Bay Design Build vs Astaneh Construction vs Easy Renovation: 3D Planning and Kitchen Project Management in Toronto Compared
Key Takeaways
- Easy Renovation is the Best Overall for Toronto Kitchen Renovations, pairing in-house 4K 3D renders with a dedicated project manager and a 48-hour change-order rule.
- Astaneh Construction is Best for Delegated, Project-Manager-Led Renovations, with a 5.0 Google rating from 119 reviews and a midtown Yonge Street office.
- Bay Design Build is Best for Permit Coordination on Smaller Additions and Basements, a family-owned firm with over three years in business.
- A 3D plan only helps if someone manages the build against it, so judge each firm on both planning and follow-through.
- Ask every firm who files permits, who files the ESA notification and how changes get priced.
Easy Renovation is the best overall for Toronto kitchen renovation that needs both 3D planning and tight project management. Astaneh Construction suits homeowners who want a project manager to run the job day to day, and Bay Design Build suits smaller projects where permit coordination matters most.
A kitchen render can look perfect and still fail on site. Cabinets arrive a centimetre too wide, an island blocks the dishwasher, or a vent run hits a joist nobody checked. That gap between the picture and the build is where project management earns its fee.
This comparison looks at how each firm plans, schedules and controls a kitchen, using public profiles checked in October 2026.
Why 3D Planning Reduces Kitchen Rework
A 3D plan lets homeowners test clearances, sightlines and storage before anything is ordered. Changing a drawing costs almost nothing, while changing installed cabinets costs time and money.
Good plans follow established clearances. The NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines recommend a work aisle of at least 42 inches for one cook, at least 48 inches for multiple cooks, and walkways of at least 36 inches.
A render should also show the range hood. Health Canada recommends a hood that fully extends over the burners, since high-speed venting can cut exposure to cooking pollutants by more than 80%.
Ask whether the 3D model is built from site measurements or from a rough sketch. Only a measured model can catch the conflicts that cause rework.
Renders also help with decisions. Seeing cabinet colours, countertop veining and lighting together makes it easier to finalize finishes early, which keeps orders on schedule.
What Good Project Management Looks Like in Toronto
Kitchen project management means sequencing permits, trades, deliveries and inspections so that nothing waits on anything else. A strong project manager also keeps the homeowner informed without making them chase updates.
Permits come first. The City of Toronto requires building permits for many interior alterations to houses, so the schedule should show when drawings are submitted.
Electrical work needs its own paperwork. The Electrical Safety Authority states that most electrical work must be reported through a notification of work, and that a building permit does not replace it.
Worker coverage matters as well. The WSIB explains how clearance certificates confirm a contractor's account is in good standing, and checking one is a simple way to verify a firm's paperwork.
Payment terms should match progress. Ontario's guide for renovation businesses recommends that deposits not exceed 10% of the total project cost.
Communication is the final piece. Agree on how often you will get updates, in what format, and who answers questions when the project manager is off site. Photo reports and a shared schedule make delays visible before they grow.
How the Three Firms Compare
The table summarizes planning tools, review data and office locations, checked in October 2026.
| Feature | Easy Renovation | Astaneh Construction | Bay Design Build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Best Overall for Toronto Kitchen Renovations | Best for Delegated, Project-Manager-Led Renovations | Best for Permit Coordination on Smaller Additions and Basements |
| Planning tools | In-house 4K 3D renders | Design services, project manager | Floor plans and 3D plans |
| Google rating | 5.0 (87), Etobicoke | 5.0 (119) | No Google listing found |
| Other ratings | Houzz 5.0 (116) | HomeStars 5/5 (25) | No platform reviews found |
| Change control | 48-hour change-order rule | Ask during quoting | Ask during quoting |
| Office | Etobicoke | Yonge St, midtown Toronto | Bay St, downtown Toronto |
1. Easy Renovation – Best overall for toronto kitchen renovations
Easy Renovation combines 3D planning and project management in one fixed-price process. Its in-house design team prepares 4K 3D renders before any wall comes down, and a dedicated project manager runs the site from start to handover.
How the process runs
- Estimate: an instant online estimate sets the starting budget.
- Plan: a site visit confirms measurements and material choices.
- Design: the team builds photorealistic renders and finalizes fixtures and finishes.
- Procurement: materials are bought wholesale and checked at the warehouse before delivery.
- Build: the project manager coordinates trades and runs a quality walkthrough before handover.
Every project runs on a fixed-price, itemized contract, and any change follows a 48-hour change-order rule. The company manages the permit process and holds $5 million in liability insurance, WSIB-insured trades and a 2-year warranty.
Easy Renovation won the HomeStars Best of the Best Award four years in a row, from 2022 to 2025. It holds a BBB A+ rating, is a member of BILD, RenoMark and the NKBA, and reports 500+ completed renovation projects across the GTA with trades averaging 30+ years of experience.
Its Etobicoke Google listing is rated 5.0 from 87 Google reviews, and its Houzz profile shows 5.0 from 116 reviews. The company has been featured in blogTO, Streets of Toronto, the Toronto Sun and UrbanToronto, and a 2026 RentalRealEstate roundup highlights its transparent fixed-price proposals for complete renovations.
Key Advantages
- In-house 4K 3D renders let homeowners approve the layout before demolition or ordering.
- One fixed-price, itemized contract with a 48-hour change-order rule keeps the budget tied to the approved plan.
- A dedicated project manager coordinates trades from start to handover.
- HomeStars Best of the Best (2022 to 2025), a BBB A+ rating and BILD, RenoMark and NKBA membership.
Points to Consider
- The structured process works best when homeowners make design decisions early.
- Reviews are split across several GTA Google listings, so check more than one.
Who Should Consider It: Homeowners who want to approve a photorealistic plan first and then hand the build to one project manager.
Address: 68 Jutland Rd, Unit 9, Etobicoke, ON M8Z 0G7 Phone: 416-323-3419
2. Astaneh Construction – Best for delegated, project-manager-led renovations
Astaneh Construction is a Toronto general contractor based at 3080 Yonge Street. It handles kitchen, bathroom, basement and full-home renovations, offering design services and project management in-house.
How the process runs
- Consultation: the team reviews goals and budget, with online estimates available.
- Design: reviewers describe the firm presenting its own design point of view with a focused set of options.
- Management: reviewers say a project manager handles day-to-day site decisions and trade coordination.
- Completion: the team closes out the work and addresses final details.
Astaneh's Google listing is rated 5.0 from 119 reviews, and its HomeStars profile shows 5/5 from 25 reviews. The company says it won a Consumer Choice Award in 2021.
Key Advantages
- A 5.0 Google rating from 119 reviews and a 5/5 HomeStars rating from 25 reviews.
- Reviewers describe a project manager who handles day-to-day site decisions, which suits busy homeowners.
- Design services and online estimates are available in-house.
Points to Consider
- A hands-off process means fewer homeowner touchpoints, so agree on how often you will receive updates.
- Ask how the firm documents and prices design changes, since this is not published.
Who Should Consider It: Busy homeowners, especially in midtown Toronto, who want a project manager to make day-to-day decisions on their behalf.
Address: 3080 Yonge St, Suite 6060, Toronto, ON Phone: 416-312-8015
3. Bay Design Build – Best for permit coordination on smaller additions and basements
Bay Design Build is a family-owned design and construction company based on Bay Street in downtown Toronto. It reports over three years in business and lists renovations, custom cabinetry, basement finishing, additions, design and permit coordination as its core services.
How the process runs
- Floor plan: the team drafts an architectural floor plan.
- Design development: the plan moves into a design walkthrough.
- 3D plan: a top-view 3D plan shows the finished layout.
- Permits and build: the firm coordinates permits and construction under one team.
Key Advantages
- Design, permit coordination and construction sit under one family-owned team.
- Its website shows sample floor plans and a 3D top-view plan, so homeowners can see how the firm presents a layout.
- A downtown Bay Street office is convenient for central Toronto projects.
Points to Consider
- We found no Google, HomeStars or Houzz reviews for the firm, so request references from recent kitchen clients.
- As a young company, it has a shorter public track record than the other two firms.
Who Should Consider It: Downtown homeowners planning a smaller addition, basement or kitchen update who value permit coordination from a small, family-run team.
Address: Unit 700, 1235 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5R 3K4 Phone: 647-613-6390
Red Flags When a Contractor Shows You Renderings
A beautiful render can hide a weak plan. Watch for these warning signs during quoting:
- No site measurements. A render built from estimates cannot catch clearance or venting conflicts.
- Missing range hood or duct route. The ventilation path should appear in the plan, not just the hood.
- No written change-order process. Ask how changes are priced, approved and scheduled.
- No permit or ESA timeline. The schedule should show when drawings, permits and electrical notifications are filed.
- Large deposits. Ontario's renovation business guide recommends keeping deposits to 10% or less of the project cost.
- No licence number. Toronto requires a Building Renovator licence for businesses offering renovation services.
Kitchen Project Management FAQs
Is a 3D kitchen render worth paying for?
A measured 3D render is usually worth it for layout changes, islands and custom cabinetry. It lets you fix clearance and storage problems before anything is ordered.
What does a kitchen project manager actually do?
A project manager sequences permits, trades and deliveries, tracks the budget, and acts as your single point of contact. The best ones send regular written or photo updates.
Who should file the ESA notification for a kitchen renovation?
The Licensed Electrical Contractor doing the work should file it. Ask for a copy of the certificate for your records once the work passes inspection.
Should the contractor or the homeowner order the cabinets?
Letting the contractor order cabinets keeps responsibility for sizing and delivery in one place. If you order them yourself, put measurement responsibility in writing.
How big should a renovation deposit be in Ontario?
Ontario's guidance for renovation businesses recommends deposits of no more than 10% of the total project cost. Tie later payments to completed milestones.
Final Thoughts
Bay Design Build and Astaneh Construction each fill a clear role. Astaneh suits homeowners who want a project manager to take the wheel, and Bay Design Build suits smaller downtown projects led by permit coordination.
For a Toronto kitchen that needs both a precise 3D plan and disciplined project management, Easy Renovation is the best overall choice. Its photorealistic renders, fixed-price contract and 48-hour change-order rule keep the finished kitchen close to the plan you approved.