About OMR Build
A licensed Canberra renovation builder, run by the same crew since 2008
We design and build kitchen, bathroom, extension and whole-home renovations across Canberra — one in-house team from the first measure-up to the handover walkthrough, so nothing gets lost between a designer and a builder.
Why we exist
Closing the gap between design and build
OMR Build exists because too many Canberra renovations fall over in the gap between the person who designs them and the person who builds them. We closed that gap by keeping design and construction under one roof, run by the same small crew for every project.
That's meant slower, deliberate growth — 120-odd renovations in eighteen years, not thousands — but it's also meant fixed-price quotes that hold up, and a team who still knows your name by the time the last coat of paint goes on.
Meet the team
The people you'll actually deal with, from quote to handover
Owen Reyes
Founder & Head Builder On-site most weeks, and still does the final walkthrough on every job himself.
Mia Chen
Design Lead Turns the first sketch into drawings the build team can price and build from directly.
Tom Whitfield
Site Manager Runs the trade schedule and sends the weekly progress update on every build.
Priya Nair
Client Liaison Your first call for anything, from a quote question to the six-month check-in.
Our story
Started after seventeen years of watching renovations go wrong
"I'd spent years on other people's sites watching a good design get quietly changed once the builder took over, because they'd never spoken to each other. I started OMR to close that gap — same people from the first sketch to the last coat of paint."
Owen founded OMR Build in 2008 after a career as a carpenter across Canberra's project-home and character-home markets. The rule he set on day one — design and construction under one roof — is still how every OMR project runs today, from a single bathroom to a whole-home renovation.
— Owen Reyes, Founder
How we work
The habits we've kept since 2008
Straight quotes
- Fixed price once your design is locked in — no line-item surprises after demolition.
- Every quote is itemised, so you can see exactly where the budget goes.
One team, start to finish
- The same people run your consult, design and build — no subcontracted project management layer.
- Core trades are OMR employees, not one-off subcontractors picked per job.
Built for Canberra's climate
- Insulation, glazing and materials specified for our winter-summer temperature swing, not a generic spec sheet.
- Particular experience with the double-brick homes common across the inner north and inner south.
Around after handover
- A six-month aftercare call on every project, unprompted.
- A named contact to ring if anything needs attention once the workmanship warranty period ends.
Licensed & insured
The paperwork, for anyone who wants it in writing
Where we build
Based in Canberra, working across the inner city and beyond
OMR Build renovates homes across Braddon, Reid, Turner, O'Connor, Ainslie, Watson, Griffith, Kingston, Manuka, Deakin, Yarralumla, Curtin, Garran, Weston Creek and Belconnen. If you're just outside these suburbs, get in touch anyway — we regularly travel further for the right project.
Common questions
About OMR Build
How long has OMR Build been renovating homes in Canberra?
OMR Build was founded in 2008 and has completed more than 120 renovations across Canberra since, from single-room updates to whole-home rebuilds.
Is OMR Build a licensed and insured builder?
Yes. OMR Build holds a C3 ACT builder's licence, carries $20 million in public liability cover, and provides the statutory home warranty required by law on every project.
Do you subcontract the design or project management?
No. Design and site management stay in-house with the same OMR team for the life of the project — we don't hand your job between separate design and building businesses.
Can OMR Build renovate a heritage or character home?
Yes — heritage and character-zoned renovations are one of our specialties, particularly in Reid, Braddon and Ainslie, where we work to keep street-facing character intact while modernising the interior.
What suburbs does OMR Build service?
We work across Canberra's inner north and inner south, plus Weston Creek and Belconnen. If your suburb isn't listed on this page, contact us — we take on projects further out for the right fit.
Do you offer a warranty on completed renovations?
Every project includes the statutory ACT home warranty, plus a six-month aftercare call and a named contact for anything that comes up afterward.
"Same three faces from the first measure-up to the last coat of paint. That's rarer than it should be in this industry."
David & Wen — Curtin, ACT