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Showing posts with label 2014 Kitchen Design Trends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2014 Kitchen Design Trends. Show all posts

January 14, 2015

Excellent Customer Service and Innovative Cabinet Design: A Satisfied Monarch Customer Weighs in at HomeStars.com

Kitchen Renovation

December 20th, 2014
Tom from Richmond HIll writes:

My family hired this company last year to help renovate our kitchen, including the cabinets and countertops, and I must say that they're probably one of the best companies around in this department. The design was very innovative, the quality of its products were excellent, the staff were nice and engaging, and the project was orderly and completed on time. Everything they done is worth the price. However we feel the best part about them is the customer service. Niel, the president of Monarch even personally visited our house to make sure everything fits the design and even provided helpful tips to make the finished kitchen work at its utmost potential. Last year we experienced a minor problem with the cabinet knobs, but Niel and his team immediately responded to our concern and replaced them entirely at their cost. Go with them, and you won't regret it.

To read all of Monarch's reviews on Homestars, click here.

December 3, 2014

Monarch's Design Team Gets in the Holiday Spirit by Building Holiday Homes ... with Gingerbread!

Always eager to flex their design muscles, Monarch's design team took on a holiday-themed design project on a smaller-than-usual scale -- gingerbread houses.
 
With no blueprints in sight, all they needed was some icing and colourful confections! Except for Kevin Samson -- his gingerbread house was held together with green packing tape.







November 21, 2014

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.

November 14, 2014

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.

November 6, 2014

Toronto Kitchen Design: Choose Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre for a Renovation That's On Time and On Budget

Kitchen and Laundry Room Renovation

October 28th, 2014
Bruce and Pam from Toronto write:


We LOVE everything about our new kitchen and laundry room, and all of the other main floor renovations Monarch did for us. Everyone who visits is equally impressed with the quality, and even more amazed when we tell them that Monarch delivered the entire project on time and on budget! When finally we decided to renovate much of our main floor early this year, we considered several alternatives: Everyone from a single contractor who would bring in the trades as needed, to designer-contractor
partnerships, to turnkey companies. After meeting with Kevin in Monarch's beautiful showroom, and visiting one of their recent projects just around the corner from us, we felt confident Monarch was our best choice. Now that the project is done, we're convinced we made a great decision! From design to project completion, everyone on their team was great to work with. We especially appreciated the care their installers took to keep our home as tidy as possible during the project. It's never fun to live in a construction site, but they made it as painless as possible for us. We also found their showroom to be incredibly convenient. With Kevin's expert guidance...and patience...we were able to make all of our decisions about tile, cabinet material, colours, fixtures, etc., without having to drive all over the city! That was a major time saver for us. We are very thankful we chose Monarch and have already referred the company to several friends who are thinking about similar renovations. In fact, we'd recommend Monarch to Anyone!

To read all of Monarch's reviews on HomeStars, click here.

October 2, 2014

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!

September 25, 2014

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.

September 17, 2014

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.

September 14, 2014

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.

August 22, 2014

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.

August 14, 2014

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.

August 8, 2014

Cambria's Interactive Paint Match Tool Makes Finding the Right Colour for Your New Kitchen Easy!


Choosing the perfect paint colour to tie all of the elements of your new kitchen design together can be a difficult task.  Luckily, Cambria, a leader in quartz countertop design, has partnered with Benjamin Moore to simplify process.

The perfect tool for homeowners and designers alike, every Cambria design has been meticulously paired with four complementary Benjamin Moore colors.

By using the interactivepaint match tool on Cambria's website, you will instantly get a better sense of how each Benjamin Moore paint color plays against the shades, movement and colors inherent in your favorite Cambria designs.

Cambria's Paint Match Tool

From Benjamin Moore:
"Cambria and Benjamin Moore have joined forces to make designer color selection easy. Benjamin Moore's design experts have paired four wall covering shades to every Cambria design, allowing you to match your Cambria designs to paint colors that are as rich and beautiful as the countertops themselves.
Now with more than 100 designs to choose from, Cambria is the industry leader in quartz countertops. Cambria and Benjamin Moore share the same deep commitment to quality and color innovation, with a constant and consistent focus on future design trends."

June 19, 2014

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. 

www.miralis.comTo 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.

May 28, 2014

5 Reasons Why Summer is the Perfect Time to Have Your Kitchen Renovated


After a seemingly endless winter spent indoors, there’s a good chance you’re ready to say goodbye to your drab, outdated kitchen and excited to embrace a brighter, more efficient living space.

But no matter how well you plan for the disruption of a major kitchen renovation, there's nothing that quite prepares you for the daily inconvenience of preparing meals and doing dishes in a temporary kitchen. As the heart of the home, your kitchen is more than a place prepare and eat meals; it's the central gathering place for most families.

When’s the best time to renovate? For many homeowners, the sunny days of summer make the most sense.

Renovating your kitchen during the summer months has its advantages:

Weather permitting...you can eat in your outdoor kitchen!

Polish up the patio set, turn on the portable CD player, set the table and VOILA! You've got yourself a temporary kitchen away from the dust and mess of your kitchen renovation.

You can barbecue more and eat take-out less.

Eating at restaurants and bringing take-out food home is as expensive as it is tiresome. Fortunately, the internet offers endless creative ways to use your barbecue to grill meat, poultry, seafood and vegetables.

You can go on vacation.

If you have young children, it's often easier to leave for a week at the cottage or an extended road trip once they are out of school. You may not be able to avoid living at home during the entire period of upheaval, but you can reduce the amount of stress your family feels by planning to be away during some of the "messier" periods of your renovation.

You can breathe easier!

With any renovation, there will be dust. Sure, you can close off rooms, shut all the doors...but the dust will follow you everywhere―except outside. Grab a book, your laptop or a deck of cards and head outside for a breath of fresh air.

You can clean less -- nice weather means less mess!

From the time tear down begins to the moment you sit back and enjoy your new kitchen, there is an enormous amount of traffic in and out of your home. When renovating during the summer months, you reduce the amount of dirt tracked through your house. And with any major renovation, a table saw is often a contractor’s best friend. During the warmer months, the saw won’t need to be set up in your garage, porch or basement. That means less dust floating around your home.

Are you considering a kitchen renovation? Monarch has been making homeowner's kitchen renovation 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 kitchen designers. But hurry, Monarch’s summer schedule is booking up!

May 14, 2014

White Kitchen Cabintery Provides Light, Airy Feel in this Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

In this stunning transitional kitchen design by Marion Cuddie, white kitchen cabinetry is accentuated by exotic granite on the island and back splash. Under-cabinet lighting helps highlight the stone.
New pot lights and decorative pendants add to the natural light in this white kitchen design. Over-sized drawers provide a practical and easy-to-use storage solution. A custom table adds polish to this light and airy space.

The buffet area features matching white cabinetry and offers storage for items not used everyday. It also provides an additional serving area for hosting large family events.

This "extra special place for him" has matching white cabinetry, a TV, fridge, beer fridge and freezer drawers.

May 7, 2014

Renovate to Adapt Part Two: Preparing Your Home For Family Life

Last week, we discussed the pros and cons of moving vs. renovating your current home to meet your needs. It’s no secret that the time and effort spent preparing your home for sale combined with the costs of involved with moving is staggering.

Is now the right time for you to move? Ultimately, it comes down to how you want to spend your money.

This week, we’ll discuss ways to help those hoping to adapt their home from one that was perfect for two to one that can handle the demands of a busy family.

Moving Forward: From being a couple to having a couple of kids

Congratulations, your family has expanded and life as you knew it has changed! Before, it was just the two of you: taking your time to cook meals; eating out at a moment’s notice; hanging out with friends and spending a great deal of time away from home. 

Although children enrich our lives in so many ways, they also change the way we do things. Bottles and sippy cups now compete for space in your cupboard with the stylish glassware and plates you once used regularly for dinner parties. Baby food and boxed cereal have now become staples in your pantry. What you need is more storage space – it’s time for a more functional and fabulous kitchen!

Open-concept kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design
As the heart of the home, a kitchen with young kids running around becomes the hub for the entire family. With multiple meals being cooked there daily, your kitchen is now the centre for communication, learning, play – and oh yes, eating and storage too!

This space has never needed to be more functional than it does today. So why move? By renovating your space, you are able to work with a designer who is an expert at incorporating all of your hopes, dreams and storage needs into your home, and within your allotted budget.

Open-concept kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

Consider the advantage of having a large island, where the kids can colour, craft and do homework while you prepare dinner. Tupperware and plastic containers have now infiltrated your kitchen, along with all the cool kid’s cooking tools – new deep drawers are going to be such a help!

Pantry storage doesn’t have to be just for food, it can also be a place to store kids’ things, as can the additional storage space available with in an island.

At Monarch, we can change your space to do all of these things. We can even add electrical outlets and charging stations, up and out of reach of little hands. 

Open-concept kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design
While storage is a priority at this stage, it’s not the only reason for wanting to focus on the kitchen when renovating. Your closed-in kitchen – although still a functional cooking area – is no longer an efficient use of space since you are constantly having to run around the wall to see if the kids in the main room are out of harm’s way. 

Opening up the space and removing a wall not only helps ensure the safety of your family while preparing a meal or unloading groceries, it enhances the overall look of your home.
Now more than ever, our customers are opting to open their homes and remove the barriers that separate them from interacting efficiently with their families. Opening up your living space and creating a great room allows you to live and function more harmoniously.

The staff and designers at Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre are ready to help you address the changing needs for your home.