A Bathroom Design with Toddlers in Mind

Recently, Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre was asked to transform the washroom at First Steps Childcare Centre in Pickering into a more toddler-friendly space.

“Going potty for a child can be a very traumatic experience,” says Monarch president Neil Samson.

With the average toddler ranging in height from 24 to 30 inches, stepping up onto a foot step or stool to tinkle is a lot to navigate while learning bladder control.

“For an adult, it would be comparable to stepping on a two-foot high step to reach a three-foot high toilet bowl,” says Neil. “As you can imagine, toddlers are concerned about falling into the toilet or falling off the step, all adding to the stress of making it to the washroom in time.”

Designed by Marion Cuddie, the new washroom at First Steps features all the right components to make a toddler’s potty-training experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible. Staff members say the children love using it because they feel it fits for them.

“If you look carefully at these sinks, you will notice they are 18 inches high, as opposed to a normal bathroom sink which is 36 inches high,” explains Neil. “In order for a child to get their chin up to a standard bathroom vanity countertop, they have to stand on a 1’ high step stool, just to get their chin up there. We have also added motion-activated water and soap dispensers. These are toys to the kids and they love to wash their hands.”

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre can convert any washroom into a toddler friendly environment that will reduce the stress of potty training. Contact us today at 905-686-2001.

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.

Practical Innovations in the Kitchen and Bath from Kohler

See Bryan Baeumler at The GTA Home Show, on this Weekend at The International Centre (February 20th to 23rd)

It’s been a long, cold winter across Southern Ontario! If the slight raise in the temperature has inspired you seek ways to improve your home this spring, you won’t want to miss The GTA Home Show, on this weekend at The International Centre in Toronto.

If you’re visiting the show on Friday, be sure to make time for Bryan Baeumler’s seminar: Save Your Home from Yourself, 7 p.m. at the Casalife Main Stage.



Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is among a limited number of contractors in the GTA to be “Baeumler Approved.” The brainchild of Bryan Baeumler, host of HGTV's "Disaster DIY" and "House of Bryan," Baeumler Approved 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.

2014 GTA Home Show Hours

Thursday & Friday: 11 am – 9 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm


Ticket Prices
Adults: $15
Senior 65+: $13
Students 13-17: $13
Children 12 & Under: Free
Parking: Free


Order online and save!
Order tickets online and save $3 per ticket, or like their Facebook page and receive an online promotion code for 2-for-1 tickets.

For a full list of show times and exhibitors, visit them online or click here for the 2014 GTA Home Show Guide.

Benjamin Moore Makes Painting Your Bathroom Easier

When it comes to choosing the right paint for your bathroom, colour is not the only consideration that counts.

While attending the Interior Design Show in Toronto recently, Monarch designer Sarah Holmstrom stopped by the Benjamin Moore booth and learned more about their Aura line of paints. Her interest was piqued by the benefits of Aura Bath & Spa.

Specifically designed for use in bathrooms and spas, Aura Bath & Spa Waterborne Interior Paint combines a paint and primer in one. Its easy-to-apply finish is mildew resistant and never requires more than two coats in any colour. Benjamin Moore’s trademark Colour Lock technology guarantees exceptional colour that won’t rub off but allows for stains to wash off easily.

From Benjamin Moore:

Aura Bath & Spa, Matte Finish is a premium-quality interior paint for humid areas such as bathrooms and spas. With the added benefits of Colour Lock™ technology and mildew resistance, it delivers remarkable durability and exceptional colour.

Aura is quite simply the finest paint we've ever made, offering the most advanced way to bring colour to life. Using our exclusive Colour Lock™ technology, Aura paint brings you discernibly richer, truer colour. Aura paint covers like no other—even the deepest shades never require more than two coats.

In addition, Aura Paints carry Benjamin Moore’s “Green Promise.”

Green Promise® Paints are some of the finest paints you can find on the market today. But how did they get to be so green? The reason is the combination of both the base paint and the colorant.

The Green Promise® designation is Benjamin Moore's assurance that its eco-friendly paint and environmentally friendly coatings meet and exceed the strictest industry standards, while also delivering the premium levels of performance you expect from Benjamin Moore.

Are you considering a bathroom renovation this spring? Drop by the Monarch showroom and speak with a member of our design team. We'd be happy to help.

From Drab to Fab: Follow this Master Suite Makeover!

Are you guilty of spoiling friends and loved ones before treating yourself to something special?

  

If you don't think you are -- think again -- but this time, consider how you decorate your own home.

Often we overlook the areas of our home that only we see, choosing to spend our decorating and design dollars on updating the rooms where we entertain our guests.

Does this make sense?

We spend more than eight hours each day in our bedrooms and master bathrooms, and yet they are usually the most overlooked and under-decorated rooms in a home.

This was the case in our client's 4,500 sq.ft. Pickering home. The tired and out-of-date master suite was just that, and it was time for a makeover.

Their current bathroom features a tiny 30x30-inch closed-in box-style shower; a huge vanity with only one sink; tired wallpaper; and an outdated Jacuzzi-style tub that is lacking in the energy-efficiency department. To top it all off, the stairs into the tub are carpeted.

The team at Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre has undertaken this master suite renovation, and no dream is being overlooked.

The new bath design will include:

• a 4x4-foot glass shower enclosure with GROHE flow-wise fixtures;
• a luxury MAAX soaker tub;
• an updated vanity which will include two sinks and functional storage;
• more energy efficient and stylish lighting fixtures.

Make sure you check back soon to see the stunning results of this master suite makeover.

More Before and After Pictures from a Toronto White Kitchen -- and "Whole Home" -- Makeover

Last year, Monarch designer Sarah Overholt began consulting on a project that started as a kitchen renovation but turned into a whole home renovation!

Built in the 1920's, this 1,000 sq. foot Toronto home was completely gutted and all new electrical, plumbing and insulation was installed. The main floor was opened up and the existing tiny isolated kitchen was transformed into an airy modern space.

Toronto home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Front hallway/stairs BEFORE

Toronto home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Living room/stairs/kitchen BEFORE (during construction)

Toronto home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Living room/stairs/kitchen AFTER

Home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Toronto kitchen BEFORE

Home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Toronto white kitchen design AFTER

Home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Toronto white kitchen design AFTER

Home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Toronto white kitchen design AFTER

Home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Toronto bath design BEFORE (during construction)

Home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Toronto bath design AFTER

Home makeover by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre
Toronto bath design AFTER

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.

Redesigning Your Bathroom? Robern Electric Vanities and Cabinets Put an End to Clutter Chaos

Hair dryers, flat irons, electric toothbrushes...they all belong in a bathroom, but storing them without cluttering your counter top can be a challenge.

By focusing on the details, Robern has created bathroom vanities and cabinetry which offer convenient yet well-concealed electrical outlets where you need them most.

Planning on redesigning your bathroom? Watch this video and discover how Robern has effectively combined function with elegant design.

Don't Just Take a Bath, Unwind with the Aerofeel® Air Massage System from Maax

If you're considering a bath redesign, you're going to want to watch this...

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Drop by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre's Pickering showroom today to learn how you can incorporate spa-inspired relaxation into your new bath design.

A Spa-Inspired Pickering Bath Design by Monarch

Pickering Bath Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Pickering Bath Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Pickering Bath Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Pickering Bath Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Kohler Designers on How to Personalize Your Bath Design to Fit Your Needs

Three Kohler designers think outside the box and put their own spin on Kohler's versatile Tresham Collection.

Clean and Contemporary Bath Design from Monarch

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Renovating Your Bathroom in 2012? Kohler Redefines Luxury with the Numi Toilet

When you think of adding a bit of luxury to your bathroom, chances are you're considering a freshly tiled shower with multiple shower heads, rich new cabinetry with updated fixtures and hardware...not a toilet that comes with a remote control.

The designers at Kohler, however, have other ideas, and their latest offering—the Numi toilet/bidet—will have you thinking twice about the true meaning of luxury.

From Kohler.com:

"Introducing Numi, Kohler's most advanced toilet. The Numi toilet combines unmatched design, technology and engineering to bring you the finest in personal comfort and cleansing. From its striking form and features to its unrivaled water efficiency, the Numi toilet marks a new standard of excellence in the bathroom."