professional architectural designer working on his computer on a custom home

Services

Gabriel Estate Design Inc. provides comprehensive residential design services focused on getting projects designed correctly from the start. Each project includes permit-ready construction drawings compliant with the Ontario Building Code, 3D concept visualization, and ongoing permit and construction support.

Services

Services include:

New Custom Home Designs

two storey custom home with stone base, front porch, and dormer windows

Addition / Extension Design

Additional Dwelling Units (ADU) Design

Interior Renovation Design

Before and afer image of a home addition design

A cut out floor plan showing two units separated by fire separation

interior redenring of a kitchen space overlooking over the table and at the rest of house

Our core values lie in delivering highly detailed technical work while designing wisely using proven, common-sense architectural principles. Our goal is to help homeowners make the most of their property while avoiding unnecessary costs.

New Custom Home

Get your custom home designed right the first time.

You’ll receive:

Custom architectural designs shaped around your needs and wants, your zone-specific location, and established architectural design principles.
Permit-ready construction drawings compliant with the Ontario Building Code, including but not limited to site plans, structural plans, plumbing plans, electrical plans, and mechanical plans.
3D concept visualization, permit support, and ongoing support throughout construction.

Getting Your Existing House Measured Right

If you’re planning a renovation, addition, or additional units, you’ll need blueprints of your existing home to serve as a design template, and the City will require records of the existing conditions.

With one site visit, we can create plans of your existing home that include:

Scaled floor plans and elevations for every level of the house
Site plans showing setbacks, grades, and entrances
Detailed measurements of structural elements, bulkheads, windows, doors, and anything that could impact the design or construction

We also review the Ontario Building Code and local zoning bylaws to ensure compliance. For existing houses, we frequently design plans for basement units, garage conversions, wall removals, second-storey additions, new porches or decks, and more.

Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs)

We design legal Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) which are fully independent living spaces built on the same property as an existing home and are fire separated — often in a basement, above a garage, or in a separate structure out back.

Typical reasons for ADU

Rental income.
You want to keep family close without sacrificing privacy.
You’d rather invest in your own land than move or buy something bigger

Designing for ROI — Without Overbuilding

A well-designed ADU can pay itself off. But it has to be done right. We will ensure they're:

Legal: Fully permitted, code-compliant units that don’t put you at risk
Comfortable: A space people want to live in (and pay market rent for)
Efficiency: Smart layouts that avoid wasted space or unnecessary cost

Fire Separation: More Than Just Drywall

Fire separation isn’t about simply adding drywall between units. Its about:

Knowing whether to use combustible vs. non-combustible construction requirements
Selecting the right fire-resistance ratings for walls, floors, and various assemblies
Calculate the allowable percentage of unprotected openings on exposed building faces
Allocating fire dampers at duct penetrations where required
detailing fire blocking and fire stopping at concealed spaces and penetrations
Placement of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector

These are some of the key fire-separation elements we include if required by the Ontario Building Code.

Two building on the same property in close proximity, one being the primary dwelling and the other a detached addition

Additions and Extensions

Expanding your home is about integrating new space seamlessly so it feels like it was always meant to be there. We design additions and extensions that:

Match the existing architecture
Improve flow, natural light, and function throughout the entire home.
Respect zoning setbacks, height limits, and coverage rules so permits run smoothly.
Include detailed structural considerations early in the process to keep construction costs under control.

Whether it’s a rear extension, second-storey addition, or a full reconfiguration, the goal is simple: extend your home without compromising its character.

When the Zoning Says No — But You Still Want to Move Forward

Not every project fits perfectly within your city’s zoning bylaw. That’s where a minor variance comes in. It’s a formal request to go slightly beyond what zoning allows — and it’s often the difference between a great layout and a forced compromise.

Common reasons you might need a minor variance:

Setbacks that are slightly too small
Lot coverage slightly over the limit
Not enough parking spaces

With an approved minor variance application, you’ll be able to extend your home beyond zoning limits or add the extra square footage that wasn’t previously permitted, allowing the new spaces to integrate seamlessly.

Interior Renovations

A well-planned renovation can completely change how a home feels. We focus on clean, functional layouts that eliminate wasted space and bring a sense of order to the interior.

Renovation design services often include:

Reworked floor plans that make everyday movement easier and more intuitive.
Precise as-built drawings to ensure the design is based on accurate existing conditions.
Construction drawings for structural changes, wall removals, kitchen transformations, basement layouts, and more.
A design approach that balances aesthetics with practicality—no features that age poorly.

Your renovated home should feel calm, logical, and refined from the moment you walk in.