Interior Designer East York
Design-Build Home Renovation for Pape Village, Todmorden Village, Woodbine Heights & Topham Park
As an interior designer in East York, BiglarKinyan Design Planning Inc. (BKDP) brings 20+ years of design-build experience to the area’s pre-war brick homes, narrow-lot Edwardians, wartime houses and post-war bungalows. We plan second storeys, open main floors, kitchens and basements around each house’s structure and lot. One integrated team handles design, permits and construction, and stays accountable for your East York home renovation from the first sketch to the final styling.
An East York Interior Designer Who Knows the Housing Stock
East York became a township in 1924, and its houses change as you move north. South of Cosburn, most homes predate the Second World War. Todmorden Village has 1930s–40s Tudor and cottage-style brick houses, and Woodbine Heights has narrow-lot Edwardians. In Topham Park, the streets between Selwyn and Squires hold wartime houses built for veterans from 1944 to 1946, and post-war bungalows line many streets further north.
Toronto's Most Trusted Interior Design Firm
Best of Houzz
13 Consecutive Years
Years Experience
Serving Greater Toronto
ARIDO/IDC Affiliated
Professional Credentials
Client Satisfaction
Verified Reviews
Interior Design & Home Renovation Services in East York
BKDP combines architectural training, interior design and construction management under one roof. A 13-time Best of Houzz winner, BKDP plans each East York renovation around what the house already does well, whether that’s the brickwork of a Todmorden cottage or the simple, solid plan of a post-war bungalow, and adds the space and function today’s families need.
Post-War Bungalows
Add a second storey or open up the main floor of a post-war bungalow, as many East York owners already have.
- Second-storey additions
- Open-concept conversions
- Kitchen and bath renovations
- Basement finishing
Topham Park Wartime Houses
Update 1940s veterans’ houses with better layouts, kitchens and systems while keeping their wartime character.
- Space planning
- Rear addition design
- Electrical and mechanical upgrades
- Custom storage and built-ins
Todmorden Village Tudor & Cottage Homes
Careful updates to 1930s–40s brick Tudor and cottage-style houses, with new kitchens and baths that suit the original detailing.
- Original millwork and trim restoration
- Kitchen and family room layouts
- Electrical rewiring
- Primary suite design
Woodbine Heights Edwardians
Rework narrow-lot Edwardian homes with smarter layouts, brighter rooms and updated systems.
- Narrow-lot space planning
- Basement underpinning coordination
- Knob-and-tube replacement
- Rear addition design
Complete Interior Design & Build Services for East York
Interior Design Services
- Full Home Interior Design
- Condo Interior Design
- Space Planning
- Lighting Design
- Custom Millwork
- Kitchen Design
- Bathroom Design
- Furniture & Finish Selection
East York Specializations
- Bungalow Second-Storey Additions
- Wartime House Renovations
- Tudor & Cottage Home Updates
- Narrow-Lot Space Planning
- Open Concept Conversions
- Basement Underpinning & Finishing
- Knob-and-Tube Rewiring
- Ravine-Lot Projects
Construction & Renovation
- Full Home Renovations
- Kitchen Renovations
- Bathroom Renovations
- Rear and Side Additions
- Basement Finishing
- Custom Built-ins
- Electrical Upgrades
- Plumbing Updates
Project Management
- Design-Build Integration
- Permit Coordination
- Contractor Management
- Timeline Management
- Budget Control
- Quality Assurance
Local Knowledge for East York Renovations
Many East York renovations come down to what’s inside the walls and under the floor. Homes built from the early 1900s to the 1940s may still have knob-and-tube wiring, which some insurers won’t cover without replacement. Lowering a basement by underpinning needs a building permit and a professional engineer’s reports at the first and last stages, plus an engineered design when new footings go below a neighbour’s, as they can in a semi. East York has no Heritage Conservation District, so heritage approval generally isn’t part of the process.
Ravines matter here too. Lots along Taylor-Massey Creek and the Don Valley can fall under Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) regulation and the City’s ravine by-law. In Topham Park, renovations tend to keep the wartime character of the houses, and we plan them the same way. For a comparable house, see Midtown Modernist House, where we redesigned a 1950s storey-and-a-half in Midtown Toronto, inside and out, and made the most of its existing structure under the zoning by-law.
Transparent Pricing for East York Projects
We believe in honest, upfront pricing so you can plan your investment with confidence.
Condo Design Packages
Design only, for condo owners: space planning, custom storage design, finish selection and complete styling. A full condo renovation runs $80K–$250K+.
Bungalow & Wartime Home Renovations
Kitchens, bathrooms, open-concept conversions and basement finishing for East York bungalows and Topham Park homes.
Additions & Luxury Renovations
Second-storey and rear additions, custom millwork and premium finishes for East York bungalows and Todmorden Village homes.
Full Home Design-Build
End-to-end design and construction management for complete home transformations. One integrated team, one accountable process, from concept to completion.
Our Proven Design Process
Discovery & Planning
An in-depth consultation at your East York home to understand how you live, what you want to change, and what the structure, lot and zoning allow.
Design Development
Using 3D visualization, we develop detailed design concepts so you can see your finished East York interior before construction starts.
Project Coordination
Our project management team handles permit applications, engineering, contractor scheduling and delivery coordination, so you aren’t managing trades yourself.
Seamless Installation
We finish with curated furniture, art placement and styling details that make your East York home distinctly yours.
Meet the Award-Winning Founders
Fardid Biglar & Kenneth Ho
Co-Founders & Principal Designers
Fardid Biglar and Kenneth Ho met while studying architecture at the University of Toronto, where they quickly discovered a natural synergy—every time they collaborated, their work consistently earned top marks. After gaining experience across the fields of interior design, architecture, kitchen design, and furniture manufacturing, they decided to team up once again—this time to create something entirely new.
Drawing on their complementary strengths, they co-founded BiglarKinyan Design Planning Inc. (BKDP) in 2005 with a clear vision: to elevate residential design in Toronto through thoughtful architecture, highly personalized interiors, and a more streamlined approach to the design-build process.
Recognizing the complexity and fragmentation of traditional renovation models, they set out to reimagine the client experience—delivering not only exceptional design, but also a simplified, transparent process. Their goal was to bring high design and a sense of everyday luxury to renovation projects grounded in creativity, practicality, collaboration, and execution.
That founding vision continues to shape the firm’s work today, setting BKDP apart as a leader in thoughtful, integrated residential design. Their work has been nationally recognized and widely published, reflecting a partnership built on trust, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to detail. Together, they lead a firm where every space tells a story—and every detail matters.
Fardid Biglar
Co-Founder & Principal 
Kenneth Ho
Co-Founder & Principal Frequently Asked Questions
What areas of East York does BKDP serve?
BKDP works across East York, including Pape Village, Todmorden Village, Woodbine Heights, Topham Park, Danforth Village, Broadview North, Governor’s Bridge and Dentonia Park. We work on everything from narrow-lot Edwardians south of Cosburn to post-war bungalows further north.
Can you add a second storey to an East York bungalow?
Often, yes. Many East York post-war bungalows already have added second floors. A building permit is always required, and if the design goes past the zoning limits for lot coverage, height or side yards, a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment is needed first. We assess the structure, zoning and budget at the first consultation.
Can I lower the basement in my East York home?
Often, by underpinning. It needs a building permit, and a professional engineer must review the work at the first and last stages. An engineered design is needed when new footings go below a neighbour’s, as with many semis, when the unsupported height is over 1,200 mm, or in clay or silt soil. We coordinate the engineering and permit as part of the project.
How much does a home renovation in East York cost?
It depends on the scope, size and finishes. BKDP’s projects typically range from $25,000 for a design-only condo package and $80,000–$250,000+ for a full condo renovation, to $500,000+ for full home renovations. We provide transparent, fixed-fee quotes upfront so there are no surprises. Book a free consultation for an estimate on your project.
How long does an East York renovation take?
A focused kitchen or bathroom renovation typically takes 8–14 weeks from design approval to completion. A full home renovation or addition can take 4–10 months. If the project needs a Committee of Adjustment variance, underpinning engineering or TRCA approval for a ravine lot, that adds time before construction starts, so we plan for it from the beginning.
Do you renovate Topham Park wartime houses?
Yes. Renovations to Topham Park’s 1944–46 veterans’ houses tend to keep their wartime character. We plan better kitchens, bathrooms and storage inside the existing footprint, and add space at the rear or above where the lot and zoning allow, so the house still reads as part of the street.
“I bought my own place and I needed to renovate all of it very badly. … They worked with my budget and my contemporary style and it really paid off. My budget was very important and they respected it. At the same time they did not compromise quality or style.”— Michael, North York — whole-home renovation on a budget