Oh hi there.

About Barn Cat Renovations

Hello!

My name is Karen McMillan and I am extremely passionate about home design and helping you renovate your home with ease and confidence. I started Barn Cat Renovations because I noticed so many people getting into trouble with their home reno projects, and I knew that I had the skills to glue the process back together.

I grew up in Toronto, graduated from Ryerson with a degree in Business Management, and had enjoyed a 15+ year career in Project Management all before the Karen internet meme was born. I had taken some courses in architecture right after my degree, and FELL IN LOVE, but then I got my first job in marketing and I've been facilitating the design and build of large enterprise level websites ever since.

I have always loved project management, but I was searching for a way to combine it with my passion for renovations and home design. Then one day a few years ago, I found a fantastic tool for building in 3D, and I was immediately hooked.

I finally realized how I could use my two areas of expertise to help people navigate their home renovations while saving them money, time, and frustration.

I can't wait to help you with your renovation: either through my planning & design programs or by putting my nearly two decades of project management experience to use with my design & build services.

Photo credit: Shawn Hughes

My Mission

My mission is to demystify the renovation process, help people figure out what they want and need in their space, give them the knowledge to make the right decisions, and provide the tools for getting the job done affordably.

Photo credit: Shawn Hughes

Why "Barn Cat"?

When my daughter was born, her first little sounds, combined with that intoxicating milky pukey breath smell, just made me think of a sweet little kitten. As she grew over the next few months, her sounds became a bit more feral, and we started comparing her to a barn cat - cheeky, adventurous, and resourceful. It was her first nick name, and hearing it always brings me joy because it reminds me of her when she was a baby.

Where do I live?

I currently reside in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and probably always will. We have an amazing city here, and though I would prefer a much warmer climate, I am grateful to live in a safe and vibrant city where there I have the opportunity to follow my dreams and do what I love.

Is it hard juggling mom life and an entrepreneurial job?

Mmm let me think about that for a s...YUP! Two little kids is certainly a lot of work, as I think many of you home renovators know, but I wouldn't change a thing! They are only this young for such a short time and then their childhood is over just as quickly as it started. What makes it all easier is that I'm so passionate about home renovations, so this part of my life doesn't really feel like work. This is what I used to do in my spare time for fun, so it just makes sense that I would move my career in this direction.