More on Monarch's Stunning White Kitchen Makeover

 

White kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

A few weeks ago, we posted a colourful white kitchen by Monarch designer Marion Cuddie.

Below are the before pictures, and Marion's comments on how she met her client's dream kitchen design requirements.

Before

"The homeowner delights in entertaining family and friends and found that the awkward peninsula in her old kitchen cramped movement and food prep," says Marion.

Before

The client's needs included a coffee area, drinks' storage, a sink for clean up and a sink at the prep island.

"They wanted lots of light and a bright open feeling," explains Marion. "To accomplish this, the kitchen window was enlarged to flood the space with light and expand the view to the green space beyond the property." Minimal upper cabinets also contribute to the openness. 

White kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

"With limited upper cabinet space, it became important to maximize storage in remaining cabinetry," says Marion.
 

White kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

(Left) Pantry items in the extra deep wall/counter cabinet are outfitted with roll-out shelves (left of the ovens and in the tall angled cabinet to the right of the fridge) to accommodate the door placement and to house overflow items and pet food.

(Right) Special attention was paid to the coffee/drinks station to keep the flow comfortable for family and guests during breakfast preparation. 

Glassware for adult entertaining is immediately available above the bar storage.

(Below) The island has become the perfect spot for Christmas cookie decorating as well as after school snacks.

White kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Sherwin-Williams 2015 Colour of the Year: Coral Reef

Sherwin-Williams has chosen its 2015 Colour of the Year and Monarch designer Amanda Willson-Suppa agrees that this cheerful colour is the perfect way to add warmth to your home during the long, dark days of winter. 

“How nice would it be to make yourself a tea, grab your favourite book and sit in a room adorned with Coral Reef? It's warm, bright colour pairs well with white and beachy accents, giving it a comfortable, welcoming feel."

From Sherwin-Williams:

Coral Reef (SW 6606), a vivacious hue, is Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year 2015. Upbeat and optimistic, Coral Reef celebrates a time for renewal and is the perfect mélange of pink, orange and red that can be used to liven up any space.

 

Add Coral Reef to your home’s palette and watch creativity blossom. Here are some ideas on where to use Coral Reef in your home:

• Let the color stand by itself on a single accent wall or on your front door for a pop of color.
• Paint a piece of furniture as a great accent piece.
• Pair Coral Reef with Cotton White (SW 7104), Black Fox (SW 7020) or other floral hues and lush greens.
• You can relax this bold color slightly by pairing it with warm neutrals such as Sedate Gray (SW 6169) or buttery yellows like Hubbard Squash (SW 0044).
• Driftwood, medium wood tones and metal finishes also complement its flower-garden hue.
• For vintage quality that’s hard to beat, Coral Reef and aged matte brass make a perfect pair.

Click here to find the Sherwin-Williams dealer nearest you.

Friday Fun: Benjamin Moore and Behr Weigh in on This Year's Hottest Paint Colours for Your Home

Earlier this year, Monarch designer Marion Cuddie spoke about her favourite 2013 design trend -- brighter and more energetic colours. 

In these videos, Behr and Benjamin Moore colour experts transform several rooms with just a few of their new colour combinations for 2013.

Brighter and More Energetic Colours -- Marion Cuddie's Favourite 2013 Design Trend

Canadian Mint, from the 2013 Simon Chang
Oh Canada! Trend Colour Collection
(photo courtesy of beautitone.ca)

There's nothing like a fresh coat of paint to add new life to an outdated space!

"I'm always excited to see the colour forecasts for the coming year as it encourages our team to explore new cabinetry, counter and accessory combinations in our renovations," says Monarch designer Marion Cuddie. "This year we are seeing a celebration of brighter and more enthusiastic shades for those who like to layer on colour, and neturals that have less muddy tones for the more subdued types."

Last fall, the Beauti-Tone paint division of Home Hardware Stores Ltd. launched its 2013 Simon Chang Oh Canada! Trend Colour Collection and its a colourful tribute to Canada.

The paint collection, which was developed in coordination with designer Simon Chang, includes all the hot colour trends for 2013: corals, teals, raspberries, yellows and browns. The six Oh Canada! colour palettes have charming, easy-to-remember names -- Northern Reflection, Savoir Flair, Beauti and the East, Wheat Till You Try It, Culture Club and Pacific Overture -- and each features two of the hottest trend colours paired with five additional shades that work well together.

Lemon Sorbet: Benjamin Moore's 2013 Colour of the Year
(photo courtesy of benjaminmoore.com)

Benjamin Moore's colour experts have declared Lemon Sorbet their Colour of the Year. The tangy, fresh yellow evokes a mood of optimism for the year ahead. Their carefully curated collection mixes softer hues such as pale blue Sweet Innocence and minty Antiquan Sky with punchier brighter colours like Pink Raspberry, Blue Ice and Dakota Woods Green.

From Sico's 2013 Switching Off colour collection
(photo courtesy of sico.ca)

AkzoNobel (Sico Paint), has named three frontrunners in their 2013 colour themes: Collective Passion, Switching Off and Visual Solace. Their 2013 colour palette balances bright and joyful colours combined with more peaceful, subdued tones. Collective Passion, for example, has a more spontaneous feel and showcases the use of colour on colour, such as Fresco Beige orange with Blackcurrant Tea pink or Effluvium royal blue with Emerald Necklace green. Switching Off, on the other hand, reflects our occasional desire to slow down, clear our minds and create space for new thoughts: it is highlighted by Singing the Blues, Satie White and Arctic Seal. Visual Solace is inspired by gardens in bloom and is infused with floral pink, mauve, dusky violet, bronze and delicate neutrals such as Restrained Brown, A Simpler Time and Rice Flour. 

Looking for the perfect colour palette for your new kitchen or bath design? Feel free to explore your colour options with your Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre designer.

Benjamin Moore and Cambria Join Forces to Take the Guesswork Out of Paint Selection

Your kitchen or bath renovation is complete, your appliances have been delivered and you're ready for the final step: choosing the perfect paint colour to tie all of the elements of your new space together. If you're finding it a difficult task, you're not alone. 

Cambria, a leader in quartz countertop design, has partnered with Benjamin Moore to simplify the final stage of the kitchen or bath design process.

The perfect tool for homeowners and designers alike, every Cambria design has been meticulously paired with four complementary Benjamin Moore colors.

By using the interactive paint match tool on Cambria's website, you will instantly get a better sense of how each Benjamin Moore paint color plays against the shades, movement and colors inherent in your favorite Cambria designs.

Image courtesy of benjaminmoore.com

From Benjamin Moore:

"Cambria and Benjamin Moore have joined forces to make designer color selection easy. Benjamin Moore's design experts have paired four wall covering shades to every Cambria design, allowing you to match your Cambria designs to paint colors that are as rich and beautiful as the countertops themselves.

Now with more than 100 designs to choose from, Cambria is the industry leader in quartz countertops. Cambria and Benjamin Moore share the same deep commitment to quality and color innovation, with a constant and consistent focus on future design trends."