some things in full scale (vs the small samples of countertop or backsplash). He also has practical guidance about which finishes are most durable, which handles he has seen people pick recently, etc.

On pricing, InStyle is fair but not inexpensive. We met with four other contractors in our selection process and Michael was in the midrange of the group. The quality of his work is excellent so I think overall, it’s good value.

Michael and his team are respectful of your house. They laid protective board upstairs and along the stairs (where we weren’t changing the hardwood) and did their best not to damage anything. One item that was damaged (a broken pane in a storm window), Michael took responsibility for getting it fixed.

Overall, we were incredibly happy with our renovation and would recommend working with him to anyone!

IKB did an outstanding renovation to our whole house (kitchen, bathrooms, floors, electrical, plumbing and much more). Gerry and Mike were both instrumental in helping create the house of our dreams. We can’t thank them both enough for all their hard work, expertise and patience. The craftsmanship and attention to detail that was put into the renovation was top notch. They were very prompt in addressing any questions or concerns and provided extensive knowledge to help us understand the process every step of the way. We would definitely recommend them to anyone in need of a renovation.

-Mark and Stephanie

Michael and his team did an amazingly stellar job with our home's kitchen last summer (2017).

This is why we would recommend (and hire) Michael and his team again:

- Plans were specifically designed around the unique character, structure, and taste of our home.
- Michael is literally a phone call, or text message away throughout the entire project from contract signing to post-completion check-in(s). (i.e. Communication is top notch.)
- Input and consensus is always sought after, and confirmed, before making any final decisions.
- The team is made-up of reliable, likeable, agreeable, personable, and professional (and local) workers who respect your home, and make a connection with the homeowners.
- Great sense of humour (always an added bonus).

We were very satisfied with the work from Instyle Kitchens & Bathrooms, and look forward to (hopefully) working with Michael and his team, again

It was a easy experience having Michael and his team completely renovate our main bathroom(Sept 2016). We stayed in the house during construction and the intrusion was kept very minimal. All areas were well sealed to prevent dust and dirt, stairs and floor areas were protected to avoid damage.
We did a lot of our own research but Michael was helpful with the final selections, even taking us to pick out all our fixtures. His crew was very professional and did a wonderful job! We absolutely love our new bathroom.
When we had issues with the glass sliding doors in the shower he was able to have the installation company come right away to fix the problem. Michael is always available if you have questions or concerns. His team just did a quick job for us at no charge which was totally amazing. We are looking forward to having him do a larger renovation in the near future.
Janice & Richard Wiliams

We worked closely with Michael and his team for 4 months in the fall of 2016 to prepare for a huge renovation of our property which began in the first week of January 2017. The reno involved a complete redesign of the main floor of our backsplit, which included the removal of walls, the installation of a hidden beam to support the new, open-concept design and a completely brand new kitchen and living room - floors, walls, doors, windows, ceiling, stairs, fireplace - the works. At the 11th hour in preparation of the remodel, we also asked Michael to add to the project a complete redesign of two bathrooms - the main and ensuite.
The project began promptly on the promised start date and our four-person family, which included two boys under four, moved out and prepared for the next 12 weeks.
Incredibly, we moved home at the end of week 10. Michael had us sleeping in our own beds, in a completely renovated home, two weeks earlier than projected.
Michael is an incredible communicator, which is what made him so enjoyable to work with. Leaving no stone unturned during the planning period, he personally managed the selection of materials, literally driving my wife and I to appointments with suppliers. He also took the time to explain how the project would unfold - what to expect and how to prepare so that when the time came to begin, we knew we had made the right decision.
During construction, the communication continued. Michael explained the milestones achieved, how the next stages of the project would unfold and professionally, confidently and easily managed the handful of unexpected minor issues that arose.
When we moved home, the few minor details that needed to be fixed were completed in a single day, less than a week after we returned.

Most importantly, the project came in exactly on budget. What was promised to us in the preparation process that had begun 7months earlier was precisely what the final price was.

My family is incredibly happy with our experience with Michael and would highly recommend him and his team. We are proud to offer our home as a showcase for other families considering his work.