Visit Our Model Home & Design Centre
Walk through The Carlyle in Innisfil and see our craftsmanship in person.
Plan a visit →About A&R Design Build
Fifty Years of Listening, Building and Standing Behind Our Work
A&R Design Build — formerly A&R Carpentry — has been building custom homes and cottages across Central Ontario since 1973.
The A&R Legacy — Building Lifestyle Since 1973
Two Generations, One Standard
Our story began in 1973, when Rene Ouellet Sr. founded A&R Carpentry. As one of Ontario’s largest Viceroy Home dealers and authorized builders, the company earned a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship, honest service and quality construction — and over the years proudly completed more than 1,500 custom homes and cottages across the region.
In 2018, A&R entered its second generation when Rene Ouellet Jr. acquired the family business and rebranded it as A&R Design Build Inc. The name evolved; the values didn’t. The vision simply expanded — beyond construction to a complete design-build experience, bringing design, planning, approvals and construction together under one roof.
Our longstanding location on Highway 400 in Innisfil has become a familiar landmark for generations of homeowners. Over the years, our model homes and Design Centre have welcomed thousands of clients — a place to explore ideas, review plans and select finishes with confidence.
Although the company has grown, our philosophy has never changed. We believe every home should be thoughtfully designed, expertly built and tailored to the people who will live in it. For over 50 years, our family has been building homes — and relationships — that stand the test of time.
The A&R Team
Meet the Team Behind Your Home
When you build with A&R, you work directly with the people responsible for bringing your vision to life — personal guidance from your first consultation through final possession, not a revolving list of representatives.
Rene Ouellet Jr.
Owner
Rene leads the overall construction process with decades of hands-on experience — overseeing site preparation, excavation, foundations and project execution, ensuring every home is built to the highest standards.
Laura McAdam
Design, Sales & Project Development
Laura works closely with clients from the very beginning — from custom home design and planning applications to municipal approvals and project development — turning ideas into buildable plans and guiding clients through every decision.
Cinzia Muzzin
Interior & Exterior Design Consultant
Cinzia helps you personalize every aspect of your new home — exterior finishes, kitchens, flooring, cabinetry, lighting and fixtures — making the selection process enjoyable and stress-free while ensuring every detail works together beautifully.
Darcy McMahon
Site Supervisor
Darcy coordinates construction from framing through completion — managing trades, schedules, quality control and communication to keep every project moving efficiently.
Francine Nash
Accounting & Administration
Francine keeps the administrative side of every project running smoothly — and every dollar accounted for.
Why A&R
Every Builder Can Construct a House
The difference is how you’re treated throughout the journey. For more than 50 years, families have trusted A&R by combining exceptional craftsmanship with genuine, personal service.
A Complete Design-Build Experience
From custom home design and planning approvals to permits, site preparation, construction and final finishes, we manage every stage under one roof — a seamless experience from start to finish.
Personal Guidance Throughout
You’ll work directly with our experienced team — not a revolving list of representatives. Responsive communication and honest advice are essential to a successful project.
Trusted Trades & Local Suppliers
Many of our trades and suppliers have worked alongside us for decades. Those long-standing relationships mean consistent workmanship, dependable scheduling and exceptional quality.
Finishing Packages Built Around You
Our finishing packages flex to each client’s needs and budget — from a DIY package to a fully finished turnkey build, every agreement is tailored to your lifestyle and personal style.
Tarion Registered & Protected
As a Tarion Registered Builder and HCRA Licensed Builder, we build to Ontario’s highest standards and give homeowners the protection and peace of mind they deserve.
Designed Around You
No two homes should look the same. Every design is customized to your property, lifestyle, budget and long-term goals — a home that is uniquely yours.
Proof of Excellence
Credentials You Can Verify
Tarion Registered Builder Since 1983
Established in 1976, Tarion enforces the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act. A&R has been a Registered Builder since 1983, with a strong Ontario New Home Warranty service record — and years of Service Excellence ratings.
HCRA Licensed — #B46716
Ontario’s Home Construction Regulatory Authority licenses the people and companies who build and sell new homes. A&R Design Build Inc. is a licensed Vendor and Builder (Licence #B46716). View our record in the Ontario Builder Directory.
1,500+ Homes & Cottages Since 1973
Five decades of builds across Simcoe County, Muskoka and Central Ontario — and one of Ontario’s largest Viceroy Home dealers in our A&R Carpentry days.
MPDBA Member
A proud member of the Midland, Penetanguishene & District Builders’ Association — active in the local building community we’ve served for generations.
Featured in Our Homes Magazine
Our Georgian Bay lake house was a six-page feature in the Fall 2019 edition of Our Homes — read the story below.
A Complete Design-Build Team
Design, planning, approvals, construction and finishing under one roof — with the same dedicated team from your first conversation through final possession.
The A&R Guarantee
We’re Here for You After You Move In
Every build comes complete with layered warranties for complete peace of mind.
1-Year Builder Warranty
Our own warranty covers your home for a full year after closing.
7-Year Tarion Structural Warranty
Ontario’s new-home structural warranty, backed by Tarion — we’ve held a Registered Builder record since 1983.
Manufacturer’s Warranties
Every product in your home carries its own individual warranty through the manufacturer.
In the Press
As Featured in Our Homes Magazine
When Our Homes went looking for a standout Georgian Bay cottage for its Fall 2019 Barrie edition, the home it put on the page was one we built — for a family who chose to build with us a second time.
The Tiny Beaches cottage we built on Georgian Bay — the home behind the feature. Photo: A&R Design Build.
★ Our Homes · Barrie · Fall 2019
“Beach Life” — a Cottage Worth a Magazine Spread
The Fall 2019 Barrie edition of Our Homes ran a multi-page feature, “Beach Life,” on a custom cottage we built in the Tiny Beaches area of Georgian Bay for a Toronto couple, Phil and Elsa.
It’s the kind of story we’re proudest of: they had built with A&R’s Rene Ouellet Jr. once before, years earlier near Wasaga Beach — and when it came time to build their dream place further north, they came back. In the article they recalled “a great experience working with builder Rene Ouellet Jr.”
The details that made the page are the ones we sweat on every build: a no-maintenance composite deck off the main floor, glass railings that keep the Georgian Bay view unobstructed, and a partially covered back deck made for long summer meals.
Story by M. Carolyn Black ·
Photography by Sandy MacKay ·
Our Homes, Barrie edition, Fall 2019 (pp. 58–60).
Keep Exploring
HST Rebate Information
Building new? Understand the HST rebate in plain language — and how we help.
Learn more →The A&R Build Process
See our step-by-step process — from first conversation to keys in hand, and after.
Our process →Ready to build your dream home or cottage?
Tell us about your project and we’ll reply within two business days. No pressure — just an honest conversation with a builder who listens.