--- title: "Monarch Kitchen Design Studio — Kitchen & Bath Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/monarch-kitchen-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~2114855756 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~2114855756.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Monarch Kitchen Design Studio" category: ["Kitchen & Bath Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/11837bfd06b8c645_8078-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "207 Vandervoort Street, North Tonawanda, New York 14120, United States" latitude: 43.0498 longitude: -78.851 phone: "(716) 316-0157" website: http://www.monarchkitchendesignstudio.com rating: 5 review_count: 30 best_of_houzz_awards: 8 followers: 36 last_updated: 2026-09-09 --- # Monarch Kitchen Design Studio Original Houzz profile: [Monarch Kitchen Design Studio](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/monarch-kitchen-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~2114855756) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Kitchen & Bath Designers - **Location:** North Tonawanda, NY - **Serves:** Buffalo, West Amherst, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Grand Island, Lockport, Lewiston, Kenmore, Tonawanda, Eggertsville, South Lockport, Harris Hill, Williamsville, Grandyle Village, Niagara University, Bowmansville, East Amherst, Getzville - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (30 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 8 awards (2017–2025), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 500 Ideabook Saves - Woman owned - Award winning - Published nationally Owner of Monarch Kitchen Design Studio, which is the only female owned kitchen design studio in Niagara County, Lauren offers clients 18 years of Kitchen and Bath Design experience with over 23 years in the home improvement industry. With a B.A in both Design and Psychology, Lauren has a talent for staying on trend and also fitting each client's personal style into their new space. Lauren has the ability to work for residential or commercial clients alike and understands that there is a psychological component that needs to be understood and addressed in order to fully get the desired outcome clients are looking for. MKDS is a full-service kitchen, bath and interior selection studio, we provide 3D custom renderings, as well as, fixture selections and project coordination. We offer clients the ability to choose from high quality cabinets, counter tops, flooring, tile, hardware, fixtures and paint selections to customize their home projects. Since we work with builders, remodeling companies, flippers, and a wide variety of industry specific tradesmen, we can offer our client's a single stop renovation experience from start to finish. A remodel can be very disruptive to daily life, so we like to simplify the entire experience for you so you can enjoy the important things in life like spending quality time with your family while we do all of the work! ### Services Provided - Kitchen Design - Custom Cabinets - Bathroom Design - Custom Kitchen Cabinets - Custom Bathroom Vanities - 3D Rendering - Custom Countertops - Custom Pantries - Lighting Design - Laundry Room Design - Project Management - Mudroom Design - Universal Design - Custom Walk-in Closets - Pantry Design - Sustainable Design - Handicap-Accessible Design - Wine Cellar Design - Custom Cabinet Doors ### Areas Served - Buffalo - West Amherst - Amherst - Cheektowaga - Niagara Falls - North Tonawanda - Grand Island - Lockport - Lewiston - Kenmore - Tonawanda - Eggertsville - South Lockport - Harris Hill - Williamsville - Grandyle Village - Niagara University - Bowmansville - East Amherst - Getzville ### Typical Job Cost $50,000 - 150,000 Every project varies in price depending on size and materials and labor. ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Monarch Kitchen Design Studio | | Address | 207 Vandervoort Street, North Tonawanda, New York 14120, United States | | Phone | (716) 316-0157 | | Website | http://www.monarchkitchendesignstudio.com | | Followers on Houzz | 36 | **Social profiles:** - LinkedIn — Lauren Wagner ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Monarch Kitchen Design Studio](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/monarch-kitchen-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~2114855756) - **Website:** http://www.monarchkitchendesignstudio.com - **Phone:** (716) 316-0157 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - State University of New York College at Buffalo- BA 2005 (Fine Arts/Design), State University of New York College at Buffalo- BA 2011 (Psychology). - **Best of Houzz:** 8 awards (2017–2025), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 30 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Reviews **★★★★★ — Michele Kroetsch, Aug. 2024** > Lauren was born to design kitchens, with a keen eye for detail she made our dream kitchen a reality! With the most up to date knowledge of kitchen lay out, design, color coordination for cabinetry and floors, Lauren knocked it out of the park. A true professional!! **★★★★★ — MJS, Nov. 2023** > Lauren's expertise & skill with kitchen design is amazing. We had a 65-year-old, all original, small kitchen which needed a major upgrade. We had 2 other kitchen designers give us designs that we were not thrilled with. After searching the internet for additional kitchen designers, I clicked on Lauren's Houzz page & contacted her. She came over, looked at what we had & listened to what we were trying to accomplish. She presented us with 2 design options: redesigning just our small kitchen or combining our kitchen & dining room into one large kitchen & dining area. We were blown away with both of her designs & how she was able to masterfully rework our space. We opted to combine both rooms into one, which provided us with much needed counter space, cupboards & cabinets. Remodeling can be a very nerve-wracking experience. Throughout the process, Lauren guided us with her expertise of materials in helping us pick out cabinets, countertops, flooring, hardware, contractors, etc. She was very responsive making some minor changes (adding another cabinet) during the install that were not in the original designs. We are extremely happy with our new kitchen. Lauren's design skills, knowledge, guidance & professionalism, during the project was a huge relief and we would highly recommend her! **★★★★★ — mjp174, Oct. 2023** > Amazing! We had an ugly, closed in, weird, unloved, uncared for home. Lauren came in & transformed our space in ways I never even imagined. She is creative, took our likes and dislikes into account and opened up our entire lower level. Kitchen, living room, dining room and 2 hallways are now spaces I am proud to show off! She made adjustments for my husband, he is 6’5”, so that the kitchen was an easier space for him to use, but still user friendly for me (normal person height!) I highly recommend Monarch & Lauren, we are planning future projects with her! (These remodel photos were about 90% finished FYI) **★★★★★ — michellecterpstra, Aug. 2023** > Lauren is the best! She is patient, creative and intentional with her design. We loved having her design our home! **★★★★★ — Beverly DiPalma, Oct. 2022** > After gutting my entire kitchen/dining area - my project was a complete redo. I reached out to Monarch Kitchen Design AFTER I received plans from two other kitchen designers that I wasn't quite happy with. I chose Lauren because she was more innovative with her ideas and understood my space. She was very receptive and willing to work with me to get it "JUST RIGHT" as I had some specific "must haves" that I wanted to be sure we could incorporate. Lauren is very knowledgable on the products she recommends and always available for any questions or contractor issue that may arise. I LOVE my new kitchen and island space. I highly recommend Lauren Schulte of Monarch Kitchen Design - you won't be disappointed! **★★★★★ — lindbeckm, June 2022** > Monarch design has turned our builder grade patio home into an open expansive custom contemporary home we really wanted when we were looking for our retirement dream home. Lauren helped us to realize our vision with our input and her suggestions. The results were above our expectations and the longer we live with the design and the alterations the more comfortable the home has become. We know we made the right decision choosing Monarch Design. **★★★★★ — Kevin Sciolino, March 2022** > We can't thank Lauren enough for the amazing job in bringing our Central Park Dream kitchen to life. She's a consummate professional, extremely knowledgeable, creative, easy to work with, and provides a lot of inspiration. We're thrilled to be able to enjoy our dream kitchen, every day! **★★★★★ — giantpumpkin0704, March 2022** > I loved working with Lauren! Remodeling a kitchen is stressful (especially with COVID bad-timing). There are so many decisions to make and when I finally did make one, I’d immediately start second-guessing myself. Lauren was exceptional at understanding my style and was able to calmly guide me every step of the way to ensure the end result was perfect. We absolutely LOVE our new kitchen - it is both functional AND beautiful and cooking is now an absolute joy. I’ve received so many compliments and will be recommending Lauren to everyone I know. **★★★★★ — HU-648384610, Dec. 2021** > Lauren was wonderful to work with. She listen to what we wanted and designed us a beautiful kitchen! She guided us through each step and was there to answer all of our questions! **★★★★★ — Sue and Jack Loewer, Nov. 2021** > Working with Lauren was amazing. She knew exactly what we wanted and helped us with everything. When we walked into her showroom we immediately saw the countertops that we wanted. We love, love, love the way our kitchen turned out. My husband and I highly recommend working with Lauren. **★★★★★ — Rob Metzler, Sept. 2021** > Lauren took a lot of time in helping us plan out our new kitchen remodel. We went from a pretty useless kitchen setup with bad cabinets, bad layouts and terrible aesthetics to something that we didn't think was possible. She was able to create and move the components of our kitchen into a terrific configuration that makes the once small space feel huge. She sells quality cabinets, great countertops with professional installers, and really used our space properly. The colors and styles she offers are very diverse and we found the perfect selection for what we wanted, our countertops look great and in the end we got exactly what we wanted. I'd recommend her to anyone looking for this type of work to be done in their house. **★★★★★ — Jennifer Smith, Aug. 2020** > Lauren did a wonderful job with helping me chose colors and materials for my kitchen redo. She walked me through every step and gave me fantastic options which I loved them all! She also set up the contractors for me. > Highly recommend Lauren! ## Selected projects - [Custom Walnut/Brass Inlay cabinets](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/custom-walnut-brass-inlay-cabinets-pj-vj~7489347) - Location: Wheatfield, NY - Photos: 37 - Description: This family has lots of family gatherings and was not using the space to the best of it ability. So, we created this large island that is ideal for parties and gatherings. We wanted to customize everything in this space, so the back of the island mimics the accent wall in the formal dining room. There is custom brass inlay on the legs and the hood and the base cabinets are a beautiful walnut color. - [Central Park Dream](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/central-park-dream-pj-vj~6867997) - Location: Buffalo, NY - Photos: 35 - Description: This former Junior League House was in dire need of an update! I wanted to incorporate the gorgeous original 1930's windows. The end result was bright, light and even though it is large it still feels cozy. It is a great place to entertain for the holiday's, but everyday too! - [Junior League Showhouse- St. Patrick's Friary 2023](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/junior-league-showhouse-st-patrick-s-friary-2023-pj-vj~7330036) - Location: Buffalo, NY - Photos: 11 - Description: This was the 2023 Junior League Show house- I wanted this pantry because it was a perfect space to create a hybrid space where I could picture the Friar's bringing in the fresh veggies from the yard and a place where they used to prep for big gatherings. I wanted to honor the age of the home (1890's) and have colors and fixtures that would have been period appropriate. I also painted the ceiling with a copper dry brushing technique that would have been seen back then. My personal style is in thi… - [Lewiston Main Bath](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lewiston-main-bath-pj-vj~7330032) - Location: Lewiston, NY - Photos: 24 - Description: This original bathroom was very small, so we knocked out the wall between the bathroom and the closet and took over the entire space for the bathroom. We wanted it to feel light, bright and a place that they could unwind and relax in. We had wainscot put in to match the grand stairway and radiant heat flooring keeps the space nice and warm at night if someone needs to go to the bathroom. The tile gives it a beautiful look and the overall feeling is relaxing. - [North Tonawanda dream kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/north-tonawanda-dream-kitchen-pj-vj~7330046) - Location: North Tonawanda, NY - Photos: 28 - Description: When I came onto this project the entire back of the house was missing and tarped off. This client is also a creative and we did many different renderings before we settled onto this one. They wanted to create an area that was open and great for entertaining her large family. Plus, they have the most amazing backyard and wanted to let in as much light as possible. Then end result was stunning and the perfect place to hold the holidays. - [French Country Inspired Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/french-country-inspired-kitchen-pj-vj~6958860) - Location: Buffalo, NY - Photos: 31 - Description: This space was originally a kids play room, but was in a better location for the family to put the kitchen and to be able to access the yard to watch their family. I added the arched window in the CAD program and they ended up loving the way that it looked, so they added one. The overall look is light, bright, dreamy and had French Bakery vibes. It turned out stunning! - [Amherst Total house reno (Kitchen)](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/amherst-total-house-reno-kitchen-pj-vj~7330053) - Location: Buffalo, NY - Photos: 16 - Description: These clients were moving here from Southern California, there wasn't much in the whole house that was worth saving so everything got ripped out. I wanted to create a house that felt completely cohesive and well put together, so the entire house has the same wide plank flooring through out. I also had to pull them out of their comfort zone a bit with adding color to their house. So Cal winters are very different than Buffalo, NY and the white on white that they were used to wasn't going to work… - [Classic Beauty](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/classic-beauty-pj-vj~6840677) - Location: Amherst, NY - Photos: 15 - Description: In this kitchen we knocked down a lot of walls and made the space usable, beautiful and functional. They may have lost one bedroom, but they gained a bath and a half bath instead. There were several tricky spots that took some brainstorming to make look like it was "on purpose." But, in the end it could not be anymore beautiful! - [Vintage Vibe Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/vintage-vibe-kitchen-pj-vj~6961166) - Location: Williamsville, NY - Photos: 23 - Description: This kitchen is large and it was tricky to try to make it flow without large gaps. The entrance into the room was a pinch point so we removed the pantry cabinets to put the island in its place. The new space has a much better flow and has a ton of really good work space. - [Tuscan Inspired Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/tuscan-inspired-kitchen-pj-vj~6960835) - Location: Lockport, NY - Photos: 33 - Description: This client wanted the Italian Tuscan inspired kitchen with warm and creamy colors. I also wanted to create an island that was a bit different, one that is not connected to the ground, works as a prep space and also a seating area. The black is a beautiful contrast to the creamy coconut cabinets and travertine backsplash. - [Classic Black & White Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/classic-black-and-white-kitchen-pj-vj~6960955) - Location: Grand Island, NY - Photos: 33 - Description: This kitchen had a boring builder grade kitchen. There was not too much we could do to change the layout, but we did want to open up the space so we opened up the wall between the dining room and kitchen. Then we extended the wall between the patio door and window to give it more space since we lost the other wall. The end result is open, bright and very updated AND the kitty loves it too! - [Mid-Century Dream](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mid-century-dream-pj-vj~6156801) - Location: Buffalo, NY - Photos: 23 - Description: This beautiful Mid-Century was in desperate need of updating in both form and function. Keeping the original ceilings (which had a slope we needed to mind) helped keep the 50's style. The two tone made it so that the kitchen was broken up instead of being one very long white kitchen. Adding the windows on the exterior wall completely brightened up the space too. - [Master Bedroom Oasis](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/master-bedroom-oasis-pj-vj~5537886) - Location: North Tonawanda, NY - Photos: 23 - Description: This is our bedroom- When I bought the house 8 years ago I never dreamed that this would be the way the room turned out. The previous owner had 5 children and only 3 bedrooms, so they put a wall up in the middle of this room. Plus, this house is an 1855 Farmhouse and it needed a ton of work. The ceiling was insanely low and it was super dark- We still have some finishing touches, but this space is our favorite in the house and we love relaxing in bed with the fireplace on watching movies. - [Classic Cherry Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/classic-cherry-kitchen-pj-vj~6094616) - Location: East Amherst, NY - Photos: 14 - Description: This client's kitchen was a bit challenging in that the space was SO big we wanted to fill the space in a thoughtful way without adding cabinets to just fill the space. I am glad that they liked my plan to make the hood navy to break up all of that cherry, in the end the space is warm and inviting and so much more functional than the original kitchen. - [Farmhouse Inspired New Build](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/farmhouse-inspired-new-build-pj-vj~5833115) - Location: Clarence Center, NY - Photos: 30 - Description: This was a new build that we were able to have design flexibility with since the build was not for a client specifically. - [Farmhouse Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/farmhouse-addition-pj-vj~5828597) - Location: Lockport, NY - Photos: 19 - Description: This client had a house that was out dated and out of space, but the house had a ton of sentimental value (and beyond beautiful farm property) and decided to build on an addition instead of move. We encompassed the kitchen and dining space which lead out to a stunning wrap around porch that has views of the fields. This space is the heart of the home and was even housing new ducklings. The overall project was absolutely gorgeous! - [Farmhouse Refresh](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/farmhouse-refresh-pj-vj~2280243) - Location: Darien Center, NY - Photos: 12 - Description: This was an old farm house that needed life brought back into it- with a lot of creative adjustments, this turned out to be the kitchen of this clients dream! Also, the wood hood is a custom piece that I created out of wood from the barn- - [Copper Inspired Rustic Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/copper-inspired-rustic-kitchen-pj-vj~5537921) - Location: Lockport, NY - Photos: 9 - Description: This homeowner had a very traditional house with lots of dark and cherry wood. They wanted to make sure that the kitchen reflected the same style as the rest of the house. The copper is so warm and rich and it turned out beautifully! - [Master Bath Spa Retreat](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/master-bath-spa-retreat-pj-vj~5833158) - Location: Clarence Center, NY - Photos: 9 - Description: This master was very large, but used space in a poor way- They also had to share a sink so we decided to turn this space into a spa retreat. The custom built-ins make the vanity feel cozy and spacious, there is also 3x as much storage as there was originally. The clients loved it and now it feel updated and a space they want to be in. - [Victorian Mansion](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/victorian-mansion-pj-vj~6156837) - Location: Buffalo, NY - Photos: 13 - Description: The ceilings in this house are over 12' there is actually a challenge when you have such a massive space to make it cohesive and not throw stuff in there just to fill the space. The island is over 9'x9' which is massive, but it fits in the room perfectly. The large crown helps to tie it all in and the quite tones of the gray make it feel modern and updated. [See all 34 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/monarch-kitchen-design-studio-pfvwus-pf~2114855756) ## Ideabooks - [JL Showhouse](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/179295422/list/jl-showhouse) — 11 ideas - [DiBernardo House](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/172361554/list/dibernardo-house) — 14 ideas - [client](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/169792563/list/client) — 1 idea - [Slomba](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/169632977/list/slomba) — 2 ideas - [Showhouse](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/167122425/list/showhouse) — 8 ideas - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/127744351/list/wish-list) — 2 ideas - [Light Airy Kitchens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/62873258/list/light-airy-kitchens) — 5 ideas - [White painted kitchens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/62466794/list/white-painted-kitchens) — 2 ideas - [bathrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/64543792/list/bathrooms) — 8 ideas - [Laundry Room](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/69459068/list/laundry-room) — 1 idea - [mudroom](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/62873197/list/mudroom) — 1 idea - [Home Office](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/62873074/list/home-office) — 4 ideas - [Master Bedroom](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/62873384/list/master-bedroom) — 11 ideas - [Backyard Landscape](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/62872980/list/backyard-landscape) — 5 ideas - [contemporary clean](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/63182568/list/contemporary-clean) — 1 idea [See all 15 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/monarchkdstudio) ## Community Q&A **Q: Counter** *(in Photo Questions)* What material and color pls A: For which part? **Q: Cabinets** *(in Photo Questions)* What type of wood and stain was used? A: Hello- these were Cherry Thomasville cabinets and the color was nutmeg. **Q: Sink and dishwasher location design** *(in Design Dilemma)* This is driving me nuts, can we get some advice. The current plan calls for a Stove, Dishwasher (in the middle), Sink all next to each other. This might not be the best design, if we ever use DW and stove at the same time? How (un)usable is it to have Sink on other wall, Corner cabinet, and then a Dishwasher. Is the DW harder to use with the door open, will it be interfere with Sink? Please advise, thanks! What would you pick? A: Well, I am a kitchen designer and we run into this a lot. I would put your sink in the corner between the two windows and then put a 15" trash cabinet then your dishwasher under the 48" window. I would also flip flop the stove and the fridge. I wouldn't push the fridge all the way to the door, I would do about a 24" cabinet then a panel then the fridge then a panel. This way you don't walk into a 'wall' when you walk in- for the stove wall I would put at least a 30" wall cabinet on either side of the range so it is centered. You actually have a ton of options in this kitchen! Best of luck! **Q: Finished living room?** *(in Design Dilemma)* What do you guys think? Any advice? A: Like this **Q: Need help with split level addition** *(in Design Dilemma)* I'm trying to add onto my current split level kitchen/dining room. I had one suggestion but looking for more. Attempting to keep a window in the dining room while adding to the kitchen and trying to gain a rec-room for a kid. Trying to plan ahead the best I can. Any suggestions? Its a common split-level layout. Picture shows current layout with addition outline. A: Are you eliminating the walls between the kitchen and the dining room? If so you can do a nice island in there. I would also switch the fridge to the end of the wall where the stove is so it feels more open. If you live in the Western New York area you can come to my showroom and we can layout a new design. **Q: Countertop dilemma** *(in Design Dilemma)* My new cabinets are Dover by sherwin williams. The backsplash is crackled white subway tile in a large/small pattern. The floor is a rustic barn wood porcelain. My husband wants the gray and I'm a little worried to go that dark. Cream/taupe or grey for my quartz? A: Well, I typically tell my clients to get the ctop installed first then pick out your backsplash. However, sometimes a tile strikes someone and we work the other way around. First, what direction does your kitchen face? If it's south you will have lots of bright light throughout the day, if it's north it will tend to be a darker kitchen and perhaps the darker top might make it heavy in there. Are you doing recessed ceiling lights, under cabinet lights? Pendants lights- if so the dark color will not be too dark. In fact, it will offer some contrast. I'm not sure where you live but look for a Cambria dealer and look up Seagrove. It may be a really nice contrast between the two. I LOVE a white on white kitchen but sometimes it's a bit bland. Either way it will be beautiful. Best of luck! --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-09.*