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Henry Design Build

Journal

Notes from
the build

Materials, sites and the decisions that shape a project — written by the people actually building it.

A freshly stained cedar deck in warm evening light against a brick house

Planning & budget · September 1, 2026

Material Choices & Costs: What 2026 Numbers Say About Quartz, Hardwood and Cedar

Quartz or granite. Hardwood or LVP. Cedar or fiber cement. A real 2026 cost comparison for the three material decisions we get asked about most.

A black farmhouse sink under a large window looking into the trees, with black shaker cabinetry and a black range hood

Planning & budget · August 30, 2026

What Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost? A Regional Breakdown

Ontario baseline numbers for 2026, and what actually changes the price in London, Grand Bend, Tobermory and Muskoka.

Hand-peeled log stair with treads cantilevered off a single scribed post against a cedar wall

Planning & budget · August 29, 2026

Build New or Renovate? What the 2026 Numbers Actually Say

Custom-build costs, renovation costs by scope, and the real decision factors behind Ontario’s current build-vs-renovate math.

A dark board-and-batten cabin exterior with a light blue door, photographed at dusk

Market notes · August 28, 2026

Real Estate Snapshot 2026: London, Grand Bend, Tobermory & Muskoka

An honest look at where each of the four markets we build in actually stands, current as of mid-to-late 2026.

Two Muskoka chairs on a wooden dock overlooking a calm lake at sunset

Renovations · August 26, 2026

Renovating a Muskoka Cottage: Honouring the Past While Building for the Future

Balancing four-season comfort with the details — the stone fireplace, the knotty pine — that make a family cottage worth keeping.

A stone cairn on the white dolomite rock shoreline of Georgian Bay near the Bruce Peninsula, turquoise water and forest behind it

Site & foundation · August 12, 2026

Building on the Bruce Peninsula: What Makes a Tobermory Project Different

Rock, remote access and environmental protections make a Bruce Peninsula build its own kind of project.

Sandy dunes with beach grass overlooking Lake Huron under a partly cloudy sky

Cottage building · July 29, 2026

Building a Cottage in Grand Bend: Sand, Sun, and Smart Design

Sandy soil, lake wind and sun exposure all shape what makes a Grand Bend build actually hold up.

Open kitchen and dining room with a live-edge table, leather chairs and pendant lighting over the island

Renovations · July 15, 2026

Renovating Your London Home: What to Know Before You Start

Character homes, permits, and what to expect renovating in Old North, Wortley Village and beyond.