Beautiful Bath Design is All in the Details

Whether you’re choosing a kitchen countertop surface or picking tile for a backsplash or shower, it can be difficult to determine how the finished product will look from the small sample you pick out in a showroom.

It’s similar to how different the paint colour you chose with such care from a small swatch can be a disappointment once it’s applied to the walls of your home. Except when it comes to tile, there are a few more factors at play.

At Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre, we understand that beautiful bath designs don’t just “happen.” They are the result of careful planning and execution.

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

“Recently, my clients selected a tile for their new shower based on a sample we had in the showroom,” explains Monarch designer Janet Dawson. “As with most of the marble and granite samples we have on hand, there is a warning from the manufacturer explaining that each tile may have a slightly different shading.”

Making a major design decision based on the appearance of a small sample tile can be difficult. When you book your kitchen or bath design with Monarch, we offer you the ability to pre-order a box of tile to see if it lives up to your expectations -- before placing an order for the entire amount. It might take a little longer in your design process, but it's the best way to see what you're getting before installation.

“When the tile they ordered arrived, we noticed that the veining in the tiles was going in different directions…each tile had either vertical veining or horizontal veining,” says Janet. “Although the tiles had a somewhat different pattern, they were all variations of the same colour palate. Understandably, my clients were not happy with what may have turned out to be a haphazard design and wanted all of the tile veining to be displayed in the same direction.”

“By ordering a box of tiles before the renovation was in full swing, I was able to meet with my clients and lay out the tile so they could better envision the finished product and get exactly what they wanted,” says Janet. (Finished shower pictured above.)

Are you planning a new kitchen or bath design this year? Drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom today and speak with a member of our design team. We’d love to help make your design dreams a reality.

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre Helps Feed the Need in Durham Region

After a week of ice storms and power outages, it is our pleasure to say goodbye to 2013 and welcome in a brand new year!

We are pleased to announce that thanks to the generosity of our design team and the thoughtfulness of our clients, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre was able to drop off a substantial amount of food to Feed the Need in Durham last month.

Feed the Need in Durham is a non-profit charitable organization that delivers food to food banks, soup kitchens, community service centres, shelters, drop-in centres and breakfast feed programs.

Our thanks to everyone who took the time to drop off food at our showroom.

How Can Your New Bath Design Help Save You Money and the Environment?

Choosing a new toilet and faucet is often one of the final design choices you'll have to make in a bath renovation, but potentially the most important.

From Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC):

A high-quality toilet can help you save money, protect the environment and conserve water, all without sacrificing performance or peace of mind. Choose the wrong toilet, and you could wind up flushing your hard-earned dollars down the drain.

In this short video, master plumber Ed Del Grande explains how Kohler's new products have been re-engineered to help you save up to 30% off your water bill.

With so many makes and models to choose from, deciding on which product is right for your home can be a bit overwhelming. If you're considering a bath renovation, Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre can help.

Drop by our Pickering showroom today or call us at 905-686-2001 and speak with one of our designers. Book your bath renovation with Monarch before August 31, 2012, and you could win your new granite or quartz countertop. To learn more, click here.

Monarch Staff Celebrates the Holiday Spirit by Supporting Feed the Need in Durham

Recently, we asked our clients and staff to donate nonperishable food items to help families in need throughout Durham Region...and they did!

The Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre team and their donation to Feed the Need in Durham.

We're thrilled to report that Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre is able to drop off a substantial amount of food to Feed the Need in Durham, a non-profit charitable organization that delivers food to food banks, soup kitchens, community service centres, shelters, drop-in centres and breakfast feed programs.

Our thanks to everyone who took the time to drop off food at Monarch's Pickering showroom.

Help Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre Feed the Need in Durham

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre is getting into the holiday spirit this year with a food drive aimed at helping families in need throughout Durham Region.  

Please help us to gather nonperishable food items for donation to Feed the Need in Durham, a non-profit, charitable organization that serves as a conduit to its 40+ member agencies located in neighbourhoods across the Region. Feed the Need in Durham delivers food to emergency food providers such as food banks, soup kitchens, community service centres, shelters, drop-in centres and breakfast feed programs.

This holiday season, support the families in your community by dropping off these much-needed nonperishable food items at Monarch's Pickering showroom by December 22:

• Kraft Dinner
• pasta sauce
• canned vegetables
• pork and beans
• cranberry sauce
• canned ravioli
• canned tuna and salmon
• mayonnaise,  relish, ketchup, mustard
• small juice boxes
• stuffing and gravy mix

Our Pickering showroom is located at 1020 Brock Rd., Unit 6. For more information, call our office at 905-686-2001.

GROHE's Answer to the "Ultimate" Shower Experience

Like most things in life, when it comes to getting what you want -- it's all in the details.

As experts in water technology, GROHE's mission is to develop superior showers with outstanding features. Their DreamSpray® technology provides optimal water distribution for an unparalleled showering experience. With an advanced shower engine ensuring an equal flow of water through each and every nozzle and six luxurious shower settings to choose from, DreamSpray® technology allows you to tailor your shower to your mood and prepare for maximum exhilaration.

Monarch's 30th Anniversary Celebration a Huge Success!

Sharon and Neil Samson

What a party!

On Saturday, June 11th, friends, family, past and present clients from across Durham Region and the GTA--even some local politicians--helped Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre celebrate 30 successful years in business.

A tribute from Linda Ruddy

We'd like to thank everyone who joined in the celebration. If your ballot was drawn for one of our many giveaways, Amanda Willson-Suppa will have already contacted you. Congratulations to all the winners!

Linda Ruddy from LMR Consulting with Sharon Samson and Melissa Foley.

The Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre team.

Monarch president Neil Samson is joined by Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan

Achieving Balance Through Rituals: The Secret to this Durham Kitchen Design Firm's Success

While perusing BainUltra's website recently, Monarch designer Marion Cuddie discovered some thought-provoking information on wellness and how best to achieve balance in our lives. One item she found particularly relevant involves rituals--their goals and effects.

From BainUltra's Guide to Your Vedana Experiences:

Rituals can be defined as organized ceremonies that involve predetermined actions, the manipulation of objects, or interior practices designed to effect certain results. During rituals, participants direct their energy toward a defined goal.

"This got me thinking about Monarch's commitment to our weekly production/design meeting," says Marion. "Although we all feed off one another in the creation of the perfect solution to the design challenges we are given--and have an open and ongoing communication with our crews and management--we really do benefit from the set and structured meeting each Wednesday."

And while BainUltra is undoubtedly referring to how the predictable, structured nature of rituals can be used to benefit one's physical and mental well-being, Marion believes Monarch's weekly meetings--their ritual--has played an integral part in Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre's success.

"Through our weekly meetings, we have an opportunity to collectively celebrate our successes and manage the challenges of our business," adds Marion. "We are able to stay on track, all of us with the common goal of creating an organization that services our clients in their homes with professionalism, sensitivity and creativity."

The Advantages of Using a Kitchen and Bath Design Firm

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre Gets Top Marks in Durham Region, the GTA and beyond

From Pam in Oshawa, posted February 23, 2011 on HomeStars:

I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the fine workmanship and attention to detail you and your staff exhibited during my kitchen project. I am so overwhelmed and pleased with the final results. Everyone of your staff should be complimented on their talents and their caring attitudes. When dealing with Melissa over the phone or by email, even though we have never met in person, she was attentive to my concerns and was quick to reply to them. When she said things would be delivered by a certain date and time, they were and I appreciated this promptness.
    The young man who delivered the cabinets was very friendly and careful as he alone brought in all the heavy pieces. Don was simply amazing and quietly proficient as he managed to install all those heavy cabinets. Although the young men who installed the counter top were present for a short time on the site, they were very skilled and polite.
    Sarah was an enthusiastic delight to work with. She had so many good ideas and made my decisions so much easier with her eye for detail. I appreciated the fact that Neil took the time to come to the project and double check the measurements. Last but not least, I cannot say enough about the wonderful workmanship of Tim and JoAnn. They are simply outstanding in their ability to tackle any aspect of a project. They worked very long days but treated my kitchen as if it was the most important task they had to do. Each day the project site was left neat and tidy and work debris was taken away.
    I definitely will recommend your company to my friends and family and look forward to other projects that I have on the horizon. Thank you again all for your hard work.

From Anna and Mario in Thornhill, posted January 19, 2011 on HomeStars:

We were very pleased with the renovation of our children’s bathroom. Everyone involved was extremely helpful. Neil with the measurements and rearranging of the space to our taste. Melissa with the design and helping us with choosing the pieces that met our needs and fit our budget. Last but not least, the installer Rick. He was professional and did an excellent job, showing up when promised and working very cleanly. Any issues we had were dealt with promptly by Melissa and Neil. There was a small leak after the job was finished and the problem was resolved completely.
    We would certainly recommend Monarch Kitchen and Bath to anyone contemplating a renovation.

Bathroom Design Inspiration: Walk-In Shower Wet Rooms

Photo courtesy of Duravit

Looking for the ultimate way to add the luxury of a spa to your bathroom?

Discover the latest European design trend now making a mark in North America: the walk-in shower wet room.

Walk-in shower wet rooms are bathrooms designed to function as full-room showers. With minimal use of materials, the bathing area is not segregated from the rest of the room by walls, enclosed stalls or even lips to step over. Instead, the shower is level with the rest of the floor, making the entire bathroom area easy to access and clean.

Ideal for North America's aging population, this open-concept shower experience can be made even more user-friendly and address accessibility and mobility issues with the installation of benches and handrails. In keeping with its sleek, modern design, toilet screens or separators are usually transparent and the entire bathroom area is intended to operate as a single space.