--- title: "Design Loft Bracebridge — Kitchen & Bath Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/design-loft-bracebridge-pfvwus-pf~790561212 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~790561212.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Design Loft Bracebridge" category: ["Kitchen & Bath Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/3df30f4e071516bf_3561-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Ontario, Ontario P1L 0A1, Canada" phone: "(705) 645-5296" website: http:// rating: 4.8 review_count: 5 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 19 last_updated: 2026-10-08 --- # Design Loft Bracebridge Original Houzz profile: [Design Loft Bracebridge](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/design-loft-bracebridge-pfvwus-pf~790561212) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Kitchen & Bath Designers - **Location:** Ontario, ON - **Serves:** Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Haliburton, Huntsville, Muskoka, Parry Sound - **Houzz rating:** 4.8 out of 5 (5 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2017–2020), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 100 Ideabook Saves The Design Loft is located on the upper level of Simcoe Building Centre in Bracebridge. Come in and meet the Design Team and see our showroom. Come and work with our fantastic team of professionals to create your gourmet kitchen, select top quality tile and countertops or finally make your dream of a spa bathroom a reality. We can do it all from the flooring to cabinetry to the countertops, we can even help you choose your paint colours. ### Services Provided - Kitchen Design - Custom Cabinets - Bathroom Design - Custom Kitchen Cabinets - Custom Bathroom Vanities - 3D Rendering - Custom Countertops - Custom Pantries - Lighting Design - Design Consultation - Laundry Room Design - Mudroom Design - Floor Plans - Universal Design - Outdoor Kitchen Design - Pantry Design - Custom Walk-in Closets - Basement Design - Handicap-Accessible Design - Wine Cellar Design - Custom Cabinet Doors - Accessibility Living ### Areas Served - Bracebridge - Gravenhurst - Haliburton - Huntsville - Muskoka - Parry Sound ### Typical Job Cost CAD 500 - CAD 50,000 ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Design Loft Bracebridge | | Address | Ontario, Ontario P1L 0A1, Canada | | Phone | (705) 645-5296 | | Website | http:// | | Followers on Houzz | 19 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Design Loft Bracebridge](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/design-loft-bracebridge-pfvwus-pf~790561212) - **Website:** http:// - **Phone:** (705) 645-5296 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2017–2020), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.8 out of 5 — 5 reviews** ### All 5 reviews **★★★★★ — Lloyd Dunham, July 2019** > We have been really pleased with the kitchen design and delivery from Geoff and Design Loft. He took a good deal of time to understand our needs and wishes for our new kitchen at the cottage and worked closely with us to pick out the cabinets, island, countertop and sink that made the kitchen work for us. At installation time, Geoff arranged for excellent installers and followed up personally to make sure that every detail of the kitchen was done correctly... We're very happy with the end result... Many thanks... Lloyd & Marian **★★★★★ — diana hutchinson, Aug. 2018** > We hired Geoff to design our kitchen for our 1950's cottage and we were more than pleased with the result. This was not an easy job as the age of the cottage offered all types of limitations that he was able to solve for us. Cabinets came on time and any discrepancies were dealt with immediately. Communication between us was prompt which we really appreciated. in the end we had a bright beautiful organized kitchen that we were proud to show off to our friends. thanks again for a job well done! **★★★★★ — sharon zimmmerman, March 2018** > We thoroughly enjoyed working with Geoff Marks at the Design Loft (Bracebridge, ON). Geoff's years of experience in kitchen design and manufacturing made a huge difference in the creative and refinement process, as well as the installation of our new kitchen. Geoff worked with us from beginning to end, to ensure that our vision for the kitchen was practical and functional (as well as beautiful), and that it was completed on time and on budget. In addition, he provided us with contacts for resources (appliances, counters, hardware) to complete the project. Geoff is pleasant, professional, and easy to work with, and we would highly recommend him for your project. > > We absolutely love our kitchen! **★★★★ — Cabinetsmith, Sept. 2016** > Geoff is a true professional in kitchen and bath design, whom always gives great tips and helpful advice. He is willing to go that extra mile for his customers which keeps him at the top of his game. If you choose to work with Geoff on any of your next kitchen and bath projects, you will not be disappointed. **★★★★★ — sumagee, April 2016** > My first experience with Simcoe Building Centre was excellent. I worked with Geoff Marks (who many years ago designed my beautiful kitchen). He always went the extra mile and he didn't let me down this time. I would highly recommend Simcoe and Geoff without reservation. ## Selected projects - [Carnarvon, Ontario (Muskoka)](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/carnarvon-ontario-muskoka-pj-vj~2997165) - Location: Algonquin Highlands, ON - Photos: 5 - Description: Glendale MDF Door Style In Artistic White. Custom 38" high base cabinets. Wall Cabinets are standard 30" high with 15" high placed on top allowing for a 7" moulding to the ceiling - [Huntsville, Ontario](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/huntsville-ontario-pj-vj~2727364) - Location: Huntsville, ON - Photos: 4 - [Hutchinson Cabin](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/hutchinson-cabin-pj-vj~5790902) - Location: Algonquin Highlands, ON - Photos: 8 - Description: Previous Antique Dealers wanted something different in their 1950's Cabin/Bunkie. I designed a furniture-like piece using standard cabinetry to make it look like they used an antique in their kitchen. "Java" Stained & Cloud White Maple "Oxfordshire" Shaker from Urban Effects Cabinetry. - [Isokern Fireplaces](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/isokern-fireplaces-pj-vj~5641123) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - [Lilly Countertop](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lilly-countertop-pj-vj~5630984) - Location: Bracebridge, ON - Photos: 5 - [Cambria Gallery - Toronto](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/cambria-gallery-toronto-pj-vj~1700273) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 20 - [Laminate Countertop Edge Details](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/laminate-countertop-edge-details-pj-vj~5574168) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 [See all 7 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/design-loft-bracebridge-pfvwus-pf~790561212) ## Ideabooks - [Ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/65158910/list/ideas) — 4 ideas [See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/designloftbracebridge) ## Community Q&A **Q: Kitchen Cabinets** *(in Design Dilemma)* We are building in the Spring and are in the middle of tightening our budget. I didn't realize this but white kitchen cabinets are more expensive than stained and of course I wanted white cabinets with a stained island. It now looks like I will have stained alder cabinets. My question and hopefully people have pictures. Have you used dark stains for your cabinets and an accent for your island or do you stain your island the same as your cabinets? I am going with a very dark almost mocha look. Could I do a white island or should I keep it simple and go with the same stain? A: There's nothing wrong with mixing & having your island a different colour than the rest of the kitchen. Of course, you want to pick a complimentary colour. Although, most of my jobs are painted, I often see the island a dark colour or shade. I've done a few in natural cherry with a med-dark blue for the island cabinetry & then found a countertop which pulled both the colour of the cherry as well as the blue in the island. **Q: Sealing grout on Kitchen Backsplash** *(in Design Dilemma)* Hi. I have white subway tile with un-sanded white grout on my kitchen backsplash. Does the grout need to be sealed? My contractor said no but I thought for sure that due to the location of the tiles that it would have to be sealed to protect it. Is the contractor correct? A: I'd recommend sealing it. Use something like Mapei Ultracare, link here **Q: Can anything be done to stop painted cabinets from peeling ?** *(in Building a Home)* Hello Houzzers. I moved in a brand new house at the end of October. I’m a single guy and honestly don’t really cook much. So to say the kitchen gets very light use would be a very accurate statement. The builder installed these “upgraded” Timberlake Tahoe cabinets painted in linen. I guess I have a different opinion of what upgrades should feel like, but is there something I can do to prevent the paint from peeling off? I have several doors that, on the top of the door, look like this picture. Builder said it’s not a warranty issue (of course) because it’s excessive wear. If cabinets can’t live up to my wear and tear, I have no idea how people with kids and dogs do it. If anyone is looking at this brand/style, I’d find something else. They’re insanely cheap feeling and clearly won’t last too long. I’m going to install hardware soon. Haven’t decided what style/size/color yet. A: If water has not been allowed to sit on it whether from a sink or just from cleaning, this could be an issue with the finish. It may not have been mixed properly, or even the door may not have been cleaned of all dust before the finish. I've actually had this in the past with one of my clients kitchens. When it happened, as the Designer supplying the kitchen, I called the company on my clients behalf to request a warranty. The company looked at it & agreed that it was a problem on their end. My client was then provided with new doors to replace the ones that had the problem. Your Contractor/Designer should be fighting for a warranty on your behalf. My cabinet suppliers typically offer around a 10 year warranty for factory defects. It shouldn't matter who supplied it as it's the cabinet company warranty & not a Designer/Contractor warranty. **Q: What’s an acceptable Quartz seam??** *(in Design Dilemma)* What’s acceptable when seaming quarts. This is right smack dab the middle of my island. they said It had to be seamed because of the size. A: That's definitely not a great seam. Any chance you have a pic from further out? I don't see anywhere that you say the brand of quartz. Do you know this? Also, " We were not given the option of either. the model home was not seamed so I never thought about a seam. " Is yours the same size as the model? **Q: Help me to understand protocol with kitchen designers** *(in Kitchens)* Hello please help me resolve this protocol dilemma in working with kitchen designers. I have been interviewing kitchen designers for a kitchen remodel So far they have provided concepts with a quote if I decide to proceed with their services. From the start I made it clear that I was at the very beginning. That I am looking for a good fit and the best person or company for the job. They indicated that the initial consult and rough concept is part of the process and there is no charge. So far so good. I received quotes for design and cabinets. However, One designer caught me off guard. In our initial email she stated the amount of her design fee. She also stated that it would go toward cabinets. She stated that “should I decide to work with her, she would cone to my home and consult, take measurements etc.” she did come to the house and measured and sent me a sketch. (This was Just what other kitchen pros did) She then sent me a design sketch and gave me the name of her contractor. (This is the person who will tear down walls etc. ) I set an appointment to meet him. This same designer then sent me another concept along with her Invoice! At no time was a contract signed or discussed. I was shocked that she sent an invoice as I did not informally or formally hire her. I did not discuss the concepts with her, nor did I provide feedback on her design. Obviously there is a clear lack of communication, as such I definitely will not hire her. I did not realize she would charge for the concepts. Did I hire her inadvertently, by inviting her to my home? What is my obligation in this matter? Thank you for helping me out on this issue. A: 1st off, there should have been a clear understanding of how & when money & designs would be exchanged. In my business, I do a preliminary design at no cost & also provide an estimate based on that preliminary design. I then meet with my clients in my showroom to discuss & tweak the design & talk estimated cost. At that time we discuss going further & repricing the tweaked design. Sometimes, there are more tweaks & repricing. I do not release any drawings until I have at least a retainer for such. This helps pay for my time of doing drawings, estimating & meeting. I can't tell you how many times I have clients bring me other pros' drawings to quote off of. For the most part I don't go to a job site until I have the retainer at least. The one exception may be if the client can't measure & is nearby my office or is near another client. You stated, “ she stated the amount of her design fee.....should I decide to work with her, she would come to my home and consult, take measurements etc.” So, you had her provide 1 preliminary design, come to your place, measure, provide a 2nd drawing, meet with her contractor, & you were "caught off guard" by an invoice? You've used her for her professionalism to this point for free. Her time is worth money. In all honesty, She should have asked for your order & got signatures to proceed. That's on her. She basically gave you her info & time for free up til now. I'm guessing that she may be a junior designer & possibly "thought" by you asking her to come out, it was indication of acceptance. Are you obligated? I would say, no. No contract no obligation. She'll be very upset. She should have asked for the order & have you sign or give her a retainer. Can you hire her contractor? You can. He may not want to as if she provides the contractor with a lot of work, he could be jeopardizing his bread & butter. **Q: How High to Hang Pendant Lights Over Kitchen Island** *(in Lighting)* Hi! We are getting near the end of a long kitchen renovation and can not find information of how high to hang pendants over the island from a vaulted ceiling. I know the rule of thumb is 30-36 inches from bottom of pendant to the counter but we have a vaulted ceiling, 16 ft. and those dimensions seem too low. My husband was thinking 4 ft above the island would be better but I’m worried that is too high. Thanks all for your help. Electrician is installing this week! A: kudzu9 made a good point I agree with. You're asking what height to set the lighting at but you also need to consider the intensity of the lighting. Height is obviously important so not to impede vision. However, if your lighting is not strong enough & set too high, your illumination of the island will be diminished. If you haven't already, I would strongly advise talking to a lighting expert about how your choice of fixtures will work in your space & if they are a good choice. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-10-08.*