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November 26, 2010

Have Clear Goals for Your Kitchen Renovation

Before you begin renovation on what is probably the most-used room in your house, it's important to envision what you want to accomplish with your kitchen redesign. You'll also need to understand what problems you may be dealing with from the onset so you can budget accordingly.

The clearer your expectations are from the beginning, the happier you'll be throughout the renovation process and, ultimately, with the finished product. At Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre, we encourage you to spend time dreaming BIG and exploring your options.

For a helpful tips on how to plan for and proceed with a successful kitchen renovation, visit the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) website.

November 24, 2010

Monarch Steps Up Clothing Drive to Help Herizon House

With Southern Ontario's unseasonably warm weather coming to a close, Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre is looking to the community to help clothe the abused women and children who turn to Herizon House for help.

Located in Ajax, Ontario, and serving the Durham/Clarington Regions, Herizon House is a shelter for abused women and their families that provides a place of safety, support and empowerment.

Herizon House Needs Your Help

Women and children fleeing abusive situations often arrive at the shelter with only the clothes on their back. For many, having the courage to leave is just the first step in a long road to independence and healing.

Support the women and children of Herizon House with donations of brand new practical items that will help keep them warm this winter and help get their life back on track.

Some suggestions:

Brand New Practical Items for women, children and teens (girls and boys under 18 years of age) such as:
  • Pajamas
  • Slippers
  • Socks, underwear, bras, etc.
  • Hygiene/personal products
  • Bed linens, towels, pillows
  • Curling irons
  • Hot rollers
  • Makeup
  • Household items
  • Teens/kids – electronics, CD players, CD's, games, DVD's, etc.
All donations can be dropped off at the Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre showroom, 1020 Brock Road South, Unit #6, Pickering. For more information, call 905-686-2001.

    November 19, 2010

    When Only a Happy Client Will Do

    www.homestars.com
    While an 8 out of 10 rating on Homestars.com might be enough for some kitchen and bath design companies, a recent review by "Jenni in T.O." left president Neil Samson wondering where Monarch had gone wrong. After reading her 8/10 review, Neil and designer Melissa Foley contacted Jenni immediately and resolved the outstanding issue to her complete satisfaction. Jenni re-posted her review and gave Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre a 10/10 rating.

    Posted by Jenni in T.O. on November 8, 2010
    "Monarch did my bathroom renovation and there were a few outstanding issues which initially led me to give a lower rating. However, Neil and Melissa were amazing at following up to ensure that I was completely satisfied and I now am!! Thank you for superior customer service and believing in your product! I will definitely recommend Monarch to others and use them again myself!"

    Another 10/10 rating posted last week:

    Wow factor!
    Posted by Jeff in Pickering on November 15, 2010
    "We shopped around a few local kitchen places before we chose Monarch. Melissa was excellent in making us feel special and that we were making the right decision. She presented us with an excellent design that covered all of our 'must haves'. She was thorough, listened to our ideas and suggestions and both her and Neil were always accessible to answer any questions or concerns that we had. Of course as with any renovation, there are glitches, but the ones we had were very minor and handled in a professional and timely manner. We are extremely happy with the end results and have blown away our family and friends with the transformation. See the photos for yourself! We would definitely recommend Monarch Kitchen to anybody." 

     

    For a complete list of Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre reviews on Homestars, click here.

     

    November 17, 2010

    Save Water and the Environment with GROHE

    Gone are the days when homeowners only focused on design and functionality when choosing the products and appliances for their newly designed kitchen or bathroom. Today, they are just as likely to keep the environment in mind, as well.

    But is it possible to be good to the environment and save money...all while maintaining high standards for style and efficiency? GROHE thinks you can:

    "In a world where water resources are under increasing pressure, GROHE works every day to provide solutions to this serious challenge. All GROHE products combine stylish design, ease-of-use and superior performance with responsible water consumption. Some concepts, however, are exceptionally economical by nature and allow users to save water without giving it another thought."

    GROHE has expanded their EcoJoy™ line of established products--thermostats, dual-flush sanitary systems and electronic faucets--to reflect their ongoing commitment to the environment. The smart, sophisticated designs of GROHE's selected single-lever mixers and showers restrict flow rates and allow you to reduce water consumption without sacrificing on performance or design. This means less water needs to be heated to obtain your perfect shower or washbasin temperature. The bottom line? The money you save on water generates energy savings and results in a substantial cost savings for both resources.
    GROHE EcoJoy™ hand shower

    Choose a Water-Saving Shower Head
    Using quality materials, first-class design and advanced engineering, GROHE EcoJoy™ hand showers save water with either an integrated flow limiter, or an "eco" button or spray dimmer which let you to choose when to reduce the water flow.

    Save with a GROHE Digital Shower
    Designed to save you time and money, GROHE Ondus faucets and showers can be pre-programmed so you can enjoy your preferred combination of water flow rate and shower temperature with a push of a button. The shower control's "pause" button allows you to stop the water mid-shower (e.g. to shampoo your hair) and then re-start it at exactly the same temperature and flow...saving you time and water.

    Invest in a GROHE Shower Thermostat

    Shower thermostats help you save water by maintaining the desired water temperature for the duration of your shower. This means less time re-adjusting the temperature if the water supply changes. In addition, many of GROHE's models include an "eco" button on the thermostat body to reduce the flow rate by 50 percent.

    Visit GROHE online here.

    To learn more about incorporating GROHE's energy-efficient products into your kitchen or bath redesign project, contact Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre at 905-686-2001.

    November 9, 2010

    Monarch Designer Enters NKBA Kitchen Design Competition

    Monarch designer Melissa Foley is hoping a recent kitchen design has what it takes to catch the attention of judges at the National Kitchen & Bath Association's (NKBA) annual design competition. 

    Monarch is proud to be a member of the NKBA, an organization that promotes professionalism and ethical business practices and sets industry standards for conduct and construction around the world. With over 40,000 members, winners of NKBA's annual design competition represent the top kitchen and bath designers in North America.

    "I decided to enter this kitchen project into the NKBA design competition because it is one of the biggest transformations of a space I have designed so far in my career," explains Melissa. "The client's typical U-shaped kitchen and closed-off dining room has been transformed into an open concept space where they feel comfortable entertaining their guests."

    Creating a warm, welcoming and functional environment to entertain friends and family was a priority for Melissa's clients. The wall between their kitchen and dining room was removed, opening up the main floor so it now illuminates with natural light, creating a bright and cheerful feel.
    To keep costs down, the structural post was left in and the island became the focal point of this new area. The newly acquired space allowed room for the pantries, refrigerator, microwave and a decorative open-shelf unit, and all tall units were put along one wall, opening up the rest of the room for much needed counter and workspace.
    With the back wall now the cooking area, a convenient prep sink under the window and ample workspace on each side of the range, Melissa's happy clients can now easily work side-by-side. A small desk area at the very end of the range wall keeps papers within reach but out of the way. The old dining room—now part of the open-concept kitchen—with double beverage fridges, a wall-mounted TV and wine racks became the ultimate entertainment space and serves as the main eating area, as well.
    "The traditional look of the cabinetry, the modern look of the hood fan, tile, faucets and stools, the elegance of the lighting fixtures and the vintage feel of the recycled wood table has transformed this into a unique, inviting dream entertainment space," says Melissa.

    Click here to view NKBA's 2010 winning designs.

    November 5, 2010

    Help Monarch Support Herizon House

    Please join us as we support Herizon House, a shelter for abused women and their families that provides a place of safety, support and empowerment.

    Located in Ajax, Ontario, and serving the Durham/Clarington Regions (including Ajax, Bowmanville, Brooklin, Courtice, Oshawa, Newcastle, Pickering and Whitby), Herizon House is committed to ending the cycle of abuse and violence in the community.

    How can you help? Drop off new or gently used household items at the Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre showroom and Monarch staff will ensure your donation is transported to Herizon House.

    Brand new household and clothing items--and even gift certificates--are given directly to families in need. For a complete list of suggestions, please click here. Gently used items are sold at their New Starts Store, with the proceeds benefiting the women and children served by Herizon House.

    For information on dropping off items at the Monarch showroom, contact Amanda Willson-Suppa at 905-686-2001.

    To learn more about supporting Herizon House directly, call 905-426-1064, or visit them online.

    November 2, 2010

    No Scary Stories at Monarch

    Amanda Willson-Suppa from Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre helped staff get into the Halloween spirit last week with an artfully designed pumpkin cake. And while Monarch's kitchen and bath designers were happy to celebrate this spooky holiday with a homemade treat, their clients know they don't have to worry about any design or renovation horror stories.

    If finding the perfect design firm to meet your needs has become a nightmare, drop by our Pickering showroom today, or call 905-686-2001 to arrange for a no-obligation consultation. Your kitchen or bath renovation doesn't have to be a horror story. Click here to find out what Monarch's clients are saying.