Choose Monarch for Effective — and Beautiful — Solutions to Your Long-Term Design and Renovation Needs

There are many reasons why you may want to change the kitchen and bath design of your home or cottage. Perhaps the décor is looking tired and outdated, or maybe your family dynamic has changed and you’d like to transform several rooms for a more efficient space.

Or, in what is often the case after a winter like Southern Ontario has experienced, renovating a space is a matter of necessity. If poorly insulated walls have resulted in your pipes freezing this winter, you may already be considering updating the design of the affected rooms.

In the meantime, Monarch president Neil Samson suggests a very temporary measure: turn your hot and cold faucets on to a low trickle. “Moving water has a difficult time freezing. Keeping the trickle of water going during the extreme cold patches can potentially prevent your pipes from freezing.”

Of course, keeping your water running is only a short-term solution and not environmentally friendly; Monarch’s goal is to always take the environmental approach.

The long-term solution is where Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre come in. “If your pipes have been freezing, it may be the perfect time to consider the renovation you’ve been putting off,” says Neil.

In addition to working with you to create the kitchen or bath design of your dreams, Monarch’s qualified design team has the expertise necessary to help orchestrate and coordinate any added changes your home requires. “Like installing insulation behind the drywall so your pipes don’t freeze,” adds Neil.

Is this your year to renovate? Drop by the Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre showroom today for design inspiration and to chat with a member of our design team. We can answer your design or renovation questions for your house, cottage or condominium.

Why choose Monarch? We have over 30 years experience in kitchen and bath design, and Monarch is among a limited number of renovation contractors in the Greater Toronto Area who are Renomark™ Approved. Renomark™ identifies contractors who have agreed to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s Code of Ethics and a renovation-specific Code of Conduct.

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre is Baeumler Approved!

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre is pleased to announce we are now among a limited number of home improvement specialists in the Greater Toronto Area who have been Baeumler Approved.

The brainchild of Bryan Baeumler, host of HGTV's "Disaster DIY" and "House of Bryan," Baeumler Approved pre-screens home renovation companies to ensure that their references check out and they have all the required insurance and licenses necessary to run their business. Not only does Baeumler Approved check with previous customers, but they also check with the tradespeople and companies they employ on a regular basis to ensure a company who they deem "Baeumler Approved" has a solid reputation.

From Monarch designer Marion Cuddie:

"We are very pleased to add ‘Baeumler Approved Contractor’ to our accreditations. This has required references, application and proof of liability coverages and good work practices. Anyone considering a kitchen or bath renovation who has watched the variety of TV shows covering the subject will know that the process can seem a little overwhelming, especially when entrusting your dreams and a substantial amount of money to the contractor.  We hope this is one more way that we can assure our clients we strive to achieve the best possible results for them, while preserving the safety and security of their homes."

Coming in April 2012: Five New Decorative Hardware Collections from Berenson Hardware

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Canada. Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is proud to support Berenson Hardware in their mission to increase breast cancer awareness and pay tribute to those affected by the disease.

Berenson Hardware's five new decorative hardware collections -- inspired by and named after breast cancer survivors -- will be available in the spring of 2012. 

To learn more, visit www.berensonhardware.com

A portion of the proceeds from these collections will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

From the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website:

Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis, treatments, and endless days in the hospital, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer instead of worrying about her own situation. That concern for others continued even as Susan neared the end of her fight. Moved by Susan’s compassion for others and committed to making a difference, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $1.9 billion since inception in 1982. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, we’re working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure®, and generous contributions from our partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, we have become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

Visualizing Your Kitchen or Bath Design Using 20-20 Design Software

One of the biggest challenges homeowners face when renovating and designing a kitchen or bathroom is visualizing the way their new living space will look when the job is done. Although floor plans are helpful for measuring out what goes where, there's nothing quite like 3D imagery to help you get a true feel for how the room will look once the renovation has been completed.

At Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre, we use 20-20 Design software to guide our clients through the design process, showing them their ideas as both a floor plan and with elevation views with 2D and 3D shapes.

"I've found the 20-20 Design program to be incredibly beneficial," says Monarch designer Sarah Overholt. "Not only can my clients see the layout we are proposing to them, but they can literally stand in their new space...and this is very helpful since most clients come to us because they are unable to visualize how their new space will look and feel."

This industry-leading software allows Monarch to design, plan and visualize kitchens and baths using thousands of products from manufacturer catalogs and realistic 3D renderings. Created specifically for the kitchen and bath industry, this dynamic program ensures that all designs follow the industry-standard design guidelines set out by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. In fact, when Monarch designer Melissa Foley submitted her design to the NKBA Kitchen Design Competition earlier this year, she submitted 3D renderings created with 20-20 Design software.

"With a wide range of appliances, furnishings, plumbing items, and finishes, our clients can get a true concept of their space," adds Sarah.

If the inability to visualize your new kitchen or bathroom is keeping you from making your renovation dreams a reality, Monarch's team of designers can help. Drop by our Pickering showroom or call us at 905-686-2001.

Behind the Walls: How Qualified Contractors like Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre Can Save Your Life

Planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel can be an exciting time for homeowners. Your new design usually means new cabinetry, appliances, furniture, lighting and more...a fresh new look for a tired old space.

A qualified kitchen and bath design team--while focused on providing you with what you're looking for aesthetically--will also be thinking ahead to what issues might arise once tear down begins.

At the top of their list of concerns? Electrical.

"During tear down, improperly installed electrical wiring is often the best concealed--and most dangerous--issue we have to address," says Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre president Neil Samson.

Here are some examples of what Monarch's team runs into on a daily basis:

Illegal electrical joints hidden behind drywall.

And to compound the problem even further, there is a joining of aluminum and copper wiring: this is not only illegal but it also a major fire hazard. There is a very strict protocol when joining copper to aluminum.

 

In this Pickering home, we found seven electrical infractions which are against the Ontario Building Code. The exhaust hood fan in this home was connected to a 4" plastic dryer hose. Not only is this a fire waiting to happen but it's also illegal.

"Sadly, these are not isolated incidents," admits Neil. "Our team uncovers these problems quite regularly. As a homeowner, you need to be aware of the potential safety hazards that might be lurking behind your walls."

"If you have any aluminum wiring in your home, we recommend you have a qualified and licensed electrician check all of the connections in your electrical panel on a yearly basis," advises Neil. "The screw-down connections on aluminum wiring can loosen; and for that reason, aluminum wiring is no longer approved for use in Canada."

When it comes to working with electrical, only a licensed electrician will do. "Don't hire a handyman to do an electrician's job," says Neil. "As the old saying goes: Jack of all trades, master of none. Insist that the electrician obtain a permit, and make sure that you receive a copy of the ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) inspection certificate. You will probably need it when you renew your home insurance."