Introducing Cambria's Revolutionary New Matte™ Finish

The stylish matte finish you've been waiting for has arrived! Elegant and silky smooth, Cambria Matte™ finish is available in 16 designs, offering durability, easy-care convenience and the non-absorbency of their high gloss surfaces.

"Cambria doesn't disappoint with its new colours and matte finish," says Monarch designer Janet Dawson. "The matte finish will especially appeal to people who like a more 'industrial' look, as some of the Cambria colours in a matte finish emulate concrete."

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

"The new colours maintain Cambria's trend of being cutting-edge and innovative when it comes to quartz counter tops and keeps them at the forefront of the industry in terms of new developments," says Janet.

Cambria Matte™ is available in five new designs...

 

...and in 11 timeless collections.

 

Mosaic Tiles Make a Big Impact in This Small Powder Room

Transitional powder room design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

Often overlooked because of its limited size, the powder room can be the perfect space to make a bold design statement with limited investment.

  A Caesarstone countertop and Miralis Euro finish shaker cabinetry add style to this powder room design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

In this transitional powder room design, homeowners combined contemporary mosaic tile backsplash with Miralis Euro finish shaker cabinetry (Ember) for a look that is both eye-catching and inviting.

"Miralis Euro finish doors are an excellent alternative that provides the 'wood look' in a space that blends both traditional and modern door design," says Monarch designer Chantal Miller. 

Bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

"By placing the backsplash tile in a vertical pattern, it creates a focal point in a small space and keeps your eye moving all the way up the wall," says Chantal. The alternating textured smoke glass mosaic tiles also effectively reflect the light, making the room look bigger while adding a touch of glamour.

"Flanking wall sconces are an alternative way to place lighting in a powder room and allowed us to place an equally proportional mirror in the space," adds Chantal.

Additional design features include a Caesarstone quartz countertop (Frosty Carrine) and porcelain tile flooring from Sarana Tile.

Luxury Meets Style in This Stunning White Ensuite Bath Design

White bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

By adding square footage to their ensuite bath, these Pickering homeowners were able to make room for both luxury and style.

"This was a significant renovation," says Monarch designer Jackie Schagen. "We took part of the closet to make the bathroom bigger, and then took some of the extra large bedroom space to expand the closet area."

White bath design with Cambria quartz shower by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Standout items in this stunning ensuite bath design include a freestanding tub and a Cambria quartz shower (Summerhill). 

The plain white tile wainscotting and white inset Miralis Euro finish cabinetry provide clean lines in this transitional design. Recessed, wall and ceiling lighting help set the mood.

A soaker tub adds luxury to this white bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Reclaimed Barn Board Makes a Statement in This Contemporary Kitchen Design

White kitchen design with reclaimed barn board by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Homeowners Janis and Steve Wilkes got the inspiration for their recent kitchen renovation from seeing barn board being reused in many kitchen designs.

They searched online and found someone selling off genuine barn board from a barn torn down in Clarington.

"They felt this was an excellent opportunity to breathe new life into material that had a lot of history," says Monarch designer Janet Dawson. "They also appreciated that the demolition crew was working to re-purpose the barn board instead of simply burning it."
 

White kitchen design with reclaimed barn board by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

The Challenge
Incorporate the reclaimed barn board into the new kitchen design without it overwhelming the relatively small space.
 

White kitchen design with reclaimed barn board island by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

The Solution
"We decided to open up the wall between the kitchen and living room and add an island," explains Janet. The repurposed barn board was added to the island's base, making a significant design statement without inundating the space. "Using a fresh, crisp white on most of the cabinetry kept the look light, airy and contemporary."

A sliding "barn door" on the closet provided an additional nod to the barn-inspired design theme.

Monarch Adds a Fresh Take On A Tired Ensuite Bath

En suite bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

These Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre clients were ready to update their ensuite bath from the builder's design to a space they could really enjoy.

Ensuite bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

"When we started planning with them, we realized there was space wasted behind the shower wall," says Monarch designer Jackie Schagen. "We used the unused space to incorporate a larger shower with a seat."

Ensuite bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

The addition of a bench integrated with a grab bar and both a rain and hand-held shower will allow the homeowners to stay in their house as long possible.

"These small but important changes combined with a warm fresh look provide a whole new bathroom experience for our clients," adds Jackie.

Does your outdated ensuite need a makeover? Drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom for some design inspiration and advice from a member of our knowledgeable design team.

Check Out NKBA's Top 10 Kitchen Trends for 2017

This month, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) published their Top 10 Kitchen Trends for 2017. Conducted online in August/September 2016, the NKBA surveyed 562 of its members from across North America. Here's a look at the major trends that came out the survey.

1. Contemporary kitchens have overtaken traditional styles for the first time.

Although transitional designs remain the most popular, traditional kitchen design has dropped to the third most popular style and is expected to keep declining. 

2. White and grey painted cabinets and colour schemes will continue to dominate.

Photo courtesy of Cambria. Shown: Carrick.

Blue painted and high gloss cabinets styles, as well as blue and black colour schemes are also trending upward. 

"I'm happy to see that the light/dark and simple grey/white contrast finishes, with is a true and basic design tenant, is making its way back into the mix...and it should...for good reason," says Monarch designer Chantal Miller. "Countertops and cabinets are significant to change in your home so this elegant, yet simple, combination allows homeowners to protect their large renovation invest by using other inexpensive parts of their space...paint colour, backsplash, draperies...to add the fluid, fun and trendy colours for years to come."

3. Emerging trends of mixed colours, including varying countertop materials and mixed cabinet finishes.

This includes exaggerated two-toned effects, darks with lights and lights with darks. Several of those surveyed mentioned blending quartz countertops with wood.

4. The use of metal cabinetry is on the rise.

Although wood cabinets are still the top choice for most designers, metal cabinets appear to be a favourite of both younger and male designers.

5. Furniture-look pieces, rollouts, pullouts and under-cabinet lighting are popular cabinet features.

Simplicity is key, with flat-panel doors, flush inset, on the rise. Drawers are also popular. The bigger the better! On the downswing? Crown moulding and built-in desks. 

6. Quartz countertops are the favourite, with granite continuing its trend downward.

Photo courtest of Cambria. Shown: Swanbridge

 

7. Induction cooktops, convection ovens and microwave drawers are trending higher.

 

8. Kitchen technology is on the rise.

A whopping 31 per cent of NKBA professionals included wiring and pathways for future tech integration in their kitchen designs. Docking stations and appliances connected to the internet are also on the rise.

9. Barn doors and pocket doors are becoming a popular choice in the kitchen.

 

10. Accessible and universal design features continue to be popular.

The Fourth Step to Renovation Success: Do a Progress Check

Kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

So far this month, we have discussed how crucial planning is to your renovation's success, the importance of hiring a RenoMark™ renovator and why having a written contract is an absolute necessity for every home renovation project.

The fourth step to your kitchen or bath renovation success involves keeping the channels of communication open throughout the renovation project to avoid any issues that may come up.

Bath design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

In "Read Before You Renovate," Renomark notes that it's not uncommon for a homeowner to request changes or ask for additional work. Because these new requests can affect the cost and time it takes to complete the project, they stress the importance of having a signed change order that details:

• the precise scope of work;
• the costs involved for the changes;
• an updated timetable for completing the renovation.
  

"Clarity and transparency are very important to us," says Monarch designer Jackie Schagen. "If unexpected issues arise during the renovation process, we explain the options and their cost implications to our clients so they are able to make informed choices."

 

Related: The First Step to Renovation Success: Carefully Plan Your Project
               The Second Step to Renovation Success: RenoMark™ Renovator
               The Third Step to Renovation Success: Get a Written Contract 
 
Are you ready to renovate? Contact Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre at 905-686-2001.

The Third Step to Renovation Success: Get a Written Contract

Over the last few weeks, we have discussed how crucial planning is to your renovation's success and the importance of hiring a RenoMark™ renovator. In this blog post, we'll review why having a written contract is an absolute necessity for every home renovation project.

When you've made your decision to hire a contractor, get the details in writing before any work begins.

In "Read Before You Renovate," Renomark advises homeowners to ensure all contracts include:

• the precise scope of work;
• the exact price, including a schedule of payments;
• a reasonable timetable for completing work;
• and any instructions for protecting parts of the house not under construction.

Iron out all the details before signing the contract.
Once construction begins, significant changes to the design plan or material choices can cause delays and incur added costs. If your renovator and design professional aren't seeing eye-to-eye on procedures or materials, make sure the issues are resolved before the contract is signed.

At Monarch, you will receive copies of your approved final detailed plans, as well as documents outlining the exact products and services we provide.

Avoid renovators who offer to work without a contract to avoid a HST payment.
While it may be tempting to hire a renovator who is willing to work without a signed contract (and save you the HST), it should also serve as a red flag. The renovator may also not be paying provincial worker's compensation coverage or carrying adequate insurance, leaving you at financial risk.

Read more about asking the right questions of your potential renovation contractor in Home Renovations -- Don't Get Hustled!
 

Related: The First Step to Renovation Success: Carefully Plan Your Project
               The Second Step to Renovation Success: RenoMark™ Renovator

Are you ready to renovate? Contact Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre at 905-686-2001.