Meet the Designers of the Bohemian

If you think you’re excited about the Minto Dream Home, Karen van der Velden and Tanya Collins exude a passion for home design that’s almost beyond belief. The 2020 Minto Dream Home – the 4,700 sq. ft. Bohemian, built on an oversized corner lot in Mahogany, Manotick – is available to tour virtually, and the two visionaries responsible for the design share their thoughts on how it all came together and where their inspiration came from.

Karen van der Velden has been a Product Design Manager with Minto Communities since 2011, and we were thrilled to bring Tanya Collins back for her third year to spearhead the interior design of the Minto Dream Home. “True to Minto’s vision, the process of adaptation throughout the design process of this year’s Dream Home speaks to our mission of helping Ottawa’s families live better,” says Karen. “The 2020 Minto Dream Home is truly an exquisite space to live, work and play.”

“Each year, we [Tanya Collins Design] try to get a sense of the direction of things. Last year was blues and whites coastal, which we’re seeing now and shows the movement towards something more casual and liveable,” Tanya explains. “There’s a more unique spin with this year’s model – a movement towards more rustic finishes, matte finishes, travelling to different countries and having different ethnicities reflected in the décor.”

With that in mind, the Bohemian features the eclectic style of boho-chic, an uncharacteristic combination of global art history (boho) with sophistication (chic). The global pandemic has shown us all how important our homes are, so the goal with this year’s design was to encourage you to follow your heart and fill your rooms with the things that bring you joy—it’s about creating a home environment that’s uniquely you.

The Bohemian is the ultimate stay-at-home retreat, combining open-concept living for family gatherings with unique private spaces to live and work in comfort at home.

The Minto Dream Home makes its return to Mahogany and embodies the quintessential charm of Manotick Village. Karen felt it was important to reflect the historic architecture found throughout the village, which is evident in the exterior design of the Bohemian. Inspired by Watson’s Mill, this year’s home features stunning white tones of stone and combines a rough face and smooth corners with black windows (inside and out) accented with vertical wood-looking siding in charcoal grey tones.

There are several interesting elements in each room of the Bohemian that make the whole house memorable—from the stand out green doors and transom windows above the dining room entry to the quirky wallpaper, textural tiling and Moorish décor in the loft. That said, Tanya is torn when it comes to choosing her favourite room in this year’s home.

“Everybody loves to see a kitchen. The kitchen and living area will be the place where people spend most of their time. People will enjoy walking in and seeing the wood beams. All of the colours in that room of the home are very textural. A lot of effort has been put into these parts since people spend the most time in them.”

That said, the loft is also one of her favourite spaces in the Bohemian with its cathedral ceiling accented by wooden beams and spectacular views of the community pond. “This room showcases the Moorish influence typical in Bohemian styled interiors. The hand-embroidered suzani throw, star pendant, diamond patterned rug, mirror and accent table really bring the exotic flourish to the décor.”

One room that won’t go unnoticed is the primary bedroom and its gorgeous ensuite bathroom. The accents of shiplap, macramé and patterned wallpaper add texture and warmth to the room, while the large walk-in closet with dark dressers and wood flooring compliments the bohemian style of filling your space with whatever makes you happy.

“Our primary bedroom suite will not disappoint with a coffered ceiling and an abundance of windows with great views!” says Karen before gushing over the bathroom. The ensuite is a statement on its own with dark, wood-like tile running along the walls from floor to ceiling. A stunning white and black stand alone bathtub is also included, while the curbless shower includes black mullioned glass and the macramé in the sconces add a touch of lightness to the room.

This is Minto Communities’ 20th year partnering with the CHEO Foundation. We are extremely fortunate to have CHEO as part of our community, and it’s more important than ever to support the foundation and the families who rely on the care provided. Having raised over $5 million in 2019’s Dream of Lifetime Lottery, the goal is to sell out of tickets and surpass that total this year.

View the 2020 Minto Dream Home – the Bohemian – online and take the interactive virtual tour to experience boho-chic design for yourself.

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