How is Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB) rated?

Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB) is currently rated 4.8 overall out of 5

What services does Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB) provide?

Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB) provides the following services: 3D Rendering, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Architectural Design, Architectural Drawings, Attic Conversion, Basement Design, Bathroom Design, Custom Homes, Custom Storage, Design Consultation, Drafting, Energy-Efficient Homes, Floor Plans, Green Building, Guesthouse Design & Construction, Historic Building Conservation, Home Additions, Home Extensions, Home Remodeling, Home Theater Design, House Plans, Kitchen Design, Kitchen Remodeling, Landscape Plans, Laundry Room Design, Lighting Design, Modular Home Additions, Mudroom Design, Multigenerational Homes, Outdoor Kitchen Design, Outdoor Lighting Design, Project Management, Site Planning, Space Planning, Staircase Design, Sustainable Design, Universal Design, Downsizing, Interior Design, Custom Renovations, Home Design, Home Renovation Design, Wholistic Home Design, Master Planning

Where does Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB) provide services?

Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB) provides services in the following areas: Ottawa, Glebe, Barrhaven, Bells Corners, Britannia, Chelsea, Gatineau, Gloucester, Hazeldean, Kanata, Nepean, Old Chelsea, Orleans, Rockcliffe Park, Shirleys Bay, Sandy Hill, Uplands, Golden Triangle, Westboro, Hintenburg, Beachwood, Downtown, Old Ottawa South, Manotick, Alta Vista, Center Town, Fisher Park, Old Ottawa East, New Edinburg, Manor Park

Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB)

46 Reviews

Design-Build Firms

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About Us

Offering you fully integrated ecological design and construction services to renovate a house into Your Ideal Home- a home that makes your lives and relationships a little easier because it's high functioning, nurturing, flexible and beautiful. You can trust our price and schedule - we take pride in being true to our commitment to you, it's a point of honour. Designing and renovating should be exciting and fun. We're committed to doing all the heavy lifting so you can just enjoy the ride home. Like you, we are Home Makers. Our passion for thoughtful design & excellent craft compliments your passion for a beautiful home to nourish your family and inspire harmony. We will take the time to talk you out of anything we feel is not in your best interests and offer you alternative ways of meeting your needs to ensure your home is of the highest value. Ultimately YOU make the decisions about what you value and we make it happen for you. Visit us at www.mkdb.ca to learn more about how we will see you all the way home!

Awards

YWCA Woman of Distinction 2009 Habitat for Humanity Donor of Distinction 1997Ottawa Carleton Home Builders Association Finalist 2003 Renos > $100,0002005 Kitchens >179 sq. ft. 2005 & 2007 Housing Details 2012 Renos >$450,000 2002 Honourable Mention Housing Details

16 Projects

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Ottawa with white walls and no fireplace

Business Details

Business Name

Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB)

Phone Number

(613) 720-7239

Website

mkdb.ca/

Address

435 St Laurent Blvd, Unit 201
Ottawa, Ontario K1K 2Z6
Canada

Typical Job Cost

CAD 20,000 - CAD 400,000

Fully integrated Architectural and Interior Design Solutions for Your Ideal Home.

Followers

250 Followers

Socials

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Services Provided

Home Remodeling

Custom Homes

Kitchen Remodeling

Home Additions

Kitchen Design

Home Extensions

Bathroom Design

Architectural Design

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Guesthouse Design & Construction

Architectural Drawings

Multigenerational Homes

House Plans

3D Rendering

Project Management

Design Consultation

Floor Plans

Energy-Efficient Homes

Basement Design

Universal Design

Outdoor Kitchen Design

Laundry Room Design

Green Building

Sustainable Design

Attic Conversion

Space Planning

Lighting Design

Historic Building Conservation

Mudroom Design

Site Planning

Drafting

Home Theater Design

Staircase Design

Landscape Plans

Modular Home Additions

Custom Storage

Outdoor Lighting Design

Custom Renovations

Downsizing

Home Design

Home Renovation Design

Interior Design

Master Planning

Wholistic Home Design

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Areas Served

Alta Vista

Barrhaven

Beachwood

Bells Corners

Britannia

Center Town

Chelsea

Downtown

Fisher Park

Gatineau

Glebe

Gloucester

Golden Triangle

Hazeldean

Hintenburg

Kanata

Manor Park

Manotick

Nepean

New Edinburg

Old Chelsea

Old Ottawa East

Old Ottawa South

Orleans

Ottawa

Rockcliffe Park

Sandy Hill

Shirleys Bay

Uplands

Westboro

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Credentials

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Write a Review

46 Reviews for Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB)

Newest first

Michelle Weger

The changes Moneca made to the layout have made it into such a livable space. It’s technically small but it doesn’t feel small because of the layout and the windows. The windows are so incredible and I’m so happy that she found so many places to add big beautiful light filling windows. We barely ever use lights before dusk. I feel proud of my home which wasn’t the case when we bought it, before the renovations started.

May 16, 2021

Mira Johri

My mother passed away a few years back after a long illness. After a period of mourning and adjustment, my father decided that it was time to shift from the house that had been their home for forty years to a condo. The move was a daunting prospect. We are extremely fortunate that Moneca and her team were available to help in the transition. My parents’ home held a lifetime of treasures and memories; Moneca was able to honour my father’s vision, timeline, and budget while ensuring respect for the fundamentals of good design. They worked together to create a worthy home for his retirement and in the process have become fast friends. When I visit my father’s condo, I see him happy and surrounded by his favourite things. He takes pleasure in hosting friends old and new, and has received nothing but compliments on his comfortable and elegant new home. Our most sincere thanks to Moneca – this happy ending is truly a gift.

August 14, 2019

User

Moneca and her team have been great at every step of the reno process. We have a 100 yr old house we are renovating. We came to Moneca with a design concept but Moneca quickly envisioned a much better plan. Her team went through every detail during the design phase to maximize the use of space while emphasizing multiple uses for each space. Now we are in the construction phase and they are ahead of schedule and on budget even after discovering some surprises an old house can hide. We feel confident that Moneca and her team are going to deliver what they promised and give us our dream home.

June 3, 2019Last modified:May 6, 2024

Comment from Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB):

It is such a pleasure to be working with you and Barbara to design and renovate your property the ideal home for you with a comfortable rental unit. We are so excited to see all of our thoughtful design details slowing coming to fruition with our wonderful team of carpenters on site. Thank you for the privilege of helping you shepherd in your new urban lifestyle!

elise ONDET

Our project was very last minute, and as I searched for a contractor and interior designer to be able to guide us through our project, I found MKDB. Lucky for us, they were able to take on our project (we contacted them in mid-April, demo started in June!). Compared to what I hear from other people going through major renovations of their home, we didn't hit any of the snafus - communication with Moneca and her team (and especially Dana) was really easy and straightforward. The only issue we had was that the permits took longer than expected and set the whole project back a month. Probably, Moneca and her team could / should have done a better job with them, but all in all, delays are expected with a reno. WHAT I LOVED 1 We had to write a somewhat long-ish document about how we were envisioning the project and what we wanted our home to look like. After that, I felt like most of my work had been done. Dana and Moneca took possession of our thoughts and wants and turned them into the right choices of interior fixtures, from hardwood flooring to shelves, shades of paints or lighting. It was a last minute project and before we started I had never watched a home reno show so I didn't know much about what I wanted, but it felt like Dana knew! I just nodded to most of the tiles, hardwood floors, plumbing that she presented because they were right. It was such a relief not to have to go to all the stores and agonize over the tiles. I think it also kept us on budget because otherwise I would have been sucked into choosing more expensive fixtures. WHAT I LOVED 2 We were away for most of the reno and Moneca and Dana kept us informed of what was happening. We came back not to a fully renovated house, which was the goal at first, but things were moving quickly already. We really did not have to do any check ups, making sure that everything was according to plan, because Moneca and her team were. That also removed a lot of the stress of a reno WHAT I LOVED 3 Moneca's and Dana's designing suggestions were really helpful. Had we not hired an interior designer who really thought about the flow of people in the house, I don't think our home would be functioning so well for us now. A contractor will tell you they can, and will, but I think that for a maor reno like this, you need someone who can have a global vision.

May 30, 2019Last modified:July 4, 2019

Comment from Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB):

We loved co-creating a kitchen for someone so passionate about feeding her family Elise. You have been a great inspiration and reminder that it's not the kitchen but the cook who really makes us happy. There's a whole movement around this idea but not everyone embodies it the way you do. https://www.slowfood.com/ I've attached a photo of us enjoying the homemade Christmas Yule log you made for us. I wish I had a close up of it, it was so pretty and so yummy. Our vision is to be around for 7 generations so hopefully we will be helping your sons make homes someday too and hopefully you will pass on your baking skills to them too.

John Gero

Our more than a century old house was looking drab and required a significant redesign to give it more life and curb appeal. We had a great experience working with MKDB in the past for our interior renovations and were excited to work with them again on our new project. We hired MKDB to redesign the front of the house and to build and managed the actual renovations. We found the staff to be very knowledgeable, courteous and great listeners. They sat down with us to hear our ideas and came back with a design that truly elevated the look of our home's exterior facade, roofline and front porch, They made sure that we were fully aware of the cost of the project and any potential costs that could arise, so that we did not have to worry about additional costs after the project started. Like the previous renovation with them, they came in on time and on budget, just like they promised. We very highly recommend working with them.

May 30, 2019

Roma

My husband and I rarely write reviews but often read them and they impact our decisions. So to do our part we wanted to share our thoughts on working with Moneca Kaiser Design and Build (MKDB). Originally, I set out looking for interior design guidance for a new house we are building that we had just designed. However, MKDB second opinion service caught my eye. I thought that getting a fresh set of eyes on our floor plans and maybe some value adding tweaks could be wise. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Moneca offered a two step service, one to critique the existing floor plan and step two to offer solutions. However, after step one (which she originally asked $1,000 for but thankfully we got the 360 degree consult fee of $360 after asking) she said she was unable to provide solutions. This meeting ended up being little more than a sales pitch for her services. I don’t think the MKDB second opinion service should even be offered to begin with if there is the possibility that there are no solutions. Although Moneca speaks to a holistic approach in design, she still offers this service which is not at all inline with this approach she maintains is necessary to create a home design. It's easy to point out what could be better in a home design however providing solutions is another story, Ultimately, we spent $5,000 and none of her ideas added value to our situation or feasible with our current plans. She seemed more interested collecting fees and signing us up for a full home design than helping us in our situation to be honest. On a positive note, the experience did highlight how our original floor plan was optimal for us and how thankful we are to have our original home design and build team.

March 4, 2019

Comment from Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB):

We are so sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with the service we provided for your family. Initially, we began discussions about working together on your project from an interior finishing and millwork detailing stand point. As floor plans and fully resolved, functional spaces, are our forte, we suggested another service that we felt would better serve your needs before addressing the finishing and millwork. Working together over about 2 months we exchanged around 50 emails, as this was your preferred way of communicating, and worked together towards some elegant solutions for your project.

We suggested that together we explore options to either accept the plans, much as they are, or start over - wiser for your journey. You chose to explore the latter option and allow us to take a fresh look at your wish list and come up with some new solutions.

We offered about a dozen new concepts for discussion culminating in one resolved solution that addressed both your wish list and resolved many of the concerns you had with your existing plan. After working together for a bit on this new plan option, the project scope quickly reverted to working with the former floor plan and looking for ways to elevate it.

As we explained in our initial consultation and we will reiterate here for the Houzz community, in the hope of illuminating the complexity and importance of comprehensive and elegant design - our biggest problem in working through this second opinion of your existing plans is that they are good. It's really hard to justify changing something that is good, and the solutions are not simple for the same reason.

Given that, once we shifted our focus to working with you existing plan/footprint, we performed a careful review of the existing plan and offered viable options for all 3 stories. The solutions were aimed at eliminating any wasted space, refining traffic flows and door swings, providing new/better storage opportunities, addressing your concerns about the master suite layout which disturbed a resting partner if the other wanted to dress, improving your kitchen triangle, too long in our opinion, which then presented an opportunity to add a shower to the powder room. The list of improvements/solutions continued. All of this was achieved while keeping within the existing building envelope or suggesting very modest modifications that would not extend your permit application process for construction.

Through all of this, our solutions illustrated to you and provided you with greater clarity around what you value and what you couldn't live without. We are only too grateful that at least it has allowed you to move forward with your existing plans with confidence.

This exploration of options is exactly what the Second Opinion service is for and this was truly the advantage you gained from utilizing this service.

You said you were initially drawn to our work because of the smart and elegant designs - should you see any features or finishes that appeal to you we would be happy to supply you with their specifications at no additional charge.

In the end, our services allowed you to feel happy with you choices and move forward into the build justified and confident. Please let us know if we might be of further service to you as you move forward. Perhaps when you come around to furnishing we can offer some ideas from our travels...

We wish you the very best with your new house construction and we hope your home brings you happiness as your family continues to grow.

Ken Richardson

We are delighted with our renovation - it truly transformed our livingspace - and we very much appreciated the open design-first approach.

November 7, 2018

Anne MacIsaac

We hired Moneca to do a major renovation for us, with a main floor addition for a new kitchen and a complete redesign of the main floor of our 1940s home. New windows, roof, siding, climate system and a new, relocated back deck were part of the reno. Moneca and her whole team were trustworthy, reliable, and professional. We were extremely impressed with their skill and meticulous attention to detail. We actually started out with another designer, but pricing concerns late in that process led us to ask Moneca for a second opinion. She reassured us on the price, but suggested a very different layout that made so much sense that we had to switch. Moneca’s people were very organized and helped guide us through the whole process, by narrowing down fixture choices and even giving advice on furnishings. They started on schedule and got us back into the house on time. We are thrilled with the result and highly recommend Moneca and her team!

November 1, 2018

stephen hicks

Moneca and her firm got me out of a major snafu that was happening on a project I was doing. I am very grateful for the expedient way she can make things happen. I was building a two story addition that was stopped until Moneca and her crew came along.

August 24, 2017

Jane Gurr

"Moneca has great ideas that we benefited from, she's a dedicated expert who helped us articulate our thoughts, protecting us for wasting time on unworkable ideas and potentially expensive mistakes. One of her great strengths is though not her home, she brings a commitment to the success of the project that one associates more with the client than the supplier - invaluable."

August 2, 2017

munimooni

Moneca Kaiser Design Build's philosophy resonated perfectly with our vision for small-home living. Moneca and her team listened carefully to our priorities and were able to quickly turn out a highly functional design, without having to increase our home's original square footage. We especially appreciate that the seamless flow and unity of the whole home was considered. Nothing feels awkward or disjointed, as can happen with renovations that focus solely on only one part of the house. Some of our ideas were challenged - where compromises should not be made, which resulted in a relaxing and versatile space that can easily accommodate the needs of our family, as well as guests. We are so pleased with the outcome, that we enthusiastically recommend MKDB to our family and friends.

August 1, 2017

Selena Arvai

I would highly recommend working with Moneca and her team to solve any space issues or concerns with home flow, etc. She really took the time to get to know our family and our needs and helped us design a space that works for a busy family of four.

July 19, 2017

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103 Comments

Commented: Love the floor. What is the wood and the color?it's actually a bamboo floor that we had custom colored in a white wash, you have to be careful that it doesn't lean pink though, we had to do a few samples till we were happy with it. The floor came ...

April 1, 2019

Commented: Island dimensionsHi Andrea, Great Question! I find it is always important to think about the scale of your kitchen and ensuring the island isn't too wide will help with that. This island was 30" wide. This is sm...

June 28, 2018

Commented: Counter stoolsThank you! This is one of our favorite jobs as well. The stools were purchased by the clients.

October 29, 2017

Commented: Why did this small kitchen cost $150000-$200000?Thanks so much for pointing this out! It was well under a quarter of that amount and we will check into this area for all our projects. We take a great deal of pride in being respectful of budgets and...

June 21, 2017

Commented: Any info to share about counter - what thickness, etc.?A stainless steel countertop can be fabricated in many thicknesses. It really depends on your kitchen, layout and style which thickness works best for you. For this one we did 1 1/4" thickness. T...

May 30, 2017

Commented: What color to paint cabinetsGorgeous choice. Here are some ideas from our design portfolio that might help you along.

May 27, 2017 in Design Dilemma

Moneca Kaiser Design Build (MKDB)