Tanya Collins has over 12 years of experience working in the world of interior design under the name of Tanya Collins Interior Design. But it was 18 years ago when she started work on a project that she still calls home!
The three-storey Edwardian building was built in 1910 and later converted into a duplex. Tanya and her husband turned it back into a single-family home when they purchased it in 2000. “It had nine-foot ceilings, large windows, and a solid stone foundation, so I knew we had a gem that just needed a lot of polishing,” recalls the talented designer.
Gracious & Spacious
The interior boasts spacious hallways, oversized baseboards and casings with hardwood flooring throughout. The renovation process modernized the kitchen, added an ensuite bathroom, and reworked rooms and staircases to suit family living. Now, Tanya has an office and master bedroom on the second floor and her two children each have bedrooms on the third floor.
The backdrop provides the ideal base for Tanya to showcase her design style which she says combines the looks of Art Deco and Hollywood Regency. Every room in the house curates a story and nurtures intrigue with objects and books topping tables and ottomans.
A Warm Welcome
The entrance is warm and inviting with a deep red front door leading into a large hallway that offers space for a period dresser and oversized mirror. Both the living room and kitchen are accessed from the entrance.
A gallery wall, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Overcoat, holds an intriguing collection of inherited and gifted art works. Tanya claims that a wall of art, “adds not only an air of sophistication, but a focal point, especially when there isn’t a natural one like a fireplace.”
The designer has a talent for display. This is evident not only in her home but in the CHEO Lottery Dream Home, where she was the designer for this year’s Minto home in Stittsville. She incorporates a variety of objects of interest within the décor of the dream home with unique table-top and shelving displays.
In her own home, Tanya will edit her displays to suit the seasons. As the cooler months approach, she brings in textures like faux-fur pillows and blankets. But her collections of books rarely change. These are her inspirations and tools she uses to influence her work.
Jewel Tones
She uses rich colour with tasteful effects. Dark red velvet curtains offer a hint of drama and add an air of formality to the dining room that opens off of the kitchen and living room. A marble desk separates the living and dining area, while also functioning as a second work station on the main floor.
The home is a tribute to the designer’s passion for luxurious items paired with much-loved treasures. It offers visitors the chance to experience the effects of a style stemming from an interest in balancing décor to create harmony within space. “For me, trendy elements can be classics if you mix them with other parts that balance your décor so it is dynamic, yet harmonious,” states Tanya. “Whether modern or traditional in style, the mix of elements is what creates a timeless space.”
Tanya’s tips for curating collections
- Train your eye, discover what you like and don’t like.
- Enjoy art, different types of art.
- Invest in good-quality hardcover books on topics of interest and use them in décor.
- Notice details. It’s all in the texture and other elements.
- Buy because you love something, not because you can or cannot afford it.
- Ask the questions: Do you love it? Will you love it for a long time? How does it make you feel?
Mary Taggart
