Home by Costco

In addition to food and other necessities, Costco is a convenient source for furniture, hardware, appliances and installation services when you’re tackling a home renovation project—as thousands of people are planning to do this year, according to a recent Scotiabank survey.

Meet three couples who recently remodelled their homes, and get insider tips from our buyers about how Costco can help transform your home dreams into reality.

Renovating their dream retirement home on time and on budget

MEMBERS: MARY JEAN + JIM SCOTT / LOCATION: PERTH, ONTARIO / PROJECT: KITCHEN REMODEL

For years, Costco members Mary Jean and Jim Scott looked forward to retiring and moving from Ottawa to Otty Lake, near Perth, Ontario. When they finally purchased a 30-year-old house in this popular tourist enclave in 2017, it needed a lot of work.

“When we bought it, it was typical of places on the lakefront: Previous owners had added on some additions, so it didn’t have good flow,” says Mary Jean. “Many spaces needed serious updating. We had already renovated a home and a cottage prior to moving here where we’d used mostly Costco products, and we always had great experiences.”

The Scotts began by ripping out the dated kitchen. They took advantage of Costco’s custom cabinet services, installing Raywal cabinets, Samsung appliances, two Hahn sinks and faucets, and a luxurious backsplash. The couple even ordered new pots and pans.

“The main reason we’ve used Costco consistently is the customer service we receive,” says Mary Jean. “If there’s ever any issue with anything that we buy, they stand behind it 100%, whether that means putting us in touch with the vendor so that they could send us spare parts or a replacement part, or if it means picking up the item and taking it back. Costco’s customer service replies promptly and finds a solution. You’re never left hanging.”

The couple has also bought flooring through a Costco supplier, and loved being able to receive samples by mail before committing to their order.

“We love the selection and the confidence in buying from Costco; you just can’t beat it,” Mary Jean tells the Connection. “Thanks to the entire Costco team and their suppliers, we were able to complete this renovation with top- quality products and within our budget. And with the $1,000 [Costco Shop Card] we got from buying our cabinets, plus the [2% Reward] on our Costco card, they literally paid us to shop here.”

One-stop shoppers take on a long-distance remodel

MEMBERS: KELLY + RANDY PIDGEON / LOCATION: INDIAN ISLAND, NEW BRUNSWICK / PROJECT: DECOR UPDATES

Long-time Costco member Kelly Pidgeon and her husband, Randy, were living in rural Baker Lake, Nunavut, in 2016 when they spotted the perfect property online: a riverfront home on Indian Island, New Brunswick.

“We bought it sight unseen,” recalls Kelly. “I’m an interior decorator by trade, so Randy and I have often bought homes and flipped them throughout the years. But this one was going to be a keeper.”

The home needed major updating, so the Pidgeons got to work renovating and furnishing the home remotely while living up north. The couple wanted a fresh start, and over the next two years they purchased everything—from bedroom furniture and bathtubs to lighting and linens—via Costco.ca without ever setting foot inside a warehouse.

“We let our fingers do the walking, and every Monday, I’d check out the fabulous treasure hunts and hot buys of the week,” says Kelly. “We placed orders knowing we could arrange family to meet Costco’s delivery teams at the house, and had smaller packages delivered to family who stored everything for us until we could make it down for a visit.”

First up was the bathroom: The couple added a tub, plumbing fixtures, lighting and Turkish towels to their digital cart. Kelly scored many home improvement materials online, including the birch panelling she installed in her hallway. They purchased an acacia dining room set, a pair of swivel tub chairs, accent tables and rugs for the living room, and numerous decorative accessories, including a Christmas tree. They also found a king-size bedroom suite, mattress and bedding.

Kelly explains, “I needed a company that I could trust had top-quality customer service and exchange policies.”

From the ease of shopping and the quality of the goods to the speed of the delivery, the generous return policy and getting 2% back as an Executive member, everything just fell into place, she adds.

“We’re happy to call New Brunswick home, and the place looks fantastic. You truly can outfit an entire home from one incredible store,” says Kelly.

Niagara-on-the-Lake home gets a fresh facelift

MEMBERS: JANET O’BRIEN + JOHN RIVERS / LOCATION: NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO / PROJECT: KITCHEN REMODEL

Right before the pandemic hit, Mississauga residents Janet O’Brien and her husband, John Rivers, bought a 50-year-old house in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. They spent 18 months renovating it from top to bottom before moving in.

“We tackled everything: ceilings, laminate plank flooring, windows, the fireplace, four bathrooms and two kitchens—the main one and a canning one in the basement,” says Janet, noting that the couple did much of the finishing work themselves. “It was a long project, but it kept us sane during the pandemic. And we made every effort to source what we could from Costco, because the value and quality of products are outstanding.”

Janet prefers to research potential purchases by reading consumer reports and reviews before making decisions. Most of the couple’s new big-ticket items, including kitchen and laundry appliances, bedroom and living room furniture, a bathroom vanity, flooring and recessed lighting, were purchased through Costco.ca. The couple found other things, such as toilets and gutter guards, in-warehouse.

“Our favourite purchase was the Epson projector, which now forms the basis for our entertainment space; you can’t beat movies and sports on the big screen,” Janet tells the Connection.

“I just love everything about Costco—including delivery and removal of old appliances. I’ve been a member since the 1990s and it’s extremely rare that I’m disappointed, but even if I do have to return anything, it’s never a problem. If I order it from Costco.ca, I know I can always take it back to any of the warehouses. That gives me peace of mind.”

---