Interior Designer Scarborough
Design-Build Home Renovation for Guildwood Village, Cliffcrest, Cliffside & Birch Cliff
As an interior designer in Scarborough, BiglarKinyan Design Planning Inc. (BKDP) brings 20+ years of design-build experience to the area’s post-war bungalows, storey-and-a-half homes and 1950s–60s split-levels. Many Guildwood Village homes were designed with low horizontal lines, picture windows and deep setbacks, and we plan renovations that keep that character while adding the space families need. One integrated team handles design, permits and construction, and stays accountable for your Scarborough home renovation from the first sketch to the final styling.
A Scarborough Interior Designer Who Knows Mid-Century Homes
Guildwood Village grew out of the Guild estate. About 450 acres were sold in the 1950s, and building started in 1957 on winding roads and cul-de-sacs with buried utilities. Its bungalows, split-levels and two-storey homes share low-pitched roofs, broad eaves, picture windows and brick and stone walls. To the west, Cliffcrest filled in during the late 1940s and 1950s with bungalows, storey-and-a-half homes and semis, and small frame cottages still sit south of Kingston Road.
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 Scarborough
BKDP combines architectural training, interior design and construction management under one roof. A 13-time Best of Houzz winner, BKDP plans each Scarborough renovation around what the house already does well, whether that’s the long, low lines of a Guildwood split-level or the compact plan of a Cliffcrest storey-and-a-half, and adds the space and function today’s families need.
Guildwood Village Mid-Century Homes
Renew 1950s–60s bungalows, split-levels and two-storey homes while keeping their horizontal lines, picture windows and stone.
- Split-level reconfiguration
- Open-concept conversions
- Mid-century modern detailing
- Second-storey addition planning
Cliffcrest & Cliffside Bungalows
Rework late-1940s and 1950s bungalows and storey-and-a-half homes into open, light-filled family homes.
- Second-storey additions
- Kitchen and bath renovations
- Basement finishing
- Electrical and mechanical upgrades
Kingston Road Cottages & Semis
Make the most of small frame cottages and semis with smarter layouts, built-in storage and updated systems.
- Space planning for compact homes
- Custom storage and built-ins
- Kitchen and bathroom updates
- Rear addition design
Bluff-Top & Ravine Lots
Plan renovations and additions on lots along the Scarborough Bluffs and the Highland Creek valley, where TRCA rules can apply.
- TRCA permit coordination
- Geotechnical review coordination
- Ravine by-law tree planning
- Layouts that frame the view
Complete Interior Design & Build Services for Scarborough
Interior Design Services
- Full Home Interior Design
- Condo Interior Design
- Space Planning
- Lighting Design
- Custom Millwork
- Kitchen Design
- Bathroom Design
- Furniture & Finish Selection
Scarborough Specializations
- Bungalow Second-Storey Additions
- Split-Level Reconfiguration
- Mid-Century Home Renewal
- Storey-and-a-Half Renovations
- Open Concept Conversions
- Bluff & Ravine-Lot Projects
- Compact Home Space Planning
- Basement Finishing
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 Scarborough Renovations
On the Bluffs, a renovation often starts with the land. The Scarborough Bluffs run about 15 km along the lake and rise up to 90 m, and bluff-top lots sit within the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) shoreline regulated area. Lots in the Highland Creek valley are TRCA-regulated too. Additions, decks and pools there can need a TRCA permit, and the City can’t issue a building permit until TRCA has cleared the work. Work near the bluff edge can also call for a site-specific geotechnical assessment.
Guildwood Village and Cliffcrest aren’t Heritage Conservation Districts, so interior work and additions generally don’t need heritage approval. We still treat the original design as an asset: we keep low rooflines, picture windows, brick and stone where they matter, open up closed-off main floors, and plan second storeys that sit well on the house. For a sense of our approach, see Midtown Modernist House, where we turned a 1950s storey-and-a-half in Midtown Toronto into an open, light-filled home while working with the existing structure and the zoning by-law.
Transparent Pricing for Scarborough 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 & Split-Level Renovations
Kitchens, bathrooms, open-concept conversions and basement finishing for Guildwood and Cliffcrest homes.
Additions & Luxury Renovations
Second-storey and rear additions, custom millwork and premium finishes for Guildwood, Cliffcrest and Birch Cliff 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 Scarborough home to understand how you live, what you want to change, and what the lot, zoning and any TRCA rules allow.
Design Development
Using 3D visualization, we develop detailed design concepts so you can see your finished Scarborough interior before construction starts.
Project Coordination
Our project management team handles permit applications, 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 Scarborough 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 Scarborough does BKDP serve?
BKDP works across Scarborough, including Guildwood Village, Cliffcrest, Cliffside and Birch Cliff, from the Bluffs and Kingston Road to the Highland Creek valley. Much of the housing in these pockets is post-war bungalows, storey-and-a-half houses, split-levels and semis.
Can you add a second storey to a Scarborough bungalow?
Often, yes. Many late-1940s to 1960s bungalows in Cliffcrest and Guildwood Village are good candidates for a second storey or rear addition. 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.
Do Bluffs and ravine lots in Scarborough need extra permits?
They can. Bluff-top lots fall within the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s shoreline regulated area, and lots in the Highland Creek valley are TRCA-regulated too. Additions, decks and pools there count as development, and TRCA must issue a permit or clearance before the City can issue a building permit. The City’s ravine by-law can also protect trees on these lots, and work near the bluff edge may need a geotechnical assessment, so we check a property’s status early.
How much does a home renovation in Scarborough 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 a Scarborough 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, TRCA approval or a geotechnical assessment, that adds time before construction starts, so we plan for it from the beginning.
Can you keep the mid-century character of a Guildwood home?
Yes. Guildwood Village isn’t a Heritage Conservation District, so interior work and additions generally don’t need heritage approval, but its 1950s–60s homes were designed with low horizontal forms, low-pitched roofs, broad eaves and picture windows. We keep those features where they matter and update kitchens, bathrooms and systems around them, so the house feels new without losing what made it distinctive.
“The design process took 2 months to complete and they were really thorough. It felt like a partnership and I felt really comfortable with the choices they made. … In the end the construction took a little over 3 months to complete and I have been loving my home since.”— HC, North York — ranch-style side-split renovation