This year’s Minto Dream Home and grand prize in support of CHEO’s Dream of a Lifetime Lottery is The Caraway— 4,603 square feet of comfort, elegance, and energy efficiency located in picturesque Mahogany, Manotick.
In a striking contemporary twist on the bungalow—the primary bedroom being on the main floor—this airy three-bedroom, four-bathroom house combines the flow of a single-level floorplan with the roominess of a two-storey design and comfortably accommodates two people working from home.
Tanya Collins has designed the interiors of the last four Minto Dream Homes. She describes the theme of The Caraway as a modern desert with Scandinavian references. A colour palette of burgundy, shell, clay, and desert pink evokes the golden warmth of a Palm Springs sunset while the clean lines, simplicity, and natural aesthetic are a nod to Scandinavian Art Deco.
The house is a harmonious balance of old and new, sophistication and comfort. Towering ceilings in the foyer and great room fill the home with daylight and a stunning geometric-patterned floor welcomes you at the door. The original floor plan called for a walk-in closet in the front hall, but Tanya chose to divide the space to create a large hall closet and a pantry for the kitchen—an inspired and practical addition that will delight all cooks. The dining room to the right of the entrance comfortably seats six and features an elegant, coffered ceiling and three windows. The den to the left is a peaceful space for working or quiet reflection.
Natural light floods the kitchen from the windows in the adjoining great room. Along with fully-integrated appliances, it features a bank of cabinets that reach up to the rustic wood ceiling and a restaurant-style bar with mirror-backed modular shelving that reflects the fireplace and furniture on the opposite wall. In the centre, a fabulous, oversized island is fitted with Cosentino Dekton, a durable surface that looks like marble and is made from the same materials used to make quartz, glass, and porcelain countertops.
A uniquely designed staircase guides you to the second floor where the loft overlooks the two-storey great room and offers a spectacular view of the fireplace and surrounding windows. Here you will find two sizable bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet, along with a three-piece bathroom and a cozy sitting room that doubles perfectly as an office. A magnificent, gilded mirror hangs the length of the back wall of the staircase that leads you downstairs to a fully furnished basement with a games room, gym, home theatre, and three-piece bathroom. A workshop fully equipped from Home Depot is a do-it-yourselfer’s dream come true.
The Caraway is a Net Zero Energy home designed to generate as much energy as it consumes. With solar panels on the roof, extremely efficient insulation, Energy Star qualified windows, LED lighting, and a high-performance heat-pump heating and cooling system, this home will keep you cooler in the summer and warmer during the winter.
The house comes with a home wellness system that regulates air quality, purifies the drinking water, and provides a sleep and wake system in the primary bedroom to support the body’s circadian rhythm. Lighting in the primary bedroom boosts daily wellness by mimicking natural sunlight.
This year marks the 21st year of the partnership between Minto Communities and CHEO. According to Dan Champagne, Vice-President, Corporate & Community Development at CHEO Foundation, the Minto Dream Home has had an enormous impact on the community, helping to raise over $8 million for priority programs, research, and equipment at the hospital. He acknowledges that money raised through the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Lottery has become even more critical in the last year. Before the pandemic, CHEO saw 3,000 children per year with mental health issues. Now that number is closer to 7,000.
Tickets for The Caraway are on sale until midnight, December 17, 2021. The draw will take place on January 5, 2022. Donors may order tickets at dreamofalifetime.ca or by calling 613-722-KIDS (5437); 1-877-562-5437.