Maureen Cage launched Rich Interiors in 2005 in Kitchener Ontario. After 13 years working as a Graphic Artist, stuck behind a desk, Maureen needed a change. Interior Decorating was the perfect choice in which she could utilize her creative skills and her love for colour and design, while working face to face with her clients. Helping people achieve their dream design is special to her, and she enjoys working on all types of spaces within a home. Maureen attended Sheridan College in Oakville becoming a Certified Interior Decorator. She then continued her education further as a CCSP (Canadian Certified Staging Professional), RRPM (Residential Renovation Project Manager, and OSS (Occupied Staging Specialist).
One of the reasons she loves working in her field is that there are always opportunities to continue learning. Maureen takes inspiration from tradeshows, and loves going to IDS. She keeps herself at the top of her game by bringing her experience and inspiration together to come up with new solutions to challenges. Seeing her vision come to life after all the elements of a project come together is the best part of her job.
Rich Interiors takes on clients within Waterloo Region, as well as Guelph and surrounding areas. Maureen offers a range of services. If you’re looking to completely transform your home from top to bottom she loves a big project. A home renovation is complicated, from managing the trades, to bringing the aesthetic vision to reality, Maureen can do it all. You can be sure your investment is in good hands. Having a Home Staging expert looking after your renovation can also provide comfort as you can be sure she has resale value in the back of her mind, even if you aren’t looking to sell in the immediate future. For those who are looking to sell their homes having a Professional Stager makes a big difference. Maureen keeps herself updated with market trends and what will help to sell your home quickly, and for the best price possible. Home staging can be done while the home is occupied, or vacant.
If you’re just looking for a refresh, or would like to focus on a bathroom or kitchen, Maureen offers services for all types of individual needs. Any renovation can be overwhelming, no matter how big or small. An Interior Decorator is there for you to help choose everything from window treatments, colour schemes, surface materials to accessories. Even if you already have an idea of what you want a Decorator is there to put it all together.
The majority of Maureen’s clients come to her through word of mouth and referrals from previous clients. Most potential clients reach out over the phone or through email. Once Maureen has spoken to a potential client they meet for a consultation in the space with which they are requiring help. The consultation covers many topics; How do you use your space? Do you need more storage? What are your cooking habits? Are you reselling? Are you staying in your home? What are your priorities? How is your space currently functioning? What is your budget? The answers to those questions are a jumping off point for Maureen to give you the best possible home for you and your family. At this first meeting measurements are taken. A benefit to having a Decorator who also specializes in Project Management is that Maureen knows exactly what measurements the trades will need and is careful to get comprehensive measurements. At this point Maureen will have enough information to meet with her cabinet company and begin the process of creating 3D renderings of your new space.
Once those priorities are established the design work can begin. After Maureen has an idea of your personal aesthetic she begins picking out finishes. At the next meeting the focus is all about picking out materials. Maureen can bring samples to your space, or bring you to a supplier. Once the finishes, such as flooring, are established the design takes shape around them so that everything comes together in a beautiful and cohesive way.
This home in Guelph was a main-floor renovation. The space wasn’t working for the family and instead of moving they wanted to invest in making the perfect, customized home to suit their needs. They were referred to Maureen by a friend who had worked with her in the past and was very happy with her work. After establishing how the family is using their home and what is and isn’t working, Maureen got to work on planning out an entirely new layout for the main-floor. Opening up the hallway to establish a more usable space, and a better flow involved a lot of planning, including moving ductwork. The entire renovation was able to be completed in three months, this quick turnaround Maureen attributes to having established relationships with tradespeople she knows and trusts. Hiring a Decorator that has strong industry relationships is a huge benefit. The design started off with picking the finishes and fixtures. The rustic flooring throughout the home was the starting point for the other design choices, and is one of the Home Owner’s favourite changes.
One of the top priorities for the home owner was creating more storage. Since the actual size of the home wasn’t changing the additional storage required creativity. Having a Decorator with a lot of experience is a benefit when needing storage solutions. In the kitchen drawers were used in the cabinetry for a better use of space. Next to the stove a custom made spice rack means the Home Owner has all her spices right where she needs them. In the kitchen the window next to the back door posed a unique challenge. Removing the window would make more space for cabinetry, but the natural lighting would be lost. Maureen came up with the idea to keep the window, as well as add a much needed pantry space.
The Home owner is passionate about cooking. All of the decisions surrounding the kitchen centered on their passion for cooking. There is plenty of counter space for prepping food, as well as making coffee in the morning. The counters are a gorgeous modern stone. As a special detail Maureen had a cutting board made from the same material as the counter. New appliances were needed to suit the needs of home owner. Since the kitchen is limited on space it was important to chose appliances that wouldn’t take up excessive space, but would still do the job for a well-used kitchen where a lot of cooking takes place. The choice to put in a Maytag Over The Range Microwave helps to keep the countertop clear for prep work, while providing great ventilation. The Microwave is also fingerprint resistant and features a multi-speed exhaust fan. 
The 30” Electric Range is the perfect size for the kitchen, while still boasting 5 burners and convection oven. The warming drawer provides extra convenience and the glass cooktop is super easy to wipe down. The Maytag 30” French Door Refrigerator fits in a standard fridge space, while providing ample space for all your food. This fridge also comes with Fresh Flow Produce Preservation, which extends the freshness of produce and eliminates orders. A benefit of French Doors is that there is still plenty of space for people to walk past, even when the both doors are open. The 24” KitchenAid Built-In Under-Counter Dishwasher is perfect for a family. It has three loading racks, and runs super quietly. All of the Appliances are Stainless Steel and fingerprint resistant, the perfect choice for a busy family.
The Family in this home is so happy they now have a house that suits all of their needs. The new dining space is the perfect place to enjoy all the work happening in the kitchen and the new office space is the perfect place to relax and get work done. The beautiful flooring ties all the spaces together.
If you would like to get in touch with Maureen to discuss a consultation please check out her website where you can get all her contact information and read more about her services.
To get help choosing appliances for your own indoor or outdoor kitchen contact CJ Maddix at TA Appliances. CJ has many years experience selling appliances and has worked with the clients of numerous designers and Trade people, as well as walk-in customers. Email CJ at cmaddix@taappliance.com or contact him at our Kitchener store at 519-578-0300.