Interior Designer The Beaches
Design-Build Home Renovation for Kew Beach, Balmy Beach, the Upper Beaches & the Beach Triangle
As an interior designer in The Beaches, BiglarKinyan Design Planning Inc. (BKDP) brings 20+ years of design-build experience to the Beach’s frame cottages, 1920s–30s family homes and larger Victorian and Edwardian houses. Our Beach projects include Beach Villa in the City, a whole-house renovation inspired by our client’s travels to St. Barts, and a new kitchen and bathroom for another Beach family who later brought us back for their ensuite. One integrated team handles design, permits and construction, and stays accountable for your Beach home renovation from the first sketch to the final styling.
An Interior Designer Who Knows the Beach
The Beach began as a seasonal cottage community in the 1870s and grew into a middle-class streetcar suburb between the 1890s and the 1920s. Frame cottages from the late 1800s and early 1900s still stand beside semis and large Victorian and Edwardian houses, though much of the housing dates from the 1920s and 30s. Many locals prefer the name the Beach; in a 2006 BIA poll, 58% chose it over The Beaches. Each era of house calls for its own approach, and we plan for it from the first visit.
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 The Beaches
BKDP combines architectural training, interior design and construction management under one roof. A 13-time Best of Houzz winner, BKDP plans each Beach renovation around what the house already does well, whether that’s the modest scale of an early frame cottage or the larger rooms of an Edwardian house, and adds the space, light and connection to the backyard that today’s families want.
Beach Cottages & Early Frame Houses
Update the frame cottages that survive from the late 1800s and early 1900s, adding space and modern systems without losing their scale.
- Rear and second-storey additions
- Layouts for compact floor plans
- Electrical and mechanical upgrades
- Original detail restoration
1920s–30s Family Homes & Semis
Rework the 1920s and 30s houses and semis that make up much of the Beach into open, light-filled family homes.
- Kitchen and family room layouts
- Open-concept conversions
- Rear bump-outs and larger windows
- Basement underpinning and finishing
Victorian, Edwardian & Kingswood Road Homes
Full-home renovations for the Beach’s larger Victorian and Edwardian houses, including homes in the Kingswood Road South Heritage Conservation District.
- Whole-home interior redesign
- Heritage permit coordination
- Primary suite design
- Custom millwork and built-ins
Lakeshore & Glen Stewart Ravine Homes
Renovation planning for homes near the lake or Glen Stewart Ravine, where TRCA regulation may apply.
- TRCA status checks
- Ravine-lot renovation planning
- Courtyard and garden design
- Deck and addition design
Complete Interior Design & Build Services for The Beaches
Interior Design Services
- Full Home Interior Design
- Condo Interior Design
- Space Planning
- Lighting Design
- Custom Millwork
- Kitchen Design
- Bathroom Design
- Furniture & Finish Selection
The Beaches Specializations
- Beach Cottage Renovations
- Second-Storey Additions
- Rear Bump-Outs & Additions
- Heritage District Projects
- Whole-Home Renovations
- Basement Underpinning & Finishing
- Indoor-Outdoor Living Design
- Ravine & Lakeshore 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 Beach Renovations
In the Beach, both the street and the land can shape a renovation. Kingswood Road between Bracken Avenue and Queen Street East, numbers 4 to 175, is the Kingswood Road South Heritage Conservation District (By-law 1058-2010), protected for houses that show the Beach’s early-20th-century shift from resort to streetcar suburb. There, exterior alterations and additions generally need a heritage permit, while interior work generally doesn’t. Glen Stewart Ravine has been a TRCA Environmentally Significant Area since 1982, and the lakeshore is TRCA-regulated, so nearby homes may need a TRCA permit for additions or decks.
At Beach Villa in the City, we replaced a bow window with a bump-out and floor-to-ceiling windows, redesigned the backyard as a courtyard with cabana-style seating against the garage wall, and carried the same brushed oak floors through all four levels, down to a basement with exposed joists painted warm grey. For another Beach family, we managed a major renovation of their main and second floors, including a new kitchen and bathroom, then came back to redo their ensuite.
Transparent Pricing for The Beaches Projects
We believe in honest, upfront pricing so you can plan your investment with confidence.
Condo & Apartment Design Packages
Design only, for Beach condos and low-rise apartments: space planning, custom storage design, finish selection and complete styling. A full condo renovation runs $80K–$250K+.
Cottage & Semi Renovations
Kitchens, bathrooms, open-concept conversions and basement finishing for Beach cottages, semis and 1920s–30s homes.
Additions & Luxury Renovations
Second-storey and rear additions, custom millwork and premium finishes for the Beach’s Victorian and Edwardian houses.
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 Beach home to understand how you live, what you want to change, and what the lot, zoning and any heritage or TRCA rules allow.
Design Development
Using 3D visualization, we develop detailed design concepts so you can see your finished Beach 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 Beach 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 The Beaches does BKDP serve?
BKDP works across the Beach, including Kew Beach, Balmy Beach, the Upper Beaches and the Beach Triangle, on streets like Kingswood Road, Glen Manor Drive, Leuty Avenue, Lee Avenue, Malvern Avenue and Balsam Avenue. Our completed Beach work includes Beach Villa in the City.
Do I need a heritage permit to renovate on Kingswood Road?
It depends on the address and the work. Kingswood Road between Bracken Avenue and Queen Street East, numbers 4 to 175, is the Kingswood Road South Heritage Conservation District (By-law 1058-2010). There, a heritage permit is generally needed for exterior alterations, additions and new construction, while interior-only work, work not visible from the street and routine maintenance generally don’t need one. The City reviews it alongside the building permit, and a standalone heritage permit is free and often approved within a week.
Do homes near Glen Stewart Ravine or the lake need extra permits?
They can. Glen Stewart Ravine, along Ames Creek, has been a TRCA Environmentally Significant Area since 1982, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority regulates the Lake Ontario shoreline. On regulated land, additions, decks, pools and fill may require a TRCA permit, and the City’s Ravine and Natural Feature Protection By-law protects trees of any size in designated ravines. We check a property’s status early with TRCA’s address lookup and build any approval time into the schedule.
How much does a home renovation in The Beaches 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 with additions. 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 Beach 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; our client at Beach Villa in the City said her whole-house renovation took six months. If the project needs a heritage or TRCA permit, that adds time before construction starts, so we plan for it from the beginning.
Can you add a bump-out or second storey to a Beach home?
Often, yes. The Beach’s frame cottages and 1920s–30s homes can be good candidates for a rear addition, bump-out or second storey. A building permit is always required for a second-storey addition, and on Kingswood Road South an addition also generally needs a heritage permit. At Beach Villa in the City, we replaced a bow window with a bump-out and floor-to-ceiling windows to open the house to its backyard. We assess the structure, zoning and budget at the first consultation.
“It started with an email to their office letting them know my dream to reinvent our home to be similar to villas we rent in St. Barts. … Working with them is truly a cooperative process. They allowed me to have input in every single aspect in order for our house to turn out exactly the way we wanted.”— Vickie, the Beach — Beach Villa in the City, whole-house renovation