What began as a typical renovation of a half-century-old cottage in Grand Bend became a to-the-bones gutting and rebuild. The London Home Builders’ Association just honoured Oke Woodsmith with the Best Renovated Exterior award for this home at their 2024 Excellence Awards.
“We realized it was actually wood framed like a 1970s cottage,” recalls company President Jeremy Oke. “And it wasn’t up to code. We ended up having to take everything off. All we left was the basement, the floor joists, and the chimney in the middle of the house.”
Opening up the home created more opportunities. A large kitchen and dining room with combined seating for 12, a great room, loft and sunroom helped expand the footprint to 2,700 square feet of living space.
Oke Woodsmith’s experience with lakefront properties means they confidently navigate through all the red tape. “Along the lake, your biggest hurdle is to deal with conservation, and you have to jump through a lot of hoops,” says Oke. “We can do it all. We’re a one-stop shop.”
It’s the same with design, he adds, as they collaborate with clients to bring their ideas to life. “It’s never a ‘no’ from us. I don’t think we’ve ever told someone we can’t do something.”

The London Home Builders Association just honoured Oke Woodsmith with the Best Renovated Exterior award for this home
at their 2024 Excellence Awards.