Total home is a family owned and operated Corporation, co-owned by Cindy and Gilbert Lutes. We decided that we would create a company which combines our skills and experience to create what we feel is an exceptional service in home improvements and renovations. To strengthen our commitment we became proud members of our Chamber of Commerce in Kemptville read more...
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We called Cindy to help us with our family room. She quickly helped us to arrange our furniture and placement of decor items. She guided us on paint choice and lighting. Her expertise helped us appreciate that you don't need a huge budget to achieve great results.
We originally hired Total Home to redesign our fireplace wall in our family room and extended the design to entire main floor (kitchen, living room, dining room and front entrance). The focal point was the re-facing of our dated (orange-brick) fireplace wall which included custom bookshelves and sliding drawers on either side or a with a new gas fireplace insert as well as a custom-built mantle and new marble surround.
Cindy helped us tremendously with the design and got us to think outside-the-box in terms of our colour schemes and furniture. We hired Gilbert to do the custom cabinetry and fireplace mantle. Cindy managed the arrangements the other suppliers. She was really helpful identifying potential design issues and offer and explain solutions when they did occur. She is very professional and client-focused in all of her interactions with us. We really appreciated her flexibility and availability to make appointments that were convenient to our schedule. She has a real talent for colours and staging. When we met to discuss options with both Cindy and Gilbert, these were productive and helpful. They both really listen to their clients, rather than pushing their own agenda or preferences.
Gilbert is a very experienced carpenter and delivers quality workmanship. He and Cindy really wanted us to be happy with the result. That was evident throughout the renovations. They arranged for an outstanding painter who, like them, was pleasant to work with, flexible, and provided quality workmanship. When we did encounter some issues that occurred with other suppliers, they worked hard to problem-solve with us and ensure that our needs were being met.
In terms of offering suggestions for improvement, I think it would be helpful (once concepts are agreed upon) to provide the client with scale drawings as opposed to just the images from Houzz. I would also suggest that they provide the client with a detailed design document such as the one that I prepared which included the amendments to decisions that we made along the way. On a minor note it could have been nice to have a more detailed schedule of when things were going to be done to eliminate any confusion and manage expectations.
Overall, we are extremely satisfied with Total Home and would highly recommend them.
Total Home consistently delivers excellent results. We have been working with Cindy and Gilbert for the past few years and are thrilled with their skill, expertise and passion for what they do.
As Realtors we are often asked how to best present a home for sale. Cindy and Gilbert have had tremendous success with our clients prepping houses for the market. The results speak for themselves, recently we had a interesting challenge for them in presenting a large home that was vacant. The outcome was incredible and yes we sold the house for full price on the first day of showings!
Total Home has done everything from small touch ups to renovations of Kitchens and Bathrooms for our clients.
Bottom line, Cindy and Gilbert are proud of their work, energetic and up for any challenge and deliver consistent great results.
We continue to put our trust in Total Home!
Rob Marland
Realtor
Royal LePage Performance
Ottawa
This is currently our first renovation ever, and we have nothing to compare too, so when I choose “Average” I assume it’s what’s normal in the industry, and when I choose “Very Good or Excellent” I assume that as above and beyond normal industry standards. I chose "Average" for Timeline but know we didn't have a deadline, as well, some items (ie: vanity and fixtures) were on back-order and took up to 10 weeks to arrive. This was beyond everyone's control.
I should mention right away this is not a simple Re&Re (remove & replace), but a complete bathroom build from the ground up, including a sewage pump, new plumbing, a separated space for the toilet room including a sliding door and walls. So this review is more than just mentioning great tile work, or a faucet change out and toilet installation.
I have always said what makes a company great is not that they never make mistakes, but rather how they deal with mistakes or fix issues, even when it’s not their doing or when it’s simply from misunderstanding. Gilbert has stepped up to the plate and fixed issues that have come up, even from someone else’s mistakes.
During our renovation, we had a few incidents that occurred. The first was when a plumber ran vent pipes up a main wall in the bathroom. Gilbert had to reroute them so they would be hidden behind a 32”high half-wall placed up against that main wall, this would also serve as a ledge for the tub filler and spray.
The concrete floor had to be torn up for the drains. Gilbert put effort and resourcefulness in using a self-leveling product to level the concrete floor, prior to installing the in-floor heating system and tiles. Within a short time of the floor tiles having been installed, and while still in the midst of renovations, two tiles got chipped along their edge. Gilbert has again, stepped up to the plate and said he will replace them before final completion.
We’re still in the midst of renovations and look forward to the completion, and we’re confident it will be spectacular and worth the wait, knowing Gilbert takes great pride in his work and will ensure the job is finished to high standards.
PS: If the software allows it, I will post pictures of my epic bathroom once completed! :)
TotalHome once again amazed us with their professional services! They have completed numerous projects around our house, including a complete overhaul of our ensuite two years ago. We have been so impressed with the quality of their services that we hired them for a major renovation of our kitchen. We kept the cupboards and cabinets because they were solid oak but we didn't like the colour so TotalHome worked with a professional refinisher to revitalize them. Cindy has an excellent eye for design and we knew we could trust her to pick the right colour for the cabinets and then she helped us select complimentary lighting, a gorgeous countertop (yikes it is beautiful!), flooring and backsplash. Gilbert takes pride in everything he does and he made Cindy's design ideas come to life. His work is always top quality.
Thanks again TotalHome. Next project... main bathroom.
Thank you Gilbert for coming in with fairly short notice and rescuing our kitchen renovation. He did some very detailed drywall work trying to get our ceilings to match, removed old bulkheads, moved some of the plumbing, and installed our new DeLaurier cabinetry in both our kitchen and laundry room. He was a pleasure to work with!
Total home staged my home for sale and because of the professional job they did I was able to obtain more than the asking price . They not only did a great job but were careful to incorporate all useful existing home material to make the finished product more homey and personal.
Working with Cindy and Gilbert was such a pleasure. Cindy helped us make our house a home! We found them via referral and so glad we did. They are efficient and timely and completely listen to what your looking for. We couldn't of done it without them. Pricing ,time served and over are service is outstanding ! We had a lot of space to cover in our home and we are left living in such a welcoming, warm, and elegant environment ! I would recommend their services to anyone and everyone :)
Fantastic experience with Cindy. She was able to prepare a home very quickly and beautifully. I loved how she took some simple accents and completely transformed a home. Cindy was able to make it affordable for my client, which I definitely think helped facilitate a quick sale. (Sold in 27 days in November)!! Thank you so much!! Excited to work together again!
Total Home has a TrustScore™ of 4.5. The average TrustScore™ for other businesses providing similar services in Kemptville and the surrounding areas is 4.1. For detailed information on how TrustScore is calculated, click here to learn more.
The following elements are used to calculate TrustScore:
Customer Reviews | Last 12 Months | All Time |
---|---|---|
Total Received | 6 | 120 |
Approved | 6 | 120 |
Unverified | 0 | 0 |
Suspicious | 0 | 0 |
Overall Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 |
Complaints Received | Last 12 Months | Last 3 Years |
---|---|---|
Suppliers & Creditors | 0 | 0 |
Employees & Sub-Contractors | 0 | 0 |
Transparency | |
---|---|
Posted License Information | Yes |
Posted Liability Insurance | Not yet provided |
Posted Workers Compensation | Yes |
Company Website | Yes |
Social Media Profiles | |
Endorsed by Peers | Yes |
In Business Since | 2009 |
Member of TrustedPros Since | 2013 |
TrustedPros does not validate certain information provided by contractors and vendors in conjunction with the creation or maintenance of their profile and we cannot endorse or guarantee the performance of any contractor. TrustScores are provided for informational purposes only. We urge you to use the TrustScore™ in conjunction with the tips provided in our Hiring Guide to maximize the probability of hiring the best professional for you project.
Total Home has been recognized for their skills and expertise by their peers in the following categories
Amazing work and 100% honest and reliable. Great communication and very professional.
Carpentry, Home Staging, Interior Design,
Architectural Design, Basement Renovations, Bathroom Renovations, Caulking, Ceiling, Closet and Storage, Countertops, Decks, Demolition Work, Design Build, Drywalling, Fireplaces, Flooring, Foundations, Framing, Garage Construction, General Contracting, Home Additions, Home Construction, Home Theaters, Kitchen Renovations, Roofing, Shed Construction, Skylights, Sunrooms, Tiling, Windows and Doors
Total home is a family owned and operated Corporation, co-owned by Cindy and Gilbert Lutes. We decided that we would create a company which combines our skills and experience to create what we feel is an exceptional service in home improvements and renovations. To strengthen our commitment we became proud members of our Chamber of Commerce in Kemptville Ontario.
Gilbert is a friendly and courteous professional who believes in honesty and integrity when working with his clients within their home. With so many people today being taken advantage of in this industry, he feels it is his mission to take your project seriously and show you that when you hire him, you can trust that you are going to receive quality of service and skill. Gilbert backs this up with a 5 year guarantee on all labor!
Gilbert is a certified carpenter, with a diploma from Algonquin College, where he graduated with Honors in the field of Carpentry. He has been in this business since 1995 and is skilled in rough to finish carpentry and has undertaken many high end renovations which include building houses. With his education and experience, he has developed a keen eye for detail and will ensure the job is done properly and will meet industry standards. You can be assured that you are hiring one of the very best in his industry!
Cindy is a caring and compassionate individual who loves what she does! As a professional property stylist, Cindy has the opportunity to transform interiors to a space you will be proud of! Cindy can work within your budget and timelines and she puts a lot of emphasis on listening to her clients so that she is working WITH YOU to give you your dream space!
Cindy is a graduate of the Interior Design Institute and has two certifications with APSD - Association of Property Scene Designers where she specializes in Home Staging. With her education and experience, Cindy will work with you to clearly define the area(s) of your home that you want to improve and from there she help you to shop, organize and showcase your space so that it is functional and beautiful!
Sincerely,
Cindy Charbonneau and Gilbert Lutes
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2023 for Interior Design and General Contracting in Kemptville.
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2022 for Interior Design and General Contracting in Kemptville.
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2021 for Home Staging, General Contracting and Carpentry in Kemptville.
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2020 for Bathroom Renovations, Interior Design, General Contracting and Carpentry in Kemptville.
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2019 for Interior Design in Kemptville.
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2018 for Bathroom Renovations, Drywalling, Flooring, Tiling and Home Staging in Kemptville.
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2017 for Bathroom Renovations, Painting, Home Staging and Carpentry in Kemptville.
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2016 for Home Staging in Kemptville.
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2015 for Home Staging, General Contracting and Carpentry in Kemptville.
Total Home was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2014 for Bathroom Renovations, Home Staging and General Contracting in Kemptville.
Main contact(s) | Gilbert Lutes , Cindy Charbonneau |
Alternate Phone Numbers | 613-286-7165 |
Listed with TrustedPros since: | 2013 |
Residential work | Yes |
Commercial work | Yes |
Warranty | 3 Years on Labour |
Accepts credit cards | Yes |
Year established | 2009 |
Offers financing | No |
24 Hour emergency service | Yes |
Legal structure | Incorporated |
Licensing information | Yes |
Insurance information | Contact Total Home to request insurance details. |
Check local laws pertaining to license requirements and verify license and insurance details provided by the contractor prior to hiring.
Total Home has contributed 10 responses to the following questions posted in the 'Ask the Pros' forum