Why a Designer is Key to the Success of Your Kitchen Renovation

If you’re planning to redesign your kitchen, you may be contemplating the do-it-yourself route. Before you hop in the car and head to your local big box store, consider the benefits of working with a kitchen designer.

Professional kitchen designers are able to translate their client's requirements into a functional kitchen design that reflects both their needs and wants. As trained professionals -- and great listeners -- they are able to get to the heart of the matter and create solutions to problems you may not have even been able to articulate.

Professional designers have comprehensive knowledge in kitchen design, along with construction, plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems. They're trained to see the problems before they occur and plan strategically to not only enhance the beauty of the space but the client experience, as well.

With little or no technical knowledge to base their decisions on, homeowners can quickly become overwhelmed and frustrated. A professional kitchen designer has years of design training and experience and can offer you their professional perspective, sharing the tricks of the trade to maximize your space and get the kitchen you want.

From cabinetry, countertops and storage space to sinks, plumbing and appliances, there are an incredible number of decisions involved in a kitchen renovation. Kitchen designers are trained professionals with extensive knowledge about a variety of products and know how to properly construct and install the materials in your home.

To learn more about how easy it is to work with a Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre designer, visit our FAQ page, or drop by our showroom.

A New Year's Message from the President

I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the past year and extend my sincerest gratitude to all of Monarch's clients.

Thank you for your patronage and the trust you placed in the Monarch team to make your dreams your reality.

Our clients are our most valued assets. Please know that Monarch will continue to be there for you in the coming years.

To the valued members of Monarch's team, your tireless efforts and contributions to our company's success and growth are irreplaceable. Many thanks to each and every one of you.

From all of us at Monarch, we wish you and your families peace, health and prosperity in 2017.

Neil B. Samson
President
Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

The Third Step to Renovation Success: Get a Written Contract

Over the last few weeks, we have discussed how crucial planning is to your renovation's success and the importance of hiring a RenoMark™ renovator. In this blog post, we'll review why having a written contract is an absolute necessity for every home renovation project.

When you've made your decision to hire a contractor, get the details in writing before any work begins.

In "Read Before You Renovate," Renomark advises homeowners to ensure all contracts include:

• the precise scope of work;
• the exact price, including a schedule of payments;
• a reasonable timetable for completing work;
• and any instructions for protecting parts of the house not under construction.

Iron out all the details before signing the contract.
Once construction begins, significant changes to the design plan or material choices can cause delays and incur added costs. If your renovator and design professional aren't seeing eye-to-eye on procedures or materials, make sure the issues are resolved before the contract is signed.

At Monarch, you will receive copies of your approved final detailed plans, as well as documents outlining the exact products and services we provide.

Avoid renovators who offer to work without a contract to avoid a HST payment.
While it may be tempting to hire a renovator who is willing to work without a signed contract (and save you the HST), it should also serve as a red flag. The renovator may also not be paying provincial worker's compensation coverage or carrying adequate insurance, leaving you at financial risk.

Read more about asking the right questions of your potential renovation contractor in Home Renovations -- Don't Get Hustled!
 

Related: The First Step to Renovation Success: Carefully Plan Your Project
               The Second Step to Renovation Success: RenoMark™ Renovator

Are you ready to renovate? Contact Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre at 905-686-2001.

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre 2013 Holiday Hours

In order for our staff to enjoy the holidays with their families and friends,

our business hours for the 2013 holiday season are as follows:

Tuesday, December 24th

9 am to 12 pm

Wednesday, December 25th & Thursday, December 26th

Closed

Friday, December 27th & Saturday, December 28th

9 am to 5 pm

Sunday, December 29th

Closed

Monday, December 30th

9 am to 5 pm

Tuesday, December 31st

9 am to 12 pm

Wednesday, January 1st, 2014
Closed

Monarch's showroom will reopen for the New Year on Thursday, January 2nd, 2014.

All the very best to you and your family for a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.

Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Kitchen Designers Are Crucial to the Success of Your Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

In a recent article on thestar.com, writer Rita Zekas provides a humorous rundown of her two frustrating visits to furniture superstore, IKEA.

Her goal: to order new kitchen cabinets, a granite countertop, sink and fan hood.

How did she fare? After numerous calls to her contractor, she eventually got what she was looking for, but not without a great deal of angst and frustration:

“We pass a series of sample kitchens and finally arrive at kitchen central, where I had envisioned some kindly person sitting down with me, mano a mano, mapping out my kitchen for me. Not so.”

Instead, Zekas is told to sit down at a computer and sign in, then select items on the screen and place them on IKEA’s 3-D planner. Not exactly the helpful design collaboration she was looking for.

If you’re planning to redesign your kitchen, you may be contemplating the do-it-yourself route, as well. Before you hop in the car and head to your local big box store, consider the benefits of working with a kitchen designer.

“As professional kitchen designers, we are able to translate our client's needs into a functional kitchen design that reflects both their needs and wants,” says Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre president Neil Samson. “Monarch’s team of graduate designers have comprehensive knowledge in both kitchen and bath design, as well as construction, plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems.”

Using a kitchen designer to help with your kitchen renovation is crucial for your project’s success. Kitchen designers are trained professionals with extensive knowledge about a variety of products and know how to properly construct and install the materials in your home.

From cabinetry, countertops and storage space to sinks, plumbing and appliances, there are a tremendous number of decisions involved in a kitchen renovation.

“With little or no technical knowledge to base their decisions on, homeowners quickly become overwhelmed and frustrated,” says Neil. "A kitchen designer has years of design training and experience and can offer you their professional perspective, sharing the tricks of the trade to maximize your space and get the kitchen you want.”

Kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre

Here are some answers to common questions from our website’s FAQ page.

We're interested in having Monarch design our new kitchen. Where do we begin?
The design process starts with a visit to our showroom. Here, you have the opportunity to interview your designer, tour our showroom and obtain an overview of the products and services that we offer.

What happens after our first meeting?
Regardless of whether you are renovating an existing property or in the process of building a new house, our next meeting is at your home. The primary focus of this meeting is to develop a clear picture of your personal tastes, preferences and develop a comprehensive "wish list" for your project. Your designer will take detailed measurements of your home and the information from this meeting will be used to formulate a custom design personalized for you.

How much say will I have in the overall design?
Monarch's goal is to create a kitchen you can enjoy for years to come. While we do offer advice and guidance throughout the design and renovation process, the finished design is a true reflection of your ideas and dreams for that particular space. Your designer will use your feedback from their design survey to fine-tune each element of the design.

What happens after the design is finalized?
With the help of your designer, you will make selections such as wood species, door style, door finish, hardware, accessories and countertop colour and material. You can also ask your designer for advice on flooring, lighting, back splash treatments and paint colours.

This sounds like a lot of information to keep track of. How can I be sure we all understand who is doing what?
Monarch strives to make your renovation as seamless and stress-free as possible. You will receive a detailed description of all work that Monarch and our associated contractors will undertake on your behalf.

How will I know what is happening on a day-to-day basis?
Monarch will coordinate your project with follow-up from your designer and our production office so that no detail is overlooked. You can expect project updates on a daily basis. As an added convenience, Monarch clients can login to Monarch's website to view the progress of their project in "real time".

How can I be sure that Monarch is committed to my renovation project?
We want you to be our client for life and are committed to your complete satisfaction. We will be there to answer your questions or help with additional renovations long after your project is finished. To learn why Monarch clients keep coming back, please view our testimonials page or ask a member of our team for a list of references.

Looking for a contractor in Cottage Country? Integrity Construction and Monarch team up with spectacular results!

It's that time of year again. The birds are chirping, the air is warming and the cottage has started calling your name.

While it may be a bit too soon to open your cottage, you can get ready for the warmer months at The Spring Cottage Life Show, on this weekend (April 5th to 7th) at Toronto's International Centre (Airport Rd. & Derry Rd.).

Enjoy a day of free seminars, presentations and cooking demos; discover new products and services from industry professionals; even rub elbows with HGTV personalities Colin and Justin. Hosts of Colin & Justin's Home Heist, this popular design duo have recently purchased a cottage in Muskoka, Ontario, and are ready to share their cottage design and renovation plans.

While you are at the show gaining inspiration and dreaming about all the things you'd like to change at your own cottage, you may wonder how to go about finding a qualified contractor you can trust so far from home.

Look no further than Integrity Construction Services out of Lindsay, Ontario. An industry leader, Integrity is a full-service company that specializes in the custom designs and builds of both homes and cottages. Recently, Integrity sought out the services of Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre to design and install the kitchen and bath at a whole-cottage renovation they performed for Moira and Roger Ashby.

The Ashby’s 100-year-old cottage is located in beautiful Bobcaygeon, Ontario. Integrity Construction transformed what was once a small, outdated cottage into a stunning home-away-from-home the Ashbys can now welcome friends and family over the warmer months. It was our pleasure to consult and coordinate with the Ashbys on the selection of such key design elements as their kitchen cabinetry, countertop, backsplash and tile.

Here is the cottage BEFORE the contractors at Integrity Construction began work:

 

Ashby cottage BEFORE

Ashby cottage BEFORE

Here are some photos of the Ashby’s kitchen during renovation.

Ashby cottage RENO IN PROGRESS by Integrity Construction

Ashby cottage RENO IN PROGRESS by Integrity Construction

Please stay tuned for pictures of the final unveiling in coming weeks.

Is this the year you update your cottage? Call Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre today at 905-686-2001. Our designers and contractors will go wherever you need us to be.

Friday Fun: Tour the Princess Margaret Home Lottery Show Home Dining Room and Kitchen

Looking for some kitchen design inspiration? Spend a few minutes with House & Home's Lynda Reeves as she tours the dining room, kitchen and servery of the 2012 Princess Margaret Home Lottery showhome.

Monarch Staff Celebrates the Holiday Spirit by Supporting Feed the Need in Durham

Recently, we asked our clients and staff to donate nonperishable food items to help families in need throughout Durham Region...and they did!

The Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre team and their donation to Feed the Need in Durham.

We're thrilled to report that Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre is able to drop off a substantial amount of food to Feed the Need in Durham, a non-profit charitable organization that delivers food to food banks, soup kitchens, community service centres, shelters, drop-in centres and breakfast feed programs.

Our thanks to everyone who took the time to drop off food at Monarch's Pickering showroom.

What Will You Be Cooking in Your Kitchen this Christmas?

Whether you're preparing for Christmas in a newly designed kitchen or making design plans for the New Year, we thought we'd invite you into the kitchen of British cookbook author Nigella Lawson. In these two videos, Nigella makes a few Christmas favourites with her family.

Enjoy!

Finishing Touches: Monarch Kitchen and Bath Designers Discuss Decorative Hardware

Monarch designers rely on a variety of different elements to make a kitchen and bath design both functional and beautiful: cabinetry, countertops, lighting, appliances, flooring — and decorative hardware.

"Decorative hardware plays a significant role in tying together a kitchen or bath design," says Monarch Kitchen and Bath designer Kevin Samson. “Choosing the perfect finishing touch allows our clients to add their own personality to the project.”

And while the trend in decorative hardware continues toward clean and simple lines, many of our clients continue to choose larger-sized handles. These are available in a wide variety of finishes and colours to complement the ever-popular earth tones.

"Hardware manufacturers also offer many variations of the bronze, brass and pewter finishes," adds Kevin. "Solid colours in the brown and black shades make a bold statement on a lighter coloured wood door.

From Richelieu's
Inspiration Collection

Chrome is Back
Today, with over 90% of homeowners choosing faucets with a chrome finish, Samson notes that the majority of his clients choose chrome hardware for their cabinetry and accessories. Richelieu Hardware's new Inspiration Collection offers a fresh new designs for your kitchen and bath.

Precious Stone Pull
from Richelieu

Setting the Tone
"The hardware you select for your cabinetry is really a great way to personalize or set the tone for the entire space," says Monarch designer Marion Cuddie. 

"In one of my current installations, the client selected an over-sized crackled Murano glass knob for a white shaker door," adds Marion. "The sparkle in the glass will pick up the glitter in the granite and elevate the very basic style of the door to one with a subtle elegance."

"We have recently been introduced to a new exciting line of hardware from Richelieu that includes handmade RAKU pieces and a precious metals collection that offers Amber, Mother of Pearl and Onyx," says Marion. "I can’t wait to see them in installation!"

Luxurious AND Practical -- Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre Makes an Impression in Port Perry

What does your dream kitchen look like?

For many, it's the perfect combination of luxury and comfort paired with practicality and having "a place for everything and everything in its place."

Here are some pictures that illustrate how Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre designers helped a client in Port Perry achieve their dream...