Which Home Renovations Yield the Best Return on Investment?

Whether you’re renovating to meet your changing needs or trying to improve the overall look of your home, it never hurts to consider what the return on your design investment will be.

According to yearly surveys done by the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC), refurbished kitchen and bathrooms continually yield the best return on investment, with 75 to 100 per cent of spending for these renovations recovered at resale. Interior painting, a new roof or heating system and a finished basement also ranked high (see full list below).

Of course, a high return on investment is only possible if the renovation is done tastefully, adheres to local building codes, and is in line with current trends.

Avoid projects that set your home apart from other houses in your neighbourhood. The AIC advises: “If the value of your house exceeds the average market value in your neighbourhood, your renovations will not yield much return. But if your house value is below the average, you can recover a larger part of the renovation costs.”

Whatever your reason for updating your home, Monarch designers can help. Working with you from conception to completion, our customized design services include complete project management and the use of licensed, insured and bonded tradespeople. In addition, we offer three lines of custom cabinetry covering a range of budget options perfect for your house, condominium or cottage.

Percentage of investment recovered upon resale:

Kitchen upgrade: 75% to 100%
Bathroom upgrade: 75% to 100%
Interior painting: 50% to 100%
Roof replacement: 50% to 80%
Replacement of furnace or heating system: 50% to 80%
Expansion (addition of family room): 50% to 75%
Doors and windows: 50% to 75%
Deck: 50% to 75%
Installation of hardwood floor: 50% to 75%
Construction of a garage: 50% to 75%
Fireplace (wood or gas) 50% to 75%
Central air conditioning: 50% to 75%
Finished basement: 50% to 75%
Wood fence: 25% to 50%
Interlocking paving stones on driveway: 25% to 50%
Landscaping: 25% to 50%
Asphalt driveway: 20% to 50%
Pool: 10% to 40%
Skylights: 0% to 25%

Stay in Your Home Longer with an In-Home Elevator

Aging in place – the ability to live in one’s own home safely, independently and comfortably – has become an increasingly hot topic among homeowners over the past decade.

Baby boomers who have struggled to find a place for their aging loved ones to live safely are realizing that planning ahead for their own retirement and future health challenges is a priority. For many, the planning has changed from downsizing or moving into a seniors’ complex, to aging in place in order to stay safely in their home longer.

And why not? If you consider the amount of time, money and love homeowners put into their homes over the course of their lifetime, doesn’t it makes sense to further invest in adapting your living space instead of planning a big move?

As we age, navigating stairs become one of the biggest hindrances to aging in place. And while chair lifts are a viable solution, residential elevators are fast becoming a popular choice in the homes able to accommodate them.

If adding an elevator to your home seems like an outrageous expense, consider the cost and stress involved in finding a new home and the stress and expense of the move itself.

At Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre, aging in place is a topic we all hold dear to our hearts. Having the ability to make our clients’ home function for them regardless of their age and physical abilities is something each member of our design team strives for.

From something as simple as installing grab bars during a bath renovation to arranging for a design and renovation to include an elevator, Monarch is able to help you in all of your home renovation needs. Our goal is to help our clients stay in their home as long as they are comfortable.

To learn more, call Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre today at 905-686-2001 to discuss your design and renovation needs.

Book Now and Spruce Up Your Kitchen in Time for the Holidays

If you're considering a home renovation this fall, you're not alone.

A new survey found that 65% of Canadian homeowners plan some kind of home renovation in the next 12 months. A whopping 38% of those planning to renovate will tackle their bathroom, followed by 33% who admitted their kitchen needs work.

If you're dreading the idea of celebrating another Christmas in your outdated kitchen, don't despair! There is still time to give your kitchen a face lift before having your family and friends over during the holidays.

After all, no matter how you try to steer people out of your kitchen, it's the heart of your and where guests feel the most comfortable.

Give Yourself the Gift of a New Countertop and Backsplash
Imagine how much a new countertop and backsplash would change the overall look and feel of your kitchen. A new look may be all you need to love your kitchen again, so give the designers at Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre a chance to refresh your space in time for the holidays.

To learn more, drop by our showroom or call us at 905-686-2001.

Why You Should Hire Monarch to Renovate Your Condominium

When introducing new products or services on this blog, we often reference renovations we’ve performed in the houses of our clients. The truth is, a substantial number of our clientele are condo owners, as well.

In fact last fall, condo owner Donna Young was the winner of our Win Your Granite or Quartz Countertop contest. Earlier in the year, Monarch transformed Mrs. Young’s traditional condominium kitchen into a sleek, contemporary space. This year, the National Kitchen and Bath Association honoured Monarch designer Melissa Foley for a major "medium kitchen" condominium redesign.

Renovating a condo is different than renovating a home. Condominium corporations typically have rules that regulate renovations and the condo board outlines what can and cannot be touched during a renovation (ie. windows, corridors, mechanical systems, plumbing, electrical, bearing walls etc.). You may be considering relocating a toilet or sink in your condo’s bath renovation, for instance, but the drains and supply lines are common elements between units and cannot be touched. If they were to be moved, it may disrupt the plumbing and drainage for the entire building!

Melissa Foley's NKBA award-winning "medium kitchen" design

Condo renovations require a great deal of planning and coordination between the designer, the tradespeople, the condo corporation and the owner. A well-executed renovation involves:

• a design that not only pleases the owner, but adheres to all building permits;
• the use of experienced, licensed tradespeople;
• managing noise levels and working only during designated hours so as not to disturb the neighbours;
• finding proper parking and booking elevator time for the transport of supplies and materials;
• effectively managing the removal of waste and construction debris.

Condo redesign by Melissa Foley, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

With so many additional considerations involved, some contractors avoid working on condo units. Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre is not one of them. Our design team is experienced with the challenges of designing and renovating condo units and is committed to your complete satisfaction. Call us today at 905-686-2001 or drop by our showroom and meet with one of our designers.

Introducing Six New Stunning Designs from Caesarstone

Just in time for your fall kitchen or bath renovation, Caesarstone has added six new countertop designs to their Classico collection. Drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom today and view these samples and more from Caesarstone.

Bianco Drift - Caesarstone's own interpretation of a granite texture, refined with a clean and glossy feel that imbues the slab with a marbly touch. This interesting twist makes Bianco Drift ideal for both traditional and contemporary interior designs. Bianco Drift blends the classical beauty and elegance of white with delicate swirls of light brown and grey hues.

Vanilla Noir - Vanilla Noir offers a patent-pending, natural look of delicate wide veins that beautify the slab with a powerful and impressive look. Vanilla Noir dramatically merges solid black and bold beige and vanilla strokes. Treasured in the right space, Vanilla Noir enriches your interior with a unique, luxurious feel.

Coastal Grey - Caesarstone's own interpretation of the traditional granite look, beautified with strokes of black and white, Coastal Grey has dark, dominant tones and a strong character that empowers your interiors with a rustic beauty.

Summer Rye - Savouring the gentle array of classic, timeless brown hues with calming white details, Summer Rye creates an ambiance of confidence and tranquility that completes the harmony of any space with warmth.

Clamshell - Fusing a sophisticated blend of soft-toned, trendy greys with intricate details of deep greys and whites. Clamshell offers the versatility to suit interiors featuring either warm or cold colour pallets.

Alpine Mist - Alpine Mist offers a patent-pending, natural look of delicate wide veins that beautify the slab with a powerful and impressive look. Immerse in the exquisite depths of Alpine Mist's lustrous white, glossy feel and captivating white details. Alpine Mist is a perfect match to any interior design environment.

What's the Best Time of Year to Renovate a Kitchen or Bath?

“Our clients frequently ask us what time of year is best to renovate a kitchen or bathroom,” says Monarch designer Kevin Samson. “There is no standard answer to that question, as every client has a slightly different requirement or reason for choosing a date.”

Before the renovation scheduling begins, your Monarch designer reviews the particulars of your kitchen or bath project so you know exactly what to expect during the entire renovation.

“By asking a few questions at the beginning of the planning process, we’re able to work together to determine an ideal project date,” explains Kevin. “Sometimes clients want to upgrade their kitchen or bath prior to hosting an event in their home and this can determine the date the project will start or finish.” The warmer months are a popular time to renovate because clients are able to cook outdoors and spend more time outside, away from the ‘job site.’

“Families with younger children often prefer to have their home renovated during the school year, as it is less stressful on the family if the children are in school during the day. One of my clients has completed three projects with Monarch, and each time they’ve asked for them to be performed during the winter months,” says Kevin. “Their reason for the winter time frame is so they can enjoy their home during the summer without disruption.”

Are you considering a kitchen or bath renovation? Monarch has been making homeowner’s kitchen and bath dreams a reality for over 30 years. Drop by our showroom or call us at 905-686-2001 to book a consultation with one of our design team.

The Beauty and Versatility of Viatera Quartz Countertops

Earlier this year, over 300 National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) members-designers from the United States and Canada responded to NKBA’s annual design trends survey. In the survey, respondents were asked to report the materials, product types, and design styles they specified over the final three months of 2012. The results are in and it appears that quartz countertops are making a comeback: “While the use of quartz finishes was in slight decline last year, it has surfaced as a clear trendsetter this year [2013].” ~ NKBA

If you’re considering a kitchen or bath renovation this fall, chances are choosing a new countertop is on you’re to-do list.

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre designers often recommend quartz countertops to our clients. Stunning and exceptionally versatile, quartz is low-maintenance, resistant to stains and comes in a variety of textures, tones and colours.

The Viatera line of quartz countertops from LG Hausys, for example, is available in four colour collections. Drop by our showroom today to see them first-hand.

Terracota (warm earthen tones of beiges, browns and rust)

Woodlands (inspired by the colours and tones of the forest)

Urban Chic (an eclectic mix of colours that are both fresh and inviting)

International (bold coloured patterns, some with chips of glass, mirror and metal)

To view the Viatera Inspiration Gallery, click here.

One Design Trend You May Not Have Seen Coming

Brushed Bronze handshower
by Moen

Brass. It’s showing up in an increasing number of design showrooms and making its way back into your home!

Never completely gone, brass designs have had a rougher, more patinated feel to it in the past few years. For 2013, however, interior designers are embracing the shine. From gleaming chandeliers that incorporate a mixture of metals and hang above your dining tables, to brushed bronze hardware for your kitchen and bath cabinetry, there’s no denying it: brass is back and here to stay.

Icon by Moen
Brushed Bronze

“I love the fact that most of the new finishes are polish-free,” says Monarch design Marion Cuddie. “If you are a traditionalist at heart, brass is a great way to honour the past with all the style and convenience of today.”

Brass Ring Knob
by Berenson

Savvy kitchen and bath manufacturers are fully aware of the stigma attached to the word “brass” and have found ways to ease consumers into including brass décor into their homes.

Ever fearful of furnishing their homes with the shiny polished brass that decorated their parents’ homes, consumers are now purchasing items with such descriptions as “antique bronze” and “brushed bronze.”

What’s old is new again! For more ideas on including brass into your kitchen or bath décor, drop by the Monarch showroom and speak with one of our designers.

Why Spending Money on a High-Efficiency Toilet Makes Sense

If you’re renovating your bathroom, you may be looking at replacing your current toilet. While choosing the right style is important to the overall look of your new bath design, you’ll want to consider its level of water efficiency, as well.

As the main source of water use in the home, toilets account for close to 30 percent of your home's indoor water consumption. If you own an older, inefficient toilet (manufactured prior to 1994), it may use as much as 6 gallons of water per flush – a huge source of wasted water (and money) in your home.

Recent advancements have allowed toilets to use 1.28 gallons per flush or less while still providing equal or superior performance.

To illustrate the difference this new technology makes to your home, Master plumber Ed Del Grande and HGTV's Nicole Facciuto compare new high-efficiency toilets to the traditional 3.5-gpf models in this video:



Here are a few suggestions of the high-efficiency toilets available for your home:

If you're considering a bath renovation, Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre can help. Drop by our showroom today or call us at 905-686-2001 and speak with one of our designers. 

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre Uses Schluter-Ditra for Beautiful Floors that Last

Seeing your ceramic or stone floor installed in your new kitchen or bath design is an exciting part of the renovation process. Flooring often puts the finishing touch on a room’s design and ties in all of the design elements you’ve spent months choosing with care.

Proper installation is key to keeping your floor beautiful and protecting the integrity of the tile assembly. At Monarch, we use Schluter-DITRA.

From Schluter.com: 

Ceramic and stone tiles are durable, easy to maintain, and hygienic, representing the ideal surface coverings. However, today's lightweight construction methods can make the installation of hard surface coverings particularly challenging. In order to protect the integrity of the tile assembly, an underlayment that performs multiple functions is required. 

Schluter-DITRA is a polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities, each cut back in a dovetail configuration, and an anchoring fleece laminated to its underside. Schluter-DITRA is bonded to the substrate using thin-set mortar. The anchoring fleece on the underside of Schluter-DITRA is fully engaged in the mortar to provide a mechanical bond to the substrate. Tile is installed over Schluter-DITRA using the thin-bed method in such a way that the mortar becomes mechanically anchored in the square, cutback cavities of the Schluter-DITRA matting.  

Designed specifically for ceramic tile and dimension stone installations, Schluter-DITRA serves as an uncoupling layer, waterproofing membrane, and vapor management layer that accommodates moisture from beneath the tile covering. Further, DITRA performs all these functions while still providing adequate support/load distribution for the tile covering.

“Monarch uses Schluter-DITRA when tiling because it ensures that the tile will stand the test of time and look spectacular for many years to come,” says Monarch president Neil Samson.

Let the Timeless Elegance of GROHE's Grandera Collection Welcome You Home

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre designer Melissa Foley discovered the beauty and versatility of GROHE’s new Grandera™ collection while helping a homeowner put the finishing touches on a recent bath design.

From GROHE.com:

The GROHE Grandera™ collection is both a homage to an age of grandeur long past and an affirmation of a modern sensibility, combining the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship with a love of detail and comfort. 

Stylistically, the Grandera™ collection can be combined with a wide range of bathroom furnishings, with the added flexibility of two colours – chrome and chrome/gold. Thanks to GROHE StarLight® technology, not only will the fittings retain their shine in the long term but they are also extremely resistant to dirt and scratches. 

The GROHE Grandera™ collection stands for perfection, right down to the smallest detail. And that is why the entire range, from the head shower to the thermostat and from the washbasin fitting to the soap dispenser, is perfectly coordinated. 

The GROHE Grandera™ collection provides a wide range of distinctive products for designing your home spa so that you can tailor each individual zone in your bathroom to your exact wishes and requirements. High-quality workmanship and exceptional craftsmanship, reflected also in the many decorative elements, create clean and precise shapes 

The impressively broad range is complemented by numerous accessories in white porcelain, each one perfectly coordinated with the design. It‘s the ideal way to create stylish accents in the bathroom.

Are you considering a bath renovation this summer? Drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom for design inspiration. While you’re there, speak with a member of our design team – we’d be happy to help.