My Story

Small-Town Roots, Big Dreams

I grew up in a small town called Corbeil, about four hours North of Toronto, where life moved a little slower and nature was always right outside your door. Summers were spent in Temagami at our family cottage, running through the woods and soaking in the peace of the lake. Even now, being outside is still my happy place.

I’ve always been a mix of creativity and logic. Art and math were my favorite subjects in school (a strange combo to some, but that’s just me). I love puzzles, figuring out how things fit together, how they work. And for as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by houses.

pencil drawing of a bungalow house tudor style.jpg

Falling in Love with Design

When I was a kid, my family would go for evening walks through the neighbourhood after dinner. While my parents were chatting about their day, I was secretly wishing I could knock on every door and ask for a tour. I was obsessed. If my parents were going to an open house, I’d beg to tag along, not because we were moving, but because I wanted to see how people lived, how they designed their spaces.

In seventh grade, I had a shop teacher who, ironically, hated getting dirty. He’d be demonstrating how to use a lathe while making sure not a single speck of sawdust landed on him. But what really stuck with me were the drafting lessons. I loved them so much, I took extra work home just for fun. One day, he told me, “If you like this stuff, you should look into architecture.” So, I did. And just like that, I had a goal.

Turning Passion into a Career

I set my sights on Humber College for Architectural Technology. In my second year, I landed a co-op at a residential firm in Vaughan, stayed on part-time in third year, and went full-time the day after I graduated. We mostly designed subdivision homes, the “cookie cutter” kind, but every now and then, I got to work on a custom home. Those were my favorite. That’s where I felt I could really stretch creatively, while staying true to our client’s vision.

The Shift to Building Official Role

Just before the pandemic, my then-fiancé and I bought a house in rural Cobourg. Suddenly, that commute to Vaughan didn’t make a lot of sense. I pivoted, landing a job as a Building Official with the Municipality of Port Hope, and later with the City of Pickering. My role was to review drawings and inspect construction for code compliance, basically, I got to “tour” builds all day long, just like I always wanted as a kid.

The Start of 729 Design

While working as a Building Official, I met so many homeowners and contractors who just needed a little help. They’d want to build a deck or finish a basement but had no idea where to start. I kept thinking, I can help with this. So, I threw up an ad on Facebook Marketplace offering design services. I wasn’t expecting much, but the response blew me away. I already had my BCIN qualification for small residential projects, but as the requests got bigger, I realized it was time to make this official. In February 2023, 729 Design was born.

Adding Home Inspections

A few years later, my now-husband and I were looking at properties and met up with our real estate agent, she was the picture of professionalism: always polished, always prepared… except for her sense of direction. She always seemed to miss a turn or get turned around en route to a showing. During one visit, I couldn’t help but point out all the red flags in the home: structural issues, strange layouts, code concerns. My husband couldn’t help but laugh, and our agent turned to us and said, “You don’t need a home inspector, she just did it.”

That comment stuck with me. I love design, but I missed walking through homes, discovering the story behind the walls. That night, I researched how to become a certified home inspector, signed myself up for the course, and here we are.

Where I Am Now

Today, 729 Design offers both residential design and home inspection services — a blend that feels like the perfect balance of everything I love: creativity, problem-solving, and helping people feel confident in their homes. Whether I’m sketching out a dream kitchen or walking through a century home with a flashlight and clipboard, I bring the same care and passion to every project.

At the end of the day, I believe good design should be accessible, and that everyone deserves to feel proud of where they live. If we get to work together, you’ll quickly learn I’m not just here to draw plans or check boxes. I’m here to make sure you feel supported, informed, and excited every step of the way.

Thanks for stopping by I’m glad you’re here.