Top-to-Bottom Renovation

STORY: JODY SCULLY | PHOTOGRAPHY: GORDON KING

Featured in The City of Ottawa - Summer 2025

A whole-home renovation is no small undertaking. But when Natalie Cox, president and lead designer at CPI Interiors talks about the transformation of her client Lisa’s home, she says it was unbelievably smooth sailing.

The project in Beaverbook, a top-to-bottom renovation, complete with a new floor plan and all-new furnishings, took just over a year from the initial meeting to the completion of construction and white glove delivery. “Every room and surface in the house was touched,” explains Natalie. “It really was a dream project. It was so great to be able to start from scratch.”

Lisa purchased the home in 2012, drawn to its potential despite an interior that was far from appealing. However, she always had a vision for what the home could become. After living there for more than a decade, she was finally ready to start making it her own. What began as a plan to replace the flooring quickly turned into a renovation that included everything from the floors to the windows to moving some walls and completely removing others.

CPI was Lisa’s first call when it came to interviewing designers, and after talking with Natalie, she didn’t need to call anyone else. “I felt like we really connected,” Lisa says. “Natalie understood what I was looking for design wise. And as a project manager in my work, I didn’t want to have to project manage my own home. I really appreciated the fact that CPI would handle everything, and I could step back and focus on the decisions I needed to make.”

When asked about the direction for the design, Natalie says the clients requested “a colourful, coastal feel with lots of texture.” This gave her the opportunity to have a lot of fun with tile and wallpaper. Lisa was completely on board with all of Natalie’s suggestions, including the striking wallpaper, colourful patterned tile, and even a deep magenta vanity. “They were so trusting and wonderful. If we could clone these clients, I would be very happy,” says Natalie.

Although she’s pleased with everything about her new home, Lisa says she really loves the new kitchen by Cox Patterson Home Cabinetry. “We were able to expand the space by opening up a former den to create a really grand kitchen and I think that’s my favourite room now,” she says.

The star of the newly expanded kitchen is the large central island with an equally grand eat-in table. The deep blue island flawlessly complements the navy grasscloth wallpaper in the adjoining dining room and features a gorgeous HanStone quartz countertop in Aura from TNT Tile & Marble.

The custom cabinetry in the kitchen, mudroom and laundry room was also built by Cox Patterson Home Cabinetry, which Natalie owns with her CPI partner Megan Patterson. Having both businesses under one roof allows for a seamless transition from design to installation, ensuring there are no surprises.

According to both the designer and the homeowner, there were really no surprises during the entire project. “It was a large project, however we love taking on projects of this scale, and it went very smoothly. It sounds unbelievable, but there were no real challenges,” says Natalie.

Lisa agrees that it was a very smooth process. “There were no surprises from CPI or contractor Damsbaek Carpentry,” she says. “They were both excellent companies to work with.” She adds that Eric and his team from Damsbaek Carpentry “were really amazing and did such great quality work.”

Lisa credits Natalie for smart layout adjustments that really made a difference in how the home functions and flows. “We moved walls that I never would have thought to move without Natalie’s input,” she explains.

By stealing space from one room to add to another, they were able to gain a larger dining room, move the laundry room upstairs, and add a bathroom off the mudroom that allows them to shower when they come in from the hot tub and doubles as a place to wash the dog.

Natalie says this is exactly why someone should hire a designer for a major renovation. “A lot of times we’re too close to our home and can’t see the potential of what that space can be,” she says. “But the vision of someone who has years of experience bringing these types of projects to life can completely open up the possibilities,” she says.

When asked what makes CPI stand out from the competition, Natalie believes it’s their full-service approach. “Our goal is to make the process effortless and take care of all the details,” she says. “We handle every detail from initial drawings to final installation. All they have to do is tell us what they like. And we really care about the end result.”

“This project,” Natalie adds, “is really special because the clients trusted us so completely to turn the home into their dream home. There were lots of tears and hugs at the end of the project, which was lovely. We love projects where we’re involved from start to finish – doing the design, selecting and supplying cabinetry and furniture – with the full trust of the client.” OH