HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS GLOW WITH FESTIVE FLAIR
Tour offers decor inspiration as it raises funds for Hospice Care Ottawa
This year’s Homes for the Holidays tour for Hospice Care Ottawa presents a range of modern and traditional homes from Manotick to Rockcliffe, decorated by local florists while raising funds for an important cause.
The three-day event, now in its 15th year, has become a tradition for real estate and design enthusiasts who draw inspiration from the home interiors and the fresh, fragrant holiday decor.
One of the stops along this year’s tour is 619 Edison Ave. in Westboro. This two-storey modern home — designed and built by the owners Karyn Watson and Victor Elliott — is a light-filled custom house that reflects their art and design background.
The home’s exterior features a mix of Italian basalt stone, Japanese Nichiha cement board, and Canadian western red cedar that creates a balance of texture and colour.
The inside — with three bedrooms, a loft and four bathrooms — is adapted for flexible living with sleek disappearing cabinets and clean, high-end finishes.
A dramatic cascading glass art installation that hangs from the 22-foot ceiling reflects natural light that streams from the upper clerestory windows.
And while it’s a bright, modern, design, it was important for the couple to ensure there were distinct rooms to ensure privacy and wall space.
“With open concepts, you don’t have a lot of walls to hang art on and that was one of the considerations when designing the space was that there were enough walls that you could hang art,” said Watson, whose work, which is created in her lower level studio, adorns the walls.
The entrance is spacious, with large porcelain tile floors that lead toward the kitchen, which boasts a wall of Carrera marble, quartz countertops, and custom walnut cabinetry. Floor to ceiling windows in the back lounge provide a view of the backyard, with its year-round swim spa, and outdoor fireplace. The Brazilian teak upper deck is outfitted with a custom barbecue closet, with doors that shield the chef on cold, windy days.
The lounge features a horizontal gas fireplace and an overhead projection screen with surround sound, which will play classic black and white holiday movies during the tour.
Elizabeth Young from Flowers Talk Tivoli florists will decorate the home for the tour.
Given the contemporary theme of the home, she will use less traditional pieces with a clean, polished look in mind. For example, she’ll forgo the traditional garland and create a festive look with “clusters” of greenery and plants, including Japanese skimmia, deep blue viburnum, red heart garden roses, and lime green cymbidium orchids with B.C. cedar.
“It’s not over the top, and then when it’s darker at night, there will be a glow with the fireplace, with candles at different heights and we’ve done the same thing on the coffee table,” said Young. “It’s simple and something people can do themselves.”
Watson said she wanted to volunteer their home for the tour because her family has experienced first-hand the support the hospice offers.
“My dad has actually been to the hospice, but prior to that I worked with a group of interior designers and we always chose the hospice as our voluntary fundraiser. And so we’ve been doing it for the last 10 years, in some capacity, whether it’s helping to decorate the space, furnish, or working with colours."
Hospice Care Ottawa has three sites in the region, including the May Court Hospice, the RuddyShenkman Hospice and Maison de l’Est.
The funds raised from Homes for the Holidays will support the programs and services provided, at no charge, to individuals living with a life-limiting illness and their families.
Susan McIntosh, manager of fund development at Hospice Care Ottawa, says, often, visitors like the diversity of the homes and draw inspiration from the decor, but, for repeat visitors, it’s part of their holiday tradition.
“For some people it’s just getting together and doing the tour and working in a lunch or a glass of wine at the end of the day as a group.”
OTHER HOMES ON THE TOUR
43 Union St. Decorated by: Mood Moss Flowers and Henrietta Southam
This Victorian fixer-upper has been transformed into a stylish, modern family home by designer Henrietta Southam. Bold colours and dramatic finishes add depth and drama to the compact spaces. Green barn board ceiling and blue built-in bookshelves create a focal point in the family room, while a grey pendant light over the crushed marble island contrasts the simple, but dressed-up Ikea cabinets in the kitchen. Large furniture pieces dominate without overwhelming the small-scale bedrooms. An intimate courtyard at the back of the home provides a perfect place for summer entertaining. 16 Crescent Rd. Decorated by: Karen Grand, Grand Expectations
This classic home on embassy row features a circular driveway with custom-built mahogany, glass, and wrought iron double entrance doors. Designed by Ottawa architect Greg Manley, this electronic smart house features cove mouldings, California shutters, five-inch walnut flooring, and a granite fireplace shared by both the living and dining rooms. The large, bright kitchen includes a walk-in pantry, granite island, and heated slate floor. The adjacent family room — which overlooks a serene outdoor garden and waterfall — is spacious with a floor-toceiling stone fireplace, two antique fly fans, and built-in bookshelves and display cases. 138 Cowley Ave. Decorated by: Flowers Talk Tivoli
This modern home in Champlain Park balances timeless elegance with contemporary design. The work of custom building CanSwede Homes and the O’Keefe Florenza Design Group, this fourbedroom, four full- and two halfbathroom home features floor-toceiling windows and luxury perks such as a movie theatre. The sleek black kitchen includes concrete counters, marble backsplash, floating shelves and a butler’s pantry. An open, glass-enclosed staircase leads to the luxurious master bedroom, complete with a large deck and beautifully detailed ensuite. The luxury continues outside with a professionally landscaped yard, custom pool and cabana equipped with a full bathroom and sauna. 50 Craig St. Presented by: Hobin Architecture Decorated by: Alta Vista Flowers
This luxurious Glebe condo at the corner of Holmwood Avenue and Craig Street offers spectacular views of Brown’s Inlet and Capital Park from the large terrace. Designed by Barry J. Hobin and Associates Architects Inc. and built by Bateman Development, the contemporary condo is clad in stone, brick, cedar, and copper to blend in with the more traditional neighbourhood. The spacious floor plan, which includes two bedrooms and a den, was designed with floorto-ceiling windows that capture the views of the inlet throughout the main living space. The decor, which includes the owner’s extensive art collection, includes a mix of modern and traditional pieces set against a neutral grey palette with hints of colour. 174 Cameron Ave. Decorated by: Stoneblossom Floral Gallery
If walls could talk, this grey stone house with a mansard roof would have some stories to tell. Built in 1947 as the “town entertaining home” for a Quebec lumber baron, it was constructed atop an elevated lot with a stone wall to ward off spring floods, which were common at that time. As the story goes, the owner would often stay in a large apartment on the main floor while his guests danced into the late night hours one floor above. In the 1950s, the house was renovated as a triplex, with two three-bedroom apartments occupying the top floors and a two-bedroom apartment in the basement. It was converted into a single-family home in 2000 and 16 years later, the current owners worked with Nick Semanyk of Urban Keios Design to transform the main floor into an bright openconcept space with a central floating staircase. 6621 Marina Dr. Decorated by: Mill Street Florist
This stone Cape Cod-style home enjoys a pristine view of the Rideau River. Cosy and inviting, it was recently remodelled to create open, bright spaces. Looking to the future, the owners have created a “grow old” home. There are now two master suites, one on the second level that’s currently in use and one on the main floor in the event it is needed in the future. Surrounded by lush gardens to complement its setting, the home benefits from its tranquil location in the quiet community of the Carleton Golf and Yacht Club. The home is further enhanced by the beautiful collection of Canadian art showcased throughout. 25 Winding Way Presented by: La-Z-Boy Decorated by: Rebel Petal Floral Design Studio
Just steps away from the Rideau River, this custom home offers a cottage atmosphere with a view of the boats as they make their way through the Rideau locks system. Taking full advantage of its natural setting in the quiet enclave of Winding Way, this waterfront property boasts lavish gardens that lead to the private dock and pool. The home’s 18-foot ceilings in the entrance and dining room create bright, light-filled living space; and the electric outdoor stone fireplace on the deck overlooking the river is ideal for entertaining.