Intrinsic Designs + Build Group

We hired ID+BG to upgrade our builder finished condo. Cheryl came up an excellent idea to build a false wall to hide the unsightly furnace system . The result is amazing ! The reconstructed ceiling, while providing much needed lighting, is able to make all the bulkhead disappear and added architectural interest. The media wall unit she designed is a focal point in the living room. All the customer cabinetry in the study are well built. Cheryl and Calvin are professional and easy to work with. We are very happy with the result. Maggie

This was our 2nd time working with Cheryl and Calvin and team and this time, it was a refresh of our main floor. From design to the construction phase, the process was seamless. Cheryl is a great listener and understands my style so making design decisions was easy and exciting. Calvin managed the build phase and was always around to check on the progress and to answer questions. The end result turned out better than we imagined and we absolutely love the new space. We look forward to our next project with them!

This is the second time we've worked with Cheryl and Calvin, and can't recommend them enough. They helped turn our apartment into a space that feels like home, starting with thoughtful design and finishes, furniture options and through to construction execution. We are extremely happy with the final result, Cheryl and Calvin brought our Parisian-influenced vision to life!

Cheryl and Calvin provided the initial design and proposal on what our bathrooms could potentially look like based on our goals and desired design. With constant feedback on design and cost goals, we came up with a proposal, the estimated budget, and timelines. Cheryl proposed an excellent design vision that we would have never conceptualized on our own. With a very professional construction team, our vision came to life and they were able to tackle last minute challenges. The finished product turned out better than the proposal, as seeing it live compared to the proposal pictures. Great work.

We used ID+BG to design, renovate and decorate our condominium and were thrilled with the results. Cheryl and Calvin was extremely thoughtful in developing the design, incorporating existing art work into the final product and handling the project from start to finish. In comparing renovation experiences with friends, I found that the project management component alleviated a lot of stress and anxiety because there is one point of contact. The execution was spot on, and everyone who has seen the finished condominium has commented on the quality of the finishes and beautiful design elements, particularly the master bedroom. We will be using ID+BG again for another project in the coming months.

We were very fortunate to have found ID + BG on Houzz and to work with Cheryl, Calvin and their team in renovating our new home. Houzz was able to set up meetings with three different designers, but after our first meeting with Cheryl and Calvin, we felt they understood our vision and we felt very comfortable to proceed to work with them. The planning, design, and work process was well organized, supported with Houzz project management technology to keep us up to date with progress and costs. They also answered all our questions every step of the way, worked with us to make changes throughout the process, and ensured everything was completed properly. What we loved the most is that the team was very thoughtful in designing our space beautifully while keeping it very functional. The design and execution was really well thought out and creative and it allowed us to maximize the space that we have. Thank you ID + BG for making our home beautiful, we are enjoying every bit of it. We look forward to working together again on our next project!!

We hired ID+BG as their workmanship stood out from the rest - high standard of excellence + high quality work + high touch service. Plus, we really trusted Cheryl, Calvin and their team in managing the project end-to-end, from interview design, materials sourcing to construction. They took care of everything and went above and beyond, which we appreciate. We renovated our entire main floor (kitchen, dining, family/ living room, powder room, laundry room) and office that required restructuring of the floor plan and lots of detail planning. They coordinated all the logistics with all the different craftsman. We love the modern design that Cheryl came up with that represents who we are and what we like. We're so happy and pleased with what the team at ID+BD delivered. Our newly renovated home has better flow & better use of space. Everyone who visited said it's like a brand new home and looks luxurious. What we really appreciated is the transparency of what to expect - 3D rendering design of the new space, cost breakdown of the project, and ongoing communication. Plus sourcing great materials that saved us time and tied into the whole look. If you're looking for full-service A-team to design, renovate and manage the entire project of your home renovation that will save you time and stress, we highly recommend Cheryl & Calvin at ID+BG.

We used IDBG to update our home and the result is amazing. Cheryl the co-owner and designer has a collaborative and easy going work style. She listened to our wants, needs and lifestyle. Cheryl has on-point design ideas and beautiful visions . There were so many choices in the design process that it can be overwhelming but Cheryl made it easy by distilling the ordinary and presenting us with only the best. In the end we have a design that is refined, sophisticated and modern. We love it. To turn the design into reality, Cheryl’s co-owner Calvin is the project manager and oversees a team of craftsman who produce high quality work. You can tell that they take pride in their work. Covid presented many logistic problems and we took comfort knowing that Calvin, when needed, was working on solutions to keep the project moving forward. Even after completion of the project, Calvin would show up to make any minor amendments or adjustments or fix things. Now that is the benchmark of customer service. We are so pleased with their work that IDBG should be at the top of anyone’s list who is looking to renovate their home.

Amazing people and service. We were very happy with the work we had done with Cheryl and Calvin. Wonderful people that truly work hard to understand what you envision for a home. Would highly recommend for your next home project!

Calvin and his crew finished our basement in 2017 and we called them back for a complete rebuild of one of our bathrooms in October of 2020. We were so pleased with the first project, we did not consider hiring anyone else for the second. Predictably, the bathroom ended up becoming a showpiece to inspire our friends’ envy as well. His staff is competent, trustworthy and considerate of surroundings (noise, dust, waste disposal). Note that both my wife and I worked from home essentially undisturbed during the latter of the two projects. ID+BG complete their work on time and with aesthetic finesse. To put the above endorsement in the right context, worth noting is that I myself am a Professional Engineer with high consumer standards when it comes to design and workmanship in particular.

Cheryl and Calvin are simply the best! My husband and I purchased a 70's back split house with a very old layout. We did not know how to tackle such a large project and decided to look into hiring a designer and contractor. Intrinsic Design was the first company I contacted (thanks, Houzz) and after interviewing several other companies, I knew Cheryl and Calvin will take good care of our house. What she did was magic! So much care went into her design and there are so many little details that really made our house our home. Everyone who visits our house for the first time is simply blown away and wanted to know who designed and did the reno! They are honest and knowledgeable and we felt comfortable working with them. Thank you Cheryl and Calvin for all of your hard work! Will definitely look forward to working with you again in the future!

Cheryl and Calvin are amazing to work with. We needed a lot of help to redesign our new home, it was a big project that included gutting the entire main floor, upstairs master, and laundry room. Cheryl and Calvin were very detailed when it came down to the proposal (budget, finishes etc). This helped us keep within our budget and we knew exactly what to expect. Cheryl's renderings gave us a clear picture of our new design (since it was very difficult to visualize removing walls, new positioning of the kitchen etc.) When we had to decide what finishes we wanted, Cheryl made it easy for us to choose. Since she already knew the look we were going for and our budget, she gave us a few options and we were not overwhelmed. We love modern and the minimalist look and that is exactly what Cheryl and her team delivered. Cheryl and Calvin are professional, reliable, and we really loved working with them. Thank you IDBG!

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and thanks to Cheryl Tay and the entire Intrinsic Design + build team for their excellence in creative design and the seamless coordination in a complete renovation of a twenty-eight year old bungalow which we purchased for our golden years. Through her patience, vision and talent, she took an understanding of our lifestyle, needs and preferences and completely transformed the layout and design of what was a traditional bungalow into a grand, modern yet timeless home. My husband and I had very specific requirements that were challenging to work with: 1.My husband is an avid AV/Home Theater enthusiast and there were many specific wishes and requirements about equipment placement that any designer would dread. Cheryl was consistently able to work around these challenges and still managed to make everything look great. The entire layout of the basement was designed around very specific room size requirements for both our home theater and dedicated music room. Walking in, you’d never realize that this part of our home presented such a challenge, as the flow and layout of the basement is nicer than any basement we’ve ever seen. 2.Downsizing from a larger home meant that storage was key and we were very impressed by her detailed layout which maximized every inch of space available for storage. Along the way, she provided constructive advice and was even able to customize everything to my size/height/preferences. 3.We wanted to keep much of our furniture which might not be considered magazine worthy, but sentimental to us. Cheryl respectfully and tastefully blended what we had into the design. As a result, our home is beautifully ours - warm, comfortable yet functional and down-to-earth. Cheryl’s professionalism and dedication to her work is excellent. She was always responsive to our questions and concerns. She sets high standards for her own work and the work of her team. The overall outcome of this project including the layout, design and workmanship has far surpassed our expectations and we just love our new forever home. Thank you Intrinsic Designs.

Cheryl and Calvin were brought on to remodel our 12-yr old condo. Although the existing layout was functioning well, it needed a refresh to keep up with the latest trends in the condo market, for better enjoyment of our unit, as well as increasing property value. And boy, did they ever deliver! While we had a pretty good design sense of what we wanted, Cheryl and her team really took it to the next level in added/improved design. Overall project execution, workmanship, timeliness, and cost projections were very well managed compared to other condo reno stories that we have heard. We are now re-inviting friends after the reno, and all have commented on how the space feels bigger and brighter. Everyone loves the new hardwood floors which would have been a nightmare to pick without Cheryl’s help. The kitchen now gleams with silky white cabinets which have been height-extended to minimize bulkheads above. The overall effect feels like the kitchen ceiling was raised, even though it was actually lowered by 4.5 inches for a drop ceiling for pot lights. The drop ceiling also featured a unique trough to help hide unsightly condo speaker, smoke/CO/heat detectors that could not be moved or covered. And we were able to squeeze in a much dreamed-about wine fridge in the kitchen island! Both bathrooms now feature large rectangular wall/floor tiles which really increase space visually. Despite tight spaces and concrete wall limitations in condos, they managed to figure out how to accommodate our wish list of having seamless bath wall niches for small items, which look and function great. The ensuite bath now also has heated floor tiles. To accommodate the slight extra height of the new floor due to the thickness of the heating pads, the wood floor leading up to the ensuite was sloped so smoothly that it’s barely noticeable. There are three main unique features to the reno. First is the feature wall in the master bedroom with large textured wood laminate panels that are seamlessly put together. The wall has built-in wall lamps, bedside switches, and can double as a headboard for the bed. Second is the built-in panoramic electric fireplace (featuring very realistic-looking flames) in the living room which replaced an existing store bought standalone fireplace that was showing its age. The new fireplace is surrounded by a gorgeous porcelain material custom fitted into the space. The dramatic flow of the natural veins in the porcelain is carefully preserved when the material was being cut to wrap around the top and sides of the mantel. The third feature is an art display wall niche near the entrance, which is undoubtedly the most unique and the jewel of the entire reno. The niche features a rectangular shape, wood laminate insets, LED back lighting, but with a very narrow trough leading to the ceiling to draw the light and eye up for dramatic effect. The trough proved to be a tough build logistically, but they managed to do it! The idea is to have a space for a rotating piece of display art, which can also be an iPad display as it features a USB charger. The result is brilliant and stunning! From the get-go, we wanted to feel as if we moved into a new condo … without moving. Cheryl and Calvin have certainly succeeded in doing so!

We hired Cheryl to help us redesign our master bathroom. She helped us narrow down what we wanted and worked within the budget we had set. This is probably easier said than done given we had provided her with little directions. We just knew we wanted to modernize and upgrade the bathroom and Cheryl created an incredible 3D model that we fell in love with before creating an exact replica. Both her and Calvin were knowledgeable and very professional in their approach. They were an amazing team and we wouldn’t hesitate to use them again for any future renovations!

I first found Cheryl through a good client of mine who had her home renovated through Intrinsic Designs. At the time i was in desperately need of someone to take over a job that was supposed to be finished in a month that ended up taking almost two years. I met up witb Cheryl and Calvin and really liked them. They are very professional and trustworthy. Timewise, designwise and quality of their work is fantastic!!! I had my basement, kitchen, family room and living room all completed in less than 7 weeks. A dream home come true!! I was concerned about some areas that at first I did not agree with Cheryl but she was patient and understanding with me and reassured me that when the whole picture came together I would love it. I understand that she is truly gifted in what she does. Also Calvin our contracter made sure all the details of our house was immaculate. They are honest with their quotes and will give you an updated file with how much the project will cost so there are no surprises. I will hire them again one day to complete my second floor. Great Team!!!

I had Cheryl and her team renovate my newly purchased condo in Markham. My goal was a complete high end redesign so that it would be a comfortable and relaxing space I could come home to everyday. Cheryl delivered! Her team presented me with several options that fit my needs and the final product was fit into a very tight deadline. My condo is now my oasis and sanctuary. Thanks Intrinsic Designs

Cheryl created the kitchen that was in my head, but didn't know yet. I work long hours and my home and my kitchen is my sanctuary. I needed someone to cost, source and budget for me. I hired Intrinsic Designs and her team to create this vision that reflected my traditional, yet not quite "edgy" personality. I adore every aspect of this kithcen and I can truly say it's me. It's hard to express when you've wanted something for so long, and it finally becomes real. Since I moved into this home, I knew I wanted my kitchen to give me comfort - the place where I could bake and cook to de-stress. But I never found that person until now. It was worth waiting for. I wake up every day happy to walk into my kitchen, and I just stare at it sometimes in disbelief that something this beautiful came out of my old kitchen. She listend to me, and maximized every inch of my small kitchen and even incorprated my "wish" but not need items. I can't express the joy I get from baking and cooking in this chic and functional kitchen now. The kitchen is even more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined myself and I will always be thankful to Cheryl for this.

We hired Cheryl to transform our recently purchased home. She worked with us to understand what we are looking for and worked with our ideas to design our dream home. Cheryl is professional and creative. We had anxieties and worries before we carried out the renovation but Cheryl really changed our minds. Throughout the process, Cheryl is organized, flexible, and always kept us in the loop of progress. When we had doubts, Cheryl patiently explained to us the reason behind her design. We are extremely happy with the results and it is stylish and functional. Definitely recommend Cheryl and her team to anyone who is looking to renovate their home!

My husband and I hired Cheryl and her team to renovate our home to give it more of a custom feel vs. the run of the mill builder-basics home. From the very beginning she worked with us to understand what we were looking for with the renovation while staying within our budget. I don’t have an eye for design and Cheryl wow’ed us with her suggestions and recommendations for simple changes that really make a huge difference in the overall look and feel of the house. It is like we are living in a brand new space and we love how it all turned out. When I look at the before pictures, I cannot believe the change! Thanks again Cheryl for all the time and effort on this project – you exceeded our expectations. We look forward to working on future projects with you!

Cheryl was referred to me and my wife through a friend as we are planning to renovate our newly bought town house which is 14 years old. During the process, Cheryl impressed us with her professionalism, creativity and the use of space and color. We did encounter some obstacles during the renovation and Cheryl always come up with amazing ideas and solutions. Most important is she is willing to listen to our needs and concern and she always go extra yards to help us even though those were not her jobs. We have moved in already and all our friends and family loves the design and this is priceless. Thank you Cheryl and I am looking forward to work with you again in the future.

We hired Cheryl to completely redesign our master bedroom, walk-in closet, master bathroom and main floor bathroom. The original layout of the master ensuite was impractical and there was a lot of waste of space. Cheryl was able to envision and transform it into a more usable space with architectural features that were impactful. From design concept to managing the entire project, Cheryl was on point throughout the whole process. We appreciate her attention to detail and keen design eye. She was very communicative and kept us informed with the need-to-knows. This was our first time working with a designer and we wanted to be as hands off as possible while getting quality results and we were able to achieve that with Cheryl and her team of contractors. We look forward to hiring Cheryl again for another project and would recommend her to our family and friends.

We hired Intrinsic Designs for our newly completed condo. As we live out of town, we left this turn-key project to Cheryl with only directions to make it "timeless". We had seen some of her projects and the outcomes have been spectacular. Cheryl was timely, organized, caring, and on-point with what we asked for. Fitting and designing a small condo for a family of 5 was not easy. Further, Cheryl had to deal with condo management of a not-fully moved in building. She surpassed our expectations and we would recommend her to anyone.

We have had a great experience working with Cheryl on our family room renovation. Cheryl was very professional and really understood what we were looking for. Our family room has really transformed thanks to Cheryl and her expertise. We wouldn’t hesitate to have her come back when we need to redesign another room.

Our Master Bath makeover was the first major renovation my wife and I have ever done so we went into it with some understandable anxiety. I say 'first' because now that the job is done I am sure we will be doing more work with Cheryl (as well as Calvin and Roger on the construction side of things). We had a few companies bidding to do the job but ultimately went with Cheryl and team because of their high level of professionalism and elevated sense of product/construction knowledge. Having a steam shower installed was very important to us and other teams suggested that we did not need a dedicated power line/breaker which clearly (as I now know) we did. Looking back from here, the flow of the old bathroom was terrible and Cheryl had a very clear vision of how the layout could work better. My wife and I simply could not be happier with how it turned out. Cheryl has impeccable taste and was open to our thoughts and suggestions as well. If you are on a budget, she will provide you with options. I'd also like to mention that the few touch ups that we wanted done were done quickly without complaint or comment. Also some hardware needed to be replaced which was done right away with no extra cost. I feel like I should end the review with at least one negative, so how about a 'Good news, Bad news'? Good news: the anxiety we had going into the reno is completely gone and we will be using Cheryl and team again without hesitation Bad news: now we have to start saving $$$ for what's up next - the basement makeover ...

Cheryl and her team of contractor helped me transformed my dingy 80s basement to a modern space that have received so many compliments. I contacted Cheryl in June and was under really tight timeline to complete a big basement reno project because I was expecting a baby in early October. I could not risk any delay in the project (as often happen with renovation project) but I was pleasantly surprised at how efficient and on schedule the work was even though there was some scope expansion throughout the project. My 1600sqft basement was renovated in the span of 7 weeks. Our experience working with her can be summarized as follow: - She is a type A designer and very meticulous in providing quotation, material list, and invoice. I know exactly where each penny of my money is going and there's clear accountability. I like that very much about her. - Cheryl's design taste is on the modern/ contemporary side whereas I was more drawn into the traditional/ cottage-y style but she gets my style and made design recommendation that made the space looked so much more sophisticated that exceeded my expectation. At the same time she's flexible to accommodate mine and my husband's input. I've never felt pressurized into making decision that we're not completely sure of. - Her team of contractor are also excellent. They work really fast and on schedule even though throughout the project there were some addition to the scope of work. They were also very respectful sharing work space with us (the homeowner) and our living space. - Cheryl also has a good working dynamics with her team of contractor. She acts as project manager/ liaison/translator between us the homeowner and the contractor. She often come by to the work site throughout the project to ensure exact placement and measurement of furniture and design features and find solution for unexpected problems. As a result, these really took out the stress out of my husband and I. The close collaboration also meant there are a lot of built-in look to my space that basically ensures that the drywall was framed around the furniture that was chosen for the space. - Excellent communication line. We used whatsapp a lot and this allows me to approve furniture choices quicker and also ask her for her opinion if I happen to see some furniture pieces during the weekend. Additionally, she would give reminders to me to make a certain design decision so as not to delay the project timeline. Overall we are very happy with our decision to work with Cheryl and her team of contractor. I have to mention though that Cheryl's design fee is on the higher side - but you really get what you pay for.

Cheryl helped decorate my main floor and did a fantastic job transforming an embarrassingly boring space into something special that my wife and I are proud to show off. We worked very well together and Cheryl was very accommodating to some specific requirements we had. Cheryl is adept at identifying a client's style and taste and adapts accordingly. She also made a number of style choices and decisions impressed us and showcased her experience and talent as a design professional. She exceeded expectations and we look forward to working with her again on our future home projects.

Working with Cheryl was a fantastic experience. Professional and organised, she listened to what we had in mind and was able to understand and articulate the style we wanted. We are thrilled by the result; our stylish and functional home. I would highly recommend Cheryl to anyone looking to make their home a more beautiful space!

I bought a brand new house and everyone told me there is no need to hire a designer since the house is updated already. I am glad that I did not listen to them and hired Cheryl. She listened to us and fine tuned it to another level-a wow factor level. Cheryl is creative, attentive and easy to work with. She has great connection with contractors and Robert is the best among all the mill work people that I know.

I hired Intrinsic Designs to redecorate my home. I was a little bit sceptic if anybody can make my home to look better than it is. I was hesitating for a few years as to whether to hire somebody to do it or not. I was referred to Intrinsic designs from a dear friend and I decided to hire her. I would say that she did an extraordinary job beyond my expectations. She totally understood what I was really try to accomplish within my budget. I highly recommend Intrinsic Designs!!!

Cheryl was very professional and helpful in my remodelling of my main floor. I was under a very tight budget and didn't think it was even possible but she tool the time to get to know me and my needs and wants and a beautiful work of art was made. Thank you for everything

Beautiful results done within my budget. Achieved clean, modern contemporary look that I was hoping for throughout my house. Would definitely recommend their services.