Energize your Shower Experience with Aquatunes from GROHE

Still searching for last-minute gift ideas for the gadget-loving friends and family on your list? Why not give them the gift of music -- in the shower!

Aquatunes from GROHE

From GROHE:
Aquatunes is an exciting collaboration combining the benefit of PHILIPS electronics expertise with GROHE’s in-depth understanding of creating unique bathroom experiences. Developed to bring emotion to the bathroom space, Aquatunes allows you to play music via Bluetooth on the wireless water-resistant speaker, transforming your showering experience.

Connect via Bluetooth

The Aquatunes speaker connects with mobile devices via Bluetooth technology – within a range of up to 25 ft. Press the sync button to connect and stream music from your mobile device. Adjust volume and use the previous/next track buttons on the speaker to enjoy your favorite music of the day.

Water Resistant
The Aquatunes shower speaker has been designed for use in the shower. Position Aquatunes at the ideal height and location for a maximized audio experience.

Charge & Play
Place the ultra portable Aquatunes back in the docking station and continue to listen to music or radio, while charging. The Induction charged docking station is water resistant and will charge Aquatunes in no time.

Aquatunes is now available for order from Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre. To learn more, call us at 905-686-2001.

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.

Check out this Master Suite Makeover in Progress

Last November, we posted pictures of our client's tired and out-of-date master suite that was long overdue for a makeover.

As you may recall, their original bathroom featured a tiny 30x30-inch closed-in box-style shower; a huge vanity with only one sink; tired wallpaper; carpeting on the stairs into the bath; and an outdated Jacuzzi-style tub that was lacking in the energy-efficiency department.

Since the team at Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre has undertaken this master suite renovation, no dream has been overlooked. Monarch designers have worked closely with the homeowners to ensure the end result is a master bathroom with an open, airy feel ... one with carefully thought-out features and a design they'll love for years to come. 
  

With only a few small design elements to be decided, we'll be posting the stunning "after" pictures of this incredible new space soon. In the meantime, here are a few more pictures of this renovation in progress.
 

Master suite renovation in progress. Design by Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre

Master suite renovation in progress. Design by Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre

Their new bath design includes:

• a 4x4-foot glass shower enclosure with custom bench and GROHE flow-wise fixtures, including a rain shower head and hand-held shower;
• mosaic tile and marble shower thresholds;
• a luxury MAAX soaker tub;
• an updated vanity which will include two sinks and functional storage;
• more energy efficient and stylish lighting fixtures.

Instant Gratification from GROHE: Expect More from Your Kitchen Faucet

Redesigning your kitchen? GROHE helps you dream big with their Blue® water system:

Every day, we all benefit from and enjoy the luxury of drinking water straight from the tap. Most of us are happy using it for cooking and making cups of tea and coffee, but when it comes to drinking a glass of water, we are often put off by the taste and reach for a bottle of mineral water. Hardly convenient and not exactly sustainable either. Invest in a GROHE Blue® water system and you'll have instant access to a constant supply of freshly-filtered, great-tasting water.

GROHE Blue® Chilled & Sparkling combines the modern look of a designer tap mixer with a high-performance filter, cooler and carbonator -- and is as easy to use as an ordinary kitchen tap. The right lever on the tap is used to mix hot and cold tap water as usual. The left rotary knob with integrated coloured LED display regulates the carbonic acid content of the filtered and cooled water.

Finished in GROHE StarLight® chrome, the tap has separate internal waterways -- one for filtered water and the other for unfiltered water.  ~ grohe.com

GROHE: Because Some Like It Hot!

Say goodbye to the kitchen kettle and hello to boiling hot water directly from your kitchen tap. The innovative GROHE Red® boiler system keeps four litres of boiling water ready for immediate use at all times.

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 Showroom Makeover is Complete!

Visitors to Monarch's 30th Anniversary Celebration were blown away by our newest kitchen showroom.

Why not drop by soon and see it for yourself? Pictures just don't do it justice!

Cabinetry: White framed maple cabinetry by Cuisines Laurier

Countertops: Granite by Interstone Granite & Marble

Backsplash: Glass and stainless steel mosaic tiles from Saltillo

Hood Fan: Vent-A-Hood

Coffee Maker: Miele espresso and cappuccino maker

Oven: Miele wall oven

Range: KitchenAid Slide-in

Fridge: GE Monogram wine fridge

Sink: Kindred

Faucet: GROHE

Chairs: Chair Source

Door handles: Select Hardware

Pendant lights: Osso City Lighting, Oshawa

Trend Watch: Inspirational New Kitchen & Bath Design at ISH 2011

Join Paul Flowers, GROHE's Senior Vice-President of Design, as he leads a tour of the GROHE booth at ISH 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Friday Fun: Kitchen and Bath Design Inspiration from Kohler and GROHE

How do you get people to watch the entire 30 seconds of a cast iron sink commercial? What about a commercial about toilets or shower systems?

Humour is the key ingredient in these simple but effective videos from Kohler and GROHE.

Trend Watch at the 2011 Interior Design Show

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre recently played host to the 13th annual Interior Design Show (IDS), Canada's largest contemporary design fair. This highly anticipated show is a favourite in the Canadian interior design world as designers watch for new product debuts and emerging trends.

Starck X from Duravit

"This year, it was apparent that there is a major trend starting to surface, and that trend is plumbing," says Amanda Willson-Suppa of Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre. "All of the major brands were in attendance--Aquabrass, Blanco, Brizo, Delta, Duravit, GROHE and Hansgrohe--and they all displayed their newest and most innovative pieces. The look of 'plumbing' is evolving. Architects and designers are now behind these new creations and fresh shapes and design features are starting to from," Amanda explains. 

Arcon from Blanco

"Like the minimalist design of the Starck X toilet from Duravit, for example, or the stunning angular geometry of the Arcon line of sinks from Blanco. Plumbing pieces that rarely changed shape or design now take on an artistic flair and the consumer has so much more to choose from."

To learn more about incorporating these new products into your bathroom redesign, contact Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre at 905-686-2001.

Save Water and the Environment with GROHE

Gone are the days when homeowners only focused on design and functionality when choosing the products and appliances for their newly designed kitchen or bathroom. Today, they are just as likely to keep the environment in mind, as well.

But is it possible to be good to the environment and save money...all while maintaining high standards for style and efficiency? GROHE thinks you can:

"In a world where water resources are under increasing pressure, GROHE works every day to provide solutions to this serious challenge. All GROHE products combine stylish design, ease-of-use and superior performance with responsible water consumption. Some concepts, however, are exceptionally economical by nature and allow users to save water without giving it another thought."

GROHE has expanded their EcoJoy™ line of established products--thermostats, dual-flush sanitary systems and electronic faucets--to reflect their ongoing commitment to the environment. The smart, sophisticated designs of GROHE's selected single-lever mixers and showers restrict flow rates and allow you to reduce water consumption without sacrificing on performance or design. This means less water needs to be heated to obtain your perfect shower or washbasin temperature. The bottom line? The money you save on water generates energy savings and results in a substantial cost savings for both resources.

GROHE EcoJoy™ hand shower

Choose a Water-Saving Shower Head
Using quality materials, first-class design and advanced engineering, GROHE EcoJoy™ hand showers save water with either an integrated flow limiter, or an "eco" button or spray dimmer which let you to choose when to reduce the water flow.

Save with a GROHE Digital Shower
Designed to save you time and money, GROHE Ondus faucets and showers can be pre-programmed so you can enjoy your preferred combination of water flow rate and shower temperature with a push of a button. The shower control's "pause" button allows you to stop the water mid-shower (e.g. to shampoo your hair) and then re-start it at exactly the same temperature and flow...saving you time and water.

Invest in a GROHE Shower Thermostat
Shower thermostats help you save water by maintaining the desired water temperature for the duration of your shower. This means less time re-adjusting the temperature if the water supply changes. In addition, many of GROHE's models include an "eco" button on the thermostat body to reduce the flow rate by 50 percent.

Visit GROHE online here.

To learn more about incorporating GROHE's energy-efficient products into your kitchen or bath redesign project, contact Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre at 905-686-2001.

Hope Flows at Monarch

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is pleased to join GROHE in their support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, where a minimum of 85 cents of every dollar goes toward funding the most advanced and promising breast cancer research across the globe.

Through their 's HopeFlows breast cancer research initiative, GROHE encourages consumers to "tap into a great feeling" and support this worthy cause.

Buy a Ladylux3 Café or Ladylux3 Plus faucet and $25 from your purchase sponsors 30 minutes of hope in the form of vital breast cancer research. GROHE's goal is to raise enough money -- approximately $250,000 US -- to fund a breast cancer research project for one year. To learn more, call Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre today at 905-686-2001 or visit www.grohe.ca.