Check Out This Stunning Bathroom Makeover: One Couple's Elegant Everyday Escape

As busy parents of two young children, our clients yearned for a contemporary ensuite that would meet their needs for functionality and relaxation. Inspired by an elegant hotel room ensuite they admired while vacationing in Chicago, Monarch designer Melissa Foley aimed to recreate the way they felt while in that harmonious space.

Bath Design by Melissa Foley, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

To achieve this vision, a design was created that met all of their requests, including the top three items on their wish list: a larger shower, a double-sink vanity and a soaker tub.

Bath Design by Melissa Foley, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

A portion of the wall between the bathroom and bedroom was removed to allow for a bigger shower. A two-sink vanity with ample drawer space was designed, providing the much-needed practical storage space that ensures a clutter-free countertop.

Bath Design by Melissa Foley, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Although the limited space available for a full-size freestanding soaker tub posed a challenge, Melissa was able to source a smaller model. This allowed the design to maintain the refined look of a luxury hotel bathroom, while still giving our clients the soothing deep soaker experience they desired.

Bath Design by Melissa Foley, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Several design details enhance both the feel and aesthetics of this stylish ensuite. The floor-to-ceiling glass shower enclosure opens the space with a simple elegance; the accent tile on the wet wall and the back of the niche provides interesting contrast, with the chrome insets creating a sparkle that catches your eye. The regal chrome fixtures add sophistication and highlight the hints of chrome in the accent tile. Both the cabinetry and countertop were kept in tones of white, with the warmth of the countertop flowing seamlessly into the tile selections. The darker floor tile ensures all elements of the design pop, and helps create a timeless look and feel for the ensuite.

Bath Design by Melissa Foley, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Bath Design by Melissa Foley, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Urban Effects -- Reasonably Priced Quality Cabinetry -- Made in Canada

Recently, a few members of Monarch’s design team hopped aboard an early morning flight to Winnipeg so they could spend the day with the crew at Urban Effects. Urban Effects is a division of Norcraft, now the fifth-largest kitchen and bathroom cabinet manufacturer in North America. This fall, Norcraft announced its first major expansion in 10 years: the doubling of its Winnipeg plant to more than 130,000 square feet. The expansion will be completed by mid-2015. 

First stop for designers Melissa Foley and Amanda Willson-Suppa was a tour of a new-home build. “The home was very large and the homeowners were having Urban Effects cabinetry installed throughout,” says Amanda. “From lockers in the mudroom entrance and kitchen, to all four bathrooms…even the bar! It was truly gorgeous.”

Melissa and Amanda returned to Urban Effects’ expanding manufacturing facility and showroom where they learned that the upcoming expansion will allow Urban Effects to move their shipping department on site. It will allow them to add even more of the most up-to-date manufacturing to their repertoire.

“One of the most interesting things I learned while I was there is that although we refer to one of the materials used for doors as MDF, Urban Effects only uses HDF – high-density fiber board -- for their painted cabinet doors,” says Amanda. “HDF is a superior product to MDF, allowing for stronger doors and a cleaner finish.”

Cabinetry is certainly one of the biggest expenses in a kitchen renovation. If you're looking for ways to stay within your design budget without sacrificing quality, drop by the Monarch showroom and allow one of our designers to show you the wide range of products Urban Effects has to offer.

How is Your Custom Countertop Made? Monarch Designer Jackie Chambers Live Tweets from Latitute Countertops

A few weeks ago, Monarch's design team toured Latitude Countertops' Toronto manufacturing facility and designer Jackie Chambers took her Twitter followers on the tour along with her. In case you missed it, below are the highlights from day.

A favorite granite of designer Jackie Chambers is Bianco Antico.

 CNC machines ensure your countertops are cut with precision! 

A perfectly mitered edge is important with countertops, and having the right tools is a necessary part of the process. With less quality tools your mitered edges can chip and be very rough.

The kitchen template is laid out directly on your slab, this not only reduces waste, but it also ensures that the best looking parts of the stone are used.

Solid surface slabs are HEAVY! Machines can help lift the pieces into place ensuring that the staff remain safe. 

All of the slabs are tagged on site at the quarry. This way, our manufacturer knows where it has come from, what series it is, and can ensure that all of the slabs used for your kitchen design will come from the same cut.

Our countertop fabricator has a high standard for the quality of their countertops, ensuring that an edge is book matched for the closest match possible. This creates a seam that becomes less visible.

Latitude now offers a 25-year sealer for all granite counter tops. This allows the granite to become virtually stain proof and similar in quality to quartz. This eliminates the need to seal your countertops every six months. In fact, Latitude is even able to seal the granite already in your home in just a few hours.

Ready to Renovate? Monarch Celebrates Kitchen and Bath Month with a Giveaway!

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) has declared October as Kitchen and Bath Month, and Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre's design team is ready to celebrate with you. If you're planning a new kitchen or bath design, Monarch has the incentive you need to kick your renovation plans into full gear!


Celebrate with Monarch!
Book a kitchen or bath design project with Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre before October 31st, 2014, and receive a free faucet or sink (up to a maximum value of $500).

How to Qualify:

1. Any kitchen or bathroom renovation project contracted with Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is eligible to receive a free faucet or sink, to a maximum value of $500.
2. The giveaway is available from October 1st to October 31st, 2014.
3. Only one giveaway per project.
4. Your Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre contract and deposit must be signed and collected prior to October 31st, 2014.
5. By participating in this giveaway, you are giving Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre, or its representatives, the right to use your image, drawings, and project images for use in advertising.

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is committed to your complete satisfaction. Drop by our showroom today and let us know how we can make your renovation dreams a reality!

Follow Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre on Instagram!

If you're looking for design inspiration for your kitchen or bath renovation project, follow "Monarch Kitchen" on Instagram.

Not only will we help keep you up-to-date on the latest trends in kitchen and bath design, you'll be among the first to get a sneak peak at the product samples that regularly make our way into the showroom.

Bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

 
We're on Pinterest too!
If you've spent any time on Pinterest, you know what a great source of information and creativity it is when you have a specific topic in mind. Follow "Monarch Kitchens" on Pinterest and you're just a few clicks away from pages (or boards!) of visual inspiration!

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom kitchen

Are you ready to make your kitchen or bath design dreams a reality? Call us at 905-686-2001 and speak with a member of our design team or drop by our showroom.

Cambria Does it Again with 13 Innovative New Countertop Designs

Cambria's 13 recent additions to their Coastal, Waterstone, Jewel, Marble and Desert collections offer a wide range of trend-setting tones, movements, and colour combinations that complement practically any design preference or decor.

Why choose Cambria? 
Cambria's natural quartz surfaces are durable, stronger than granite and non-porous (NSF 51 Certified), making it as safe as stainless steel for food preparation.

"With 20 stunning selections launched this year alone, Cambria now has more than 120 distinctive designs and continues to be the preferred source for more possibilities than ever." ~ cambriacanada.com

New additions to Cambria's Waterstone Collection include Berwyn, Montgomery, Wentwood, Hampshire and Nevern.

New additions to Cambria's Coastal Collection include Summerhill, Ellesmere, Seagrove, Langdon.

New additions to Cambria's Jewel Collection inlcude Brighstone, Daron and Menai.

New additions to Cambria's Marble & Desert Collection include Castlemartin and Walton.

Soon, you'll be able to drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom to view samples of the latest additions to Cambria's design palette.

Monarch Welcomes Kitchen Designer Jackie Chambers

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is excited to welcome Jackie Chambers to their kitchen

and bath design team.

An interior design graduate from Georgian College School of Design and Visual Arts, Jackie has been working in the kitchen and bath industry since 2004. "I am excited to be working at Monarch," says Jackie. "It will be great working with such a friendly and cohesive team."

Jackie believes that form always follows function, and works closely with clients to achieve a delicate balance of practicality and aesthetics.

An active member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), Jackie stays close to the pulse of the industry by volunteering on various committees. After serving as executive secretary for NKBA’s Ottawa chapter for two years, Jackie has accepted the position of treasurer for NKBA’s Ontario chapter.

Are you ready to renovate? Call Jackie today at 905-686-2001 and discover how Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre can inspire your kitchen and bath design.

Three Reasons Why Patience is the Key to Any Successful Home Renovation

You’ve done it! You’ve set a budget and made the final decision to renovate one or more rooms in your home. It’s exciting and you’re ready to get started NOW.

But wait! Whether you’re redesigning the powder room on your main floor or doing a complete tear down of your out-dated kitchen, it’s important to understand that quality renovation projects require a significant amount of lead time.

Here are just a few reasons why:

1. Trustworthy, Quality Contractors are Booked for Months in Advance
Everyone wants their project to run smoothly, and that’s why reputable design and renovation firms like Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre receive the majority of their new business by word-of-mouth and referrals from previous clients. This means we are often booking design projects months in advance. (If you find a contractor that’s ready to start the job tomorrow, you may want to consider the reasons why.)

2. Custom-made Materials Take Time to Order, Make and Deliver
High demand for quality services is just one of the reasons to be realistic with your timeline. In most cases, the materials required for your project will require a significant time for production and delivery. A custom kitchen or bath is just that – customized based on the measurements of your home. Custom cabinetry ordered through Monarch, for example, takes approximately six to eight weeks (from the time of order) to be delivered.

3. Your Renovation Project May be Seasonal or Delayed by Poor Weather
As Canadians, we’re used to the unpredictability of Mother Nature and poor weather messing with our party and travel plans. With this in mind, it’s also important to remember that November through February are probably not the best months to build a deck or have a your roof re-shingled. Due to the frozen ground in many regions, it’s also not the best time to do major excavation work for an addition. Prep work for those jobs will have to be done by late fall or the project needs to be put off until the snow melts in the spring.

Scheduling is one of the most critical elements to managing your home renovation. At Monarch, we have over 30 years experience planning successful renovations and making your design dreams a reality. Drop by our showroom or call 905-686-2001 to speak with a member of our design team.

Make a Bold, Unforgettable Impression with Caesarstone's Calacatta Nuvo

Caesarstone's interpretation of natural Calacatta marble, Calacatta Nuvo brings you wide, elegant, cascading, grey veins on a white opaque base.

5131 Calacatta Nuvo offers the beauty of natural stone with the ease of Caesarstone care and maintenance.

Why choose Caesarstone?
Caesarstone surfaces consist of up to 93 per cent quartz, one of nature's strongest minerals. They retain the cool tactile qualities of natural stone, while offering design freedom with almost unlimited application possibilities. Caesarstone quartz surfaces are virtually maintenance-free, making them the ideal choice for kitchen countertops, backsplashes and bathroom vanities.



Drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom today and view a sample of Calacatta Nuvo and other Caesarstone surfaces.

Images courtesy of caesarstone.ca.

Polyester Cabinetry: An Affordable and Attractive Solution for Your New Kitchen Design

Design featuring polyester cabinetry by Sarah Holmstrom, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Yes, you read that correctly – polyester cabinetry!

Heat and scratch resistant, polyester cabinetry is a great way to get the kitchen you want without going over budget.

Not only is it easy to clean and durable, it also offers the illusion of wood and has become an affordable and stylish choice for today's homeowner.

Design featuring polyester cabinetry by Sarah Holmstrom, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

At Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre, our designers rely on the quality and selection of Miralis, a Canadian company specializing in high-end kitchen cabinetry since 1976. Their five-piece polyester cabinetry is available in a wide variety of colours and styles. 

To learn more about how you can save money by incorporating polyester cabinetry into your kitchen or bath design, call Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre today at 905-686-2001 or drop by our showroom to view our onsite samples. Have a question? Email us at contact@mkbi.com.

Design featuring polyester cabinetry by Sarah Holmstrom, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

For more information on Miralis, visit www.miralis.com.

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre Cleans Up the Community

 

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre takes part in the 10th Annual 20-Minute Pickering Makeover.

As kitchen and bath designers, the Monarch design team is accustomed to orchestrating dramatic, often life-changing, makeovers for their clients.

Last Friday, Monarch staff took to the streets of Pickering for the 10th Annual 20-Minute Pickering Makeover.

Since 2005, Pickering has joined forces with neighbouring municipalities for the GTA-wide 20-Minute Makeover, an opportunity to pick up litter around City streets, parks, schools and workplaces in our community.

From businesses and schools to community groups and neighbourhood associations, over 70,000 participants have taken part in this annual event since its inception. The Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre team is proud to have played their part in this important community initiative.

Should You Move or Renovate to Adapt? Monarch Explores the Benefits of Updating Your Home to Fit Your Needs

Does this house still fit our needs? Should we move?

We often ask these questions as we journey through the different stages in our lives. Perhaps you’re ready to move into your first home, move in with your partner, or have children? Or maybe you’ve been considering downsizing because your children have grown and left; or your home’s current layout is posing mobility issues. Is moving really what you need to do? Or does renovating your current living space to adapt to your new lifestyle make more sense? Would the money you’ll have to spend on moving fees be better spent by putting it back into the home you know and love?

The time and effort involved in preparing your home for sale is staggering. From cleaning the house and painting walls, to checking off items on your honey-do list and landscaping to grab some extra curb appeal, you’ll wonder why you’re doing all this work for someone else’s benefit. When you add in all the other costs − lawyers, movers, real estate agents, bank fees, taxes, disbursements, insurance and home inspections − it can add up to huge numbers.

Should you move? Ultimately, it comes down to how you want to spend your money.

If the cost of moving is just too great, putting the money you do have into your home is key for living happily and functioning effectively in your day-to-day life. But which elements of your home do you need to renovate to make this work?

Over the next few weeks, Monarch will be exploring ways to adapt your home to your ever-changing needs. This week, we’ll discuss ways to help those hoping to adapt their home from one that was ideal for a single lifestyle into a home perfect for two.

Moving Forward: From Bachelor to Couple

You graduated from college or university, landed a “real” job, and bought your first home. And if you’re like many young professionals, this first home was your solution for how you were living at the time: single. As a first-time home buyer, you were probably not looking ahead to how you were going to be using this house in the future. There was no real thought to who would be living there or what you would be doing in the space in the future.

Fast-forward to today and your needs for a home and living space are much different than they were a few years ago. What previously worked for you, no longer works for you and your partner and it’s time for a change.

Closets that functioned for one person just fine seem smaller than ever, and the need for more storage is has doubled.  

Investing into your storage solutions will make your home feel larger and function better, resulting in a more

harmonious living arrangement. Custom storage solutions allow you to find a place for everything, and help to put everything in its place.

Now that you and your partner are living together, you may be hosting more events at your home, having friends and family over for dinner parties, backyard barbecues and game nights. Perhaps the powder room could use a facelift?

You can make a dramatic change to your home by updating your powder room to a more current and functional look. And because most powder rooms are small, you don’t have to blow your budget to make a big difference to the space.

For more renovation inspiration, drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom or call 905-686-2001 to speak with a member of our design team.

Take a Walk in the Woodlands with Caesarstone

Caesarstone introduces Woodlands (6338), a stunning new colour from its Supernatural series. This latest addition to the Classico collection evokes the warm, earthy browns of its namesake, complemented throughout by delicate, creamy veining.

Why choose Caesarstone?

Caesarstone surfaces consist of up to 93 per cent quartz, one of nature's strongest minerals. They retain the cool tactile qualities of natural stone, while offering design freedom with almost unlimited application possibilities. Caesarstone quartz surfaces are virtually maintenance-free, making them the ideal choice for kitchen countertops, backsplashes and bathroom vanities.

Is a kitchen or bath renovation in your future? We'd love to help make your design dreams a reality. Drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom and speak with a member of our design team, or call 905-686-2001.

Luxury Meets Relaxation in this Black and White Bath Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Black and white bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre.

Black and white bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre.

Black and white bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre.

Black and white bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre.

Black and white bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre.