Jim Bell Architectural Design Inc.
26 Bert G. Argue K2S 1X9 Ottawa, ON, Canada

Thinking about building a custom waterfront home or cottage next summer? Now is the time to connect with us! The design and permitting process can take 5-8 months depending on the complexity of the project. We're here to lead you through the design process and take care of the complexities for you. Contact us today to arrange a phone consultation. https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/architectural-de/consultation/

Fine custom homes, family cottages, home renovations and additions, new commercial buildings, business renovations and additions, creative retail concepts... our design team is dedicated to designing beautiful, purposeful, timeless residential and commercial spaces for our clients. It's always about fulfilling our clients’ vision and designing spaces that will function exceptionally well for their day-to-day lives. Find out more about these projects: https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/

Inspired by the French-Provincial architectural style, this all-brick home was designed for an estate lot in Manotick. It has a welcoming front entry and a large wrap-around screened room and porch on the back. All five bedrooms have walk-in closets and direct access to an ensuite or jack-and-jill bathroom. The principal bedroom is a spacious retreat with large walk-in closet and ensuite. The main level boasts a formal dining room, open-concept great room and kitchen with butler's pantry, a home office and mudroom. See more at https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/.

A new waterfront home designed by our firm is under construction on the Ottawa River. These images show the options for exterior colours and materials, a service we offer clients as part of our comprehensive design process. The waterfront home design takes full advantage of the view with expansive windows towards the river, bringing in ample light to the open-concept great room, dining room and kitchen area, the den, and principal bedroom suite. A spacious screened room and m...ud/laundry room round out the main floor level. Our design process takes our clients from an in-depth exploration of their needs, wants and style preferences through a total of four phases to the detailed drawings and documents needed for the permit application and construction. Explore designs for cottages, homes, renovations and commercial projects in our portfolio: https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/ See more

Our autumn eNewsletter is out today. Catch up on the latest projects and news. https://mailchi.mp/a4b03d8b2493/autumn2020

We now have a gorgeous piece of art by artist Reva Madryga hanging in our Pembroke office boardroom. Thank you, Reva!

With almost 180-degree views, the main living area of this spectacular waterfront home sits high on a bluff and welcomes views of the lake from the east, south and west. Currently under construction, this home has three distinct annexes: a main living/eating area; a section with the main bedroom suite and 3 spacious guest bedrooms; and, a 2-level garage offering plentiful storage. The entire home is designed to capture the views and fill the interior with light. Find out more https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/?p=3606.

We are delighted to welcome Lynette Mitchell to our design team! She will prepare drawings, technical specifications and contract documents from preliminary design through to building permit application. Lynette holds an Architectural Technician Diploma with Honours from Algonquin College and a Certificate in Architectural Drafting from Inscape Design College in South Africa. She is a Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) Interiors Accredited Professional. Her 10+ years of experience include working as a Draftsperson in Dubai and designing interior fit-ups at a major bank in South Africa. In her spare time she enjoys upcycling furniture and volunteering with the ReStore. Learn more about our team at https://www.jimbelldesign.ca//www.jimbelldesig/about/team/

There is a buzz about the future container market in Petawawa after the presentation of our concept to Council last week. https://www.pembroketoday.ca//proposed-location-for-conta/

The Town of Petawawa has the vision to create a unique market using shipping containers and they asked us to develop a concept to share with the community. Last week this walk-through video was shared with Council. The design reflects the history of the area as the adjacent railway line has been repurposed as a year-around multi-purpose trail. The configuration of the market buildings facing the highway emulates a train passing by. The concept creates a welcoming place for the community to gather (post-Covid) and for local shops and businesses to thrive. A rooftop patio will attract fans who want to enjoy some food and drink as they watch the ball game going on next door. Visit https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/?p=3582 to see more images.

Our design team has been working with the Uganda High Commission to design the renovation of their staff residence in Ottawa. The addition and renovation will meet the needs of their staff while still honouring the heritage features of the residence. The City of Ottawa's Heritage Committee approved the design this week and we are happy to share the vision with these new renderings. To see this project and more, please visit https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/

Planning a new custom home, renovation or addition? Search for inspiration in our portfolio. You'll see a wide range of styles represented -- craftsman to contemporary, modern to traditional. Each home is customized to suit our clients' needs, wants and vision so each one is unique and truly one-of-a-kind. https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/

Our design team at Jim Bell Architectural Design Inc. is currently working with the Carleton Place library to re-envision their space. This week we invite you to view a virtual walkthrough of the design concept presented to the Board and community. The design objective is to provide a more welcoming, accessible, flexible, friendly, and inclusive building for all who visit the library. The new design provides easy access to the collections, while also providing flexible spaces for programming and staff workspaces. Accessibility and responsible use of energy are both key considerations. View the walk-through and find out more at https://youtu.be/jKi5ID_78IA

This new custom waterfront home will be built in the Calabogie area on a lovely treed lot with spectacular water views. The design style is Classic Craftsman with a hint of Modern Contemporary. The main floor great room will have a soaring cathedral ceiling and a wall of windows to take full advantage of the view. For more information about this project, visit https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/port/custom-calabogie-cottage/.

Our lovely client needed a cozy home that suited her modest lifestyle and made it easier to care for her elderly mother. The addition of a basement apartment will provide some extra income. This 2-bedroom home fits comfortably on a small in-town property and is affordable to build. Although many of the homes in our portfolio are larger estate or waterfront homes, we welcome the opportunity to design more modest homes for clients who need only a small space or have a smaller build budget. Large or small, the upfront investment in professional architectural design will result in a home that is efficient to construct and highly functional for your life. Explore our portfolio at https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/.

We're pleased to announce "Home Trends Magazine" chose Jim's Palmerston Lake cottage design for their "Cottages We Love" feature. Take a look at https://issuu.com/hometrendsm//15th_anniversary_edition/34

Just over 30 years ago, Jim designed a home for a couple in Rothwell Heights (first photo). They still live there and love the home as it was built all of those years ago. Over the years since then, Jim has designed hundreds of homes and home renovations, many "forever" homes for their original owners. He doesn't design homes to make an architectural statement or to pursue his personal artistic goals. He always strives to design homes that are a joy for his clients, their families and their guests spaces, where they live, entertain, relax, and age comfortably. During his 40+ years of designing homes, nothing makes Jim happier than to hear from clients after they've lived in their home for a few years, "We wouldn't change a thing." Explore Jim's portfolio https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/.

Our latest eNews is out today! https://mailchi.mp/e521b0edd5cd/spring2020enews

Recently, Tartan Homes asked Jim to redesign the elevations for their 35' lot homes. The builder wanted to offer their clients more choice along with their tried and true Craftsman style -- contemporary and modern styles to appeal to more home buyers. Take a look at our portfolio to explore our custom home, cottage and commercial design projects. https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/

We're sharing an "on the boards" commercial project this week. The client asked our firm to design a two-storey office building set back from a very busy street. Fourteen individual commercial spaces will be available for lease. These two elevation design options provide great visibility from the street and prominent spaces for business signage. The site design takes into account the parking requirements and potential future development on the property. Materials have been selected for their aesthetics, durability and ease of maintenance. Interested in seeing more projects? Explore our portfolio https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/

We've had a lot of inquiries about waterfront homes and cottages recently as couples and families plan to stay closer to home for the foreseeable future. Jim loves designing cottages and has helped many families design their new or renovated family cottages and retirement homes over the last 30+ years. Start planning now to build next spring or summer. To arrange a complimentary phone consultation to discuss your plans for your waterfront property contact us at https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/?p=2974. See more in our Portfolio at https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/portfolio/.

We were honoured to join with 104.9 myFM and many other local businesses to thank those on the front lines at the Pembroke Regional Hospital. To all who are risking their own health to care for our neighbours, family and friends, thank you for your dedication.

Are you considering the purchase of a waterfront property? Since travel outside of Canada may be challenging for a while, we are hearing from families who would like to design a new cottage, waterfront home, or major renovation to an existing cottage. If you are in the market for waterfront property, we hope you will find our article helpful -- "Considerations when Choosing a Property for your Cottage or Waterfront Home". https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/?p=3449

This spectacular renovation/addition transformed a small older cottage with an inefficient layout into a dream vacation home. Overall, the renovation design mitigated layout issues and significantly enlarged the space. When it's all about the view, the windows are key. Now the cottage is filled with light from a wall of large, high-quality windows, an additional window beside the fireplace, and a new patio door. New awnings provide shade and protection on hot, sunny days. The... new sunroom addition is truly stunning. The striking stone fireplace with farmhouse beam mantle and the pine ceiling and trim create a warm, casual atmosphere perfect for entertaining and relaxation. And, of course, three of the "walls" are all windows to bring the outside in. The original deck was small and it could not comfortably accommodate a typical patio set. The new, enlarged, maintenance-free, composite 18'x30' deck is ready to welcome family and friends for fun and relaxation. See interior images and learn more at https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/?p=862

Offices, retailers, clinics and local businesses of all kinds are beginning to rethink their commercial spaces for our new reality. We can help with workflow analysis and creative renovation design solutions to keep your business thriving, while implementing measures to improve physical distancing to protect your staff and your customers. To schedule a complimentary phone consultation, please contact us at https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/?p=2966.

During these challenging times, we all need to hear stories of triumph over adversity. With that in mind, we are revisiting a very special project -- a fire restoration that turned a tragedy into a new beginning. Read Dannielle's story at https://www.jimbelldesign.ca/?p=1411