What's on Your New Bath Design Wish List?

For these Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre clients, updating their over 20-year-old four-piece en suite bath provided the perfect opportunity to check some items off their wish list.

According to designer Kevin Samson, the couple had a number of the most common complaints about their current space:

• the shower was too small
• there wasn't enough storage space
• the sinks were crowded together
  
  

Kevin addressed the need for additional storage and elbow room by replacing the single two-sink vanity with individual vanities on opposite sides of the shower.

By relocating the shower to the opposite side of the room, he was able to create a shower almost double in size, and include a large tiled bench.

A custom glass door system complemented the look and allows more natural light into the shower.

Do you have an outdated en suite in need of a makeover? Drop by the Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre showroom for some design inspiration and knowledgeable advice from a member of our experienced design team.
 

A Design That Helps Keep the Party in the Kitchen

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

A few weeks ago, we discussed what was on the "new kitchen wish list" of designer Kevin Samson's clients and why they decided to remodel.

Their biggest complaint was the lack of adequate food preparation counter space, and the inability for two people to work in the kitchen at the same time.  

"Comfortably socializing with family and friends in the kitchen was also high on their wish list," says Kevin. "There was already a table and chairs in the room, but it left the cooks feeling too far removed from the fun."

 

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

"To solve the issue, we removed the table altogether. The design now incorporates a spacious countertop eating area as an extension of the peninsula. The area comfortably seats five to six, and everyone can now be a part of the fun. For larger groups, the formal dining room is steps from the kitchen." 

As everyone knows, the party always ends up in the kitchen!

What's on Your New Kitchen Wish List?

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

One of the very first things a Monarch designer does with new clients is visit their home and review their concerns and "wish list" for the new space.

For this Toronto kitchen design, designer Kevin Samson asked his clients why they wanted to remodel, and their response was an overwhelming "We hate it!"

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

"After asking them a series of questions and discussing their concerns with the existing kitchen, we determined a number of areas that required improvement," says Kevin.

"Their biggest complaint was the lack of adequate food preparation counter space, and the inability for two people to work in the kitchen at the same time."

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

"The first item on their wish list was achieved by increasing the space between the sink and cooking surface, and adding a larger counter section on the left side of the sink," explains Kevin. "They now have a kitchen with large prep areas that comfortably accommodates two cooks."

Coming soon: Kevin reviews how he addressed more items on this client's wish list.

Does Your Fireplace Need a Facelift?

As the temperatures drop far below zero this Valentine's Day weekend, you may be snuggling by the fire even more than usual. However, if you're like an increasing number of homeowners, you may feel your fireplace has become more of an eyesore than a gathering place.

Recently, Monarch designer Kevin Samson received a phone call from one of his clients asking for advice about changing the look of her brick fireplace.

"The client felt it looked rather dated and heavy, with all the brickwork, stone mantel and hearth," says Kevin.

"After discussing a number of options, it was decided that we would remove most of the brick, the mantel and the hearth," says Kevin. "We prepared the area with a suitable substrate and covered the entire surface with a natural-looking stone tile and new stone hearth." Kevin likes the end result, adding "it is a much cleaner, up-to-date look.

As for the client, her words summed up the renovation perfectly: "Ta-da!"

Do you have a design project that requires a professional's input and expertise?

Monarch's design team uses their skill and design experience for all areas of the home. Call them today at 905-686-2001 to request a consultation, or drop by the Monarch showroom.

It Takes GUTS to Make it Stop! Join Monarch As We Support The Gutsy Walk

Join Monarch's Kevin Samson on Sunday, June 7th, 2015, for the 20th Annual Gutsy Walk and become part of Canada’s largest community event committed to raising funds for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. 

By participating or sponsoring a loved one, you can show those living with Crohn’s and colitis they are not alone. (You can spot Kevin and his wife Wendy at the 6 second mark of the video.)

Kevin would like to thank everyone at Monarch who, as a group, donated $865.

Some facts about from GutsyWalk.ca:

• Gutsy Walk started as the Heel 'n' Wheel-a-Thon in 1996 in 24 communities and has since grown to 60+ communities; $29 million in funds raised to date.
• Over the past 19 years, with the support of thousands of dedicated volunteers and participants, Gutsy Walk has grown from raising $3.1 to $3.2 million per year for education and research.
• Through the fundraising efforts of Gutsy Walk participants, there are more researchers hard at work in Canada which includes funding more than 36 promising research projects in the past year.

Some facts about Crohn’s and Colitis Canada:

• 1 in every 150 Canadians is living with Crohn’s and colitis – a rate that ranks in the highest worldwide.
• Families new to Canada are developing Crohn’s and colitis for the first time – often within the first generation.
• Most alarming, the number of new cases of Crohn’s disease in Canadian children has almost doubled since 1995.
• Nearly 250,000 Canadians are affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is one of the leading funders of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis research in the world – having invested over $88 million in world-class research projects and initiatives

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.

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.

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is Proud to Support Kevin and Wendy Samson and the 2014 Gutsy Walk

On Sunday, June 8th, 2014, Canadians coast to coast walked united at the Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s 19th annual Gutsy Walk, showing loved ones living with Crohn’s and colitis that they are not alone. Together, teams and individual walkers fundraised by collecting pledges from their friends, family and co-workers, for much-needed research and education to find cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improve the lives of children and adults affected by these chronic diseases. This year, close to 15,000 participants in 59 communities across Canada raised over $3 million to be used for education and research.

Wendy and Kevin Samson

Among those participating were Monarch designer Kevin Samson and his wife Wendy. "A huge thank you to everyone at Monarch who, as a group, raised $765. Well done!" says Kevin. "This year, Wendy and I raised a total of $2,670."

Some facts about Crohn’s and Colitis Canada:

• 1 in every 150 Canadians is living with Crohn’s and colitis – a rate that ranks in the highest worldwide.
• Families new to Canada are developing Crohn’s and colitis for the first time – often within the first generation.
• Most alarming, the number of new cases of Crohn’s disease in Canadian children has almost doubled since 1995.
• Over 233,000 Canadians are affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is one of the leading funders of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis research in the world – having invested over $82 million in world class projects and initiatives.

Some facts about Gutsy Walk:

• Gutsy Walk started as the Heel 'n' Wheel-a-Thon in 1996 in 24 communities and has since grown to 60+ communities; $26 million in funds raised to date.
• Over the past 18 years, with the support of thousands of dedicated volunteers and participants, Gutsy Walk has grown from raising $280,000 to $2.9 million per year for education and research.
• Through the fundraising efforts of Gutsy Walk participants, there are more researchers hard at work in Canada which includes funding more than 36 promising research projects in the past year.
  

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is proud to donate to this worthy cause. For more information on how you can donate or volunteer your time, visit www.gutsywalk.ca.

Source: Crohn's and Colitis Canada and Gutsy Walk facts courtesy of gutsywalk.ca.

Your 2014 Dream Kitchen: What Can Your Appliances Do For You?

When is the last time you purchased a major appliance for your home? If it’s been a while since you’ve walked through the doors of your local big box store or appliance retailer, you may notice a few changes.

Competition among appliance manufacturers is as fierce as ever, with each major brand struggling to anticipate upcoming design trends while balancing the wants and needs of today’s consumer.

GE’s Café Series French Door refrigerator

For brands like GE and LG, the goal isn’t to add the latest gadget to an appliance, but to enhance appliance performance and ultimately the user’s way of life. For instance, manufacturers are investigating ways to design laundry products that help preserve your textiles, and cooking appliances that maintain the freshness and nutritional value of food longer. GE’s Café Series French Door refrigerator, for example, offers an improvement over stoves and microwaves with a dispenser that offers water ranging in temperature from 32C to 85C, so users can make cocoa, tea, instant oatmeal or soups in a hurry.

Thanks to product reviews easily accessible online, today’s consumers have often done their share of research before walking into an appliance store. And if they’re redesigning their space like many Monarch clients, they ask for assistance and recommendation from their designers, as well.


“Most clients, to some degree, ask for assistance with their purchase decisions,” says Monarch designer Kevin Samson. “ Often, they will mention wish list priorities, or concerns they have with their existing appliances, and look to their kitchen designer for suitable solutions. Brand choice is all over the board. Typically, clients make choices based on factors such as past ownership experiences, budget, specific features, visual appeal or recommendations.”

Miele dishwasher

“Many of our clients like the Miele dishwasher because of its top cutlery rack and ability to be fully integrated with panels,” says Monarch designer Janet Dawson. “Another popular choice is the Wolf range because of the bold-looking red knobs. However, clients tend to make appliance choices in a broad range based on their tastes and preferences.”

The popularity of open concept kitchens or great rooms has translated into a move toward the transitional and away from the traditional. While stainless steel appliances are still considered the standard, consumers are now open to a broader range of appliance finishes and are opting for a mix of traditional in addition to appliances hidden by cabinetry. Drawer-style dishwashers have started to replace a full-size traditional dishwasher, and smooth-surface and induction cooktops have also gained popularity for their sleek design.

What features are home and condo owners looking for in an appliance now that they couldn't find 5-10 years ago? Our designers weigh in.

Janet Dawson:

“Induction cooking. Smarter appliances that have more automated settings. Smaller sized appliances are becoming more popular as baby boomers downsize and condos become a more popular housing choice. Homeowners are also looking for appliance choices that suit their needs more specifically; they want a broader range of choice than was available in the past.”

Kevin Samson:

“Many of our clients are excited by the prospect of having a second oven in the kitchen. Today, this can be accomplished in a number of ways. A double wall oven is one solution, while some manufacturers offer a stove with two separate ovens. Many microwave ovens are offered with a combination feature allowing the user to cook with the microwave feature, or a full convection oven.”

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre Staff Proudly Support Kevin & Wendy Samson and the 2013 Gutsy Walk

On Sunday, June 9th, thousands of Canadians at close to 60 locations across Canada walked together to raise money to find a cure for inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).

CCFC-funded IBD research has confirmed what we have suspected for years – Canada has one of the highest rates for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in the world and those rates are increasing. In fact, one in 150 Canadians is living with IBD. The Gutsy Walk is a great way to spread awareness of IBD and raise much-needed funds to support essential research. ~ GutsyWalk.ca

Among those participating were Monarch designer Kevin Samson and his wife Wendy. "Many thanks to my co-workers who, as a group, raised $700," says Kevin. The annual event is sponsored by the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada. "Wendy and I raised $2,580 and our group, Team Sinai, raised over $75,000."

Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is proud to donate to this worthy cause. For more information on how you can donate or volunteer your time, visit www.gutsywalk.ca.

GE Introduces Hot Water at the Touch of a Button!

“Like most guys, I love gadgets and toys,” says Monarch designer Kevin Samson. “But truly useful gadgets and toys are even better.”

From geappliances.com:

The GE Café^TM Series French Door Refrigerator with Hot Water Dispenser puts hot water right at your fingertips, allowing you to make hot drinks and prepare hot foods easier than ever before.

No More Waiting For Water to Boil

The in-the-door hot water dispenser makes it easy for you to pour hot, filtered water in minutes. With four pre-programmed settings for the most common food and drinks, hot water is dispensed at a perfectly accurate temperature every time.

Safe and Simple to Use

Simply select your temperature setting, then use the knob to dispense up to 10 ounces of perfectly heated water. Plus, water is purified through the only refrigeration filter tested and verified to remove 98% of five trace pharmaceuticals from water and ice, offering added peace of mind for your family.

"Just when you think you’ve seen it all…now we can get hot water at the touch of a button,” adds Kevin. “It’s magic. I love it!”