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March 27, 2014

William Shatner, Chris Hadfield and Roberta Bondar Tell Us What They'll Be Thinking During Earth Hour 2014

Will you turn off your lights for Earth Hour? This year, Earth Hour begins at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29th. Millions of Canadians are expected to turn off their lights...will you be one of them?

An annual event hosted by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour encourages individuals worldwide to show their support for the fight against climate change.

From earthhour.org:
Earth Hour is a global environmental movement of WWF. Headquartered in Singapore, Earth Hour is one of the first opensourced environmental campaigns; it has grown from a symbolic event in one city into a global movement, crowdsourcing actions from individuals, businesses, organizations and governments to generate environmental outcomes. In 2014, Earth Hour Blue sees the movement enter the most exciting stage of its evolution, to be at the forefront of crowdfunding and crowdsourcing for causes, innovation and creativity for the planet.
 
As Canadians, we choose a future where climate change is no longer a threat. Participating in WWF’s Earth Hour is a simple way to show that you want to be a part of the solution and it sends a powerful message that together we can make a difference.

Canadians, along with other global citizens, are witnessing the devastating effects of climate change on our world. We understand these impacts are a result of human behavior and will, without action, only get worse. For 8 years, Earth Hour has rallied Canadians in a symbolic demonstration for action on climate change. Year after year, Canadians have participated in the event in large numbers by turning off their lights, helping to make Earth Hour the biggest grassroots act in history. This year when people turn off their lights, we want them to take A Moment of Darkness - a moment of reflection, introspection - a moment to choose a future where climate change is no longer a threat.







March 17, 2014

Learn How to Cook Italian with Jorie Steenson in the Monarch Kitchen Showroom

Jorie Steenson
M & R Catering

What better location to learn how to cook than in a place dedicated to the beauty of the home kitchen?

Join Jorie Steenson of M & R Catering as she hosts an Italian how-to cooking class featuring:
  • homemade herb meatballs
  • spinach and ricotta raviolli
  • béchamel white sauce and a roasted tomato sauce

    When: Saturday, March 29th

    Where: Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre, 1020 Brock Road, Unit 6, Pickering

    Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

    Cost: $70 per person (includes cooking instruction, menu tastings, M & R Cooking Studio recipe cards, a complimentary Pampered Chef item and a special thank-you gift bag)

    For more information and to register, call 905-431-2520 or email mandrcaterings@gmail.com.

    Spots are limited and classes fill up quickly, so register soon.

    March 13, 2014

    A Family Farm Home Transformed: Monarch Updates the Space and Keeps the Home’s Character Intact

    “The arrival of twins this year meant our clients’ busy farmhouse required a major transformation,” explains Monarch designer Sarah Holmstrom. “Their living space needed to accommodate a home office space, an expanding household, and stay true to the overall character of the home that had been in the family for generations.”

    Farmhouse Transformed: Design by Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre
    This new open concept design created five beautiful spaces that flow into each other seamlessly:
    • a large working kitchen with island to serve the day to day family needs;
    • convenient, but hidden office storage space;
    • a large welcoming dining area to entertain family and friends;
    • a central living area that adds a relaxed comfort to the space and keeps mom and the family connected;
    • the added convenience of a powder room at the back entrance.
    Cleverly incorporating the required support post into a creative divider resulted in a second island that acts as a hutch for the dining room. Design by Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre.

    “By removing all of the main walls within the renovation space, we created an open area to work within,” says Sarah. “The relocation of the powder room created more area for the kitchen. The new larger kitchen area and island eliminated the need for an everyday dining table while creating added living space.”



    Cleverly incorporating the required support post into a creative divider resulted in a second island that acts as a hutch for the dining room and an office space with file drawers in the kitchen. “This acts as a soft division between the work and entertaining areas of the great room,” says Sarah.


    To maintain the “farmhouse feel,’ the muted white and cream tone cabinetry has a distressed look, and the main island’s wiped green textured finish provides a rustic accent. The cabinetry’s multi-levels and depths provide visual contrast, and the use of a tile that imitates weathered hardwood provides a durable, easy care floor while adding to the inviting warmth of the room.

    The farmhouse feel remains thanks to muted white and cream tone cabinetry with a distressed look. The main island’s wiped green textured finish provides a rustic accent. Design by Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre.

    March 6, 2014

    Functional Kitchen Design Inspiration from Dupont Corian

    If you're planning a kitchen renovation this year, you'll love how creatively the designers in this video used Dupont Corian surfaces.
    "Corian® solid surface and Zodiaq® quartz surface are beautifully featured in both indoor and outdoor applications. From the kitchens and casual dining area to illuminated walls, DuPont surfaces provided the designers of TNAH with inspiration and full functionality. Corian® and Zodiaq® remain the leader in aesthetics for every designer and architect because of their allure and adaptability in furniture, lighting, baths and of course, unique countertops."