This White Kitchen Adds Warmth with Texture and Style

What do you do when your client wants a kitchen island but there's not enough room in the existing space? Take down walls! "We decided to take down some walls and combine two rooms into one cohesive space," says Monarch designer Melissa Foley. "We were able to marry the two spaces together successfully by using finishes."

 "The island became a real focal point in the room," explains Melissa. "We combined the warmth of the living room with the cooler colours of the kitchen space. Even the pendant lights above the island were selected in silver and gold to complement the warm and cool appearance."

Storage solutions for this kitchen include a pull-out pantry next to the fridge; lots of deep drawers to accommodate accessible storage; and a designated communication station (see above, left) to keep charging cell phones and incoming mail out of the main kitchen work area. To create more cabinetry space in the kitchen, a second entrance to the dining room was closed off.

One-of-a-kind custom colour and finish
"The client went with a painted finish that had the texture of wood...without showing the colour of wood," explains designer Melissa Foley. "We decided on white ash. It has enough depth to the grain, allowing it to hold the paint colour while still having the texture shine through. It turned out beautifully."

Renovate to Adapt Part Two: Preparing Your Home For Family Life

Last week, we discussed the pros and cons of moving vs. renovating your current home to meet your needs. It’s no secret that the time and effort spent preparing your home for sale combined with the costs of involved with moving is staggering.

Is now the right time for you to move? Ultimately, it comes down to how you want to spend your money.

This week, we’ll discuss ways to help those hoping to adapt their home from one that was perfect for two to one that can handle the demands of a busy family.

Moving Forward: From being a couple to having a couple of kids

Congratulations, your family has expanded and life as you knew it has changed! Before, it was just the two of you: taking your time to cook meals; eating out at a moment’s notice; hanging out with friends and spending a great deal of time away from home. 

Although children enrich our lives in so many ways, they also change the way we do things. Bottles and sippy cups now compete for space in your cupboard with the stylish glassware and plates you once used regularly for dinner parties. Baby food and boxed cereal have now become staples in your pantry. What you need is more storage space – it’s time for a more functional and fabulous kitchen!

Open-concept kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

As the heart of the home, a kitchen with young kids running around becomes the hub for the entire family. With multiple meals being cooked there daily, your kitchen is now the centre for communication, learning, play – and oh yes, eating and storage too!

This space has never needed to be more functional than it does today. So why move? By renovating your space, you are able to work with a designer who is an expert at incorporating all of your hopes, dreams and storage needs into your home, and within your allotted budget.

Open-concept kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

Consider the advantage of having a large island, where the kids can colour, craft and do homework while you prepare dinner. Tupperware and plastic containers have now infiltrated your kitchen, along with all the cool kid’s cooking tools – new deep drawers are going to be such a help!

Pantry storage doesn’t have to be just for food, it can also be a place to store kids’ things, as can the additional storage space available with in an island.

At Monarch, we can change your space to do all of these things. We can even add electrical outlets and charging stations, up and out of reach of little hands. 

Open-concept kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

While storage is a priority at this stage, it’s not the only reason for wanting to focus on the kitchen when renovating. Your closed-in kitchen – although still a functional cooking area – is no longer an efficient use of space since you are constantly having to run around the wall to see if the kids in the main room are out of harm’s way. 

Opening up the space and removing a wall not only helps ensure the safety of your family while preparing a meal or unloading groceries, it enhances the overall look of your home.
Now more than ever, our customers are opting to open their homes and remove the barriers that separate them from interacting efficiently with their families. Opening up your living space and creating a great room allows you to live and function more harmoniously.

The staff and designers at Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre are ready to help you address the changing needs for your home.

What Will You Use Your Kitchen Island For?

It's no secret that islands top the list of kitchen renovation must-haves. After all, islands can transform the way you work and socialize in what is most likely the busiest room in your home.

Whether you're looking for more cooking, storage or food-preparation space — or maybe even just a spot for your guests to place their drinks while you're preparing dinner — the addition of an island is a great way to update your kitchen while adding value to your home.

Before you decide what kind of cabinetry and countertop you'd like on your island, it's important to figure out exactly what you'll be using it for.

Cooking

If you love to cook, an island with a built-in cook top will allows you to stay in the centre of the action at all times. Remember, however, that island cook tops require proper ventilation and special consideration must be given if you plan to eat at the island. This can be addressed by designing the island with a raised eating counter which creates an effective safety barrier to open flame and steam.

Island with cook top. Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre.

Food Preparation

The space on a kitchen countertop is often so covered in small appliances (coffeemaker, toaster, mixer) there is little room for food preparation. That's where an island can save the day. Add a bar sink to your island and not only can you entertain with ease, but you'll also be able to keep all of your food preparation in one place.

Island with large food prep area and under-counter storage. Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre.

Storage

Bowls, plates, cutlery, glasses, coffee cups, pots, pans, casserole dishes, food...there never seems to be quite enough cupboard space in a kitchen. While you're planning what to do with the top of your island, the under-counter storage space is an added bonus you'll love taking advantage of. Choose open shelves to display your cookbooks and dishes, closed cabinetry to hide the harder to organize items, or a combination of both.

Dining
Whether you plan to use your island for entertaining or for your causal eating needs, be sure to include an overhanging counter with plenty of room for your knees, allowing a minimum of 24 inches for each chair.

Island with under-counter storage and seating. Design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre.

Can't decide what kind of island to include in your new kitchen? Call Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre today at 905-686-2001 or drop by our Pickering showroom at 1020 Brock Road, Unit 6.