Styled in Sterling: behind the design of the 2025 Minto Dream Home

The 2025 Minto Dream Home for CHEO has been a symbol of what home means for 25 years. Comfort. Safety. Hope. It's the bright future we all dream of-the future children at CHEO deserve.

The 25th home, the Sterling, lives up to that name. And it's the "silver edition" anniversary home. It marks the 25-year partnership between Minto and the CHEO foundation. It represents a legacy of support for the Dream of a Lifetime Lottery and stands as the most lavish grand prize.

Sterling - 2025 Minto Dream Home logo

To design the Sterling, Minto’s design team collaborated with Tanner Vine Interiors for the second year in a row. Together, they crafted a standout home that marries Art Deco glamour with modern mid-century comfort. It’s elegant and timeless, as functional as it is breathtaking. The home has an understated luxury that feels personal and inviting, with a mix of warmth and sophistication.

Every room balances bold, distinctive geometric patterns with a neutral backbone and seamless flow. Here’s how the designers worked together to make all 5,360 square feet as dreamy as possible.

From the floorplan to the first thing you see

Product Design Manager, Karen van der Velden has been designing Minto Dream Homes for more than 10 years. She works with the entire team, drafting up the floorplan and choosing the exterior design theme.

The Sterling and its modern Belgian farmhouse façade makes a striking first impression. Karen aimed for a blend of form and function. For example:

Light neutral tones of stone, brick and siding accented by black-framed windows add definition.
The team opted for a minimized front porch to allow more sunlight in through the large front windows.
A decorative rain chain guides rainwater into planter beds In lieu of a traditional downspout

Overhead, the soft charcoal grey roof complements the home’s pale stonework for a refined look. Warm wood accents, like the rich brown garage doors, lend an inviting touch of natural texture.

Set on a generous corner lot in Mahogany, Manotick, the Sterling offers stunning sights of a tranquil pond and backs onto a multi-use pathway. Karen and the team took full advantage, adding a lot of large windows to maximize the views. Minto also worked with Thunderbolt Contracting to create a backyard for both relaxation and entertainment, with a tiered deck that steps down to a beautifully landscaped yard.

You’ll find a great outdoor living area, featuring a timber-frame gazebo with a barbeque station and cozy lounge overlooking the water. The landscaping and exterior amenities make the home “ready to go for entertaining,” as CHEO Foundation President Steve Read puts it. Whether it’s summer cookouts under the pergola or peaceful autumn evenings by the fire, The Sterling’s outdoor spaces are as inviting as its interior.

From interior design to standout spaces

Inside the Sterling, Tanner Vine wanted the design to feel both timeless and fresh. Drawing from the Art Deco era of the 1920s, the interior embraces bold lines, geometric patterns, and rich materials. But it’s scaled back and softened with natural textures and a warm, contemporary palette.

Visitors are welcomed by a dramatic double-height foyer, where sunlight pours through an arched window and a cascading glass chandelier sparkles overhead. The stairway’s bespoke cast-iron railing and patterned floor tile immediately set the tone for the balance of elegance and functionality found throughout the home.

The great room embodies this same spirit. With a soaring 20’ cathedral ceiling and an expansive two-storey fireplace, it’s a space that impresses. But it’s just as suited for lazy family evenings as it is for grand dinner parties, with layered textures and sheer draperies making you feel welcomed and wowed at the same time.

The kitchen and dining area continue the theme. A double bullnose island, curved cabinetry, and mosaic tile flooring nod to Art Deco artistry. The vaulted dining room is surrounded by windows on three sides and offers light-filled views of the backyard and pondThe kitchen and dining area continue the theme. A double bullnose island, curved cabinetry, and mosaic tile flooring nod to Art Deco artistry. The vaulted dining room is surrounded by windows on three sides and offers light-filled views of the backyard and pond

The Sterling is welcoming to all ages and abilities, complete with a wheelchair lift and a primary bedroom on the first floor.

Adding to its allure, the main-floor primary suite blends accessibility and indulgence. Large windows overlook the pond, while the custom vanity places mirrors against the window so natural light still floods the space.

Then there’s the lower level: a speakeasy-inspired retreat complete with cocktail bar, lounge, theatre room and home gym. It’s an imaginative space that invites both relaxation and recreation, tying together the home’s celebration of comfort, style and community.

The Sterling in Mahogany: it's more than a home

The Sterling is set within Mahogany, Manotick, one of Ottawa’s most sought-after communities. It’s home to winding trails, established parks and a picturesque pond, with the charm of historic Manotick Village just steps away. Cafés, boutiques and riverside views add to the community’s unique balance of serenity and vibrancy.

Creativity, collaboration, and compassion guided Karen van der Velden and Tanner Vine when designing the Sterling. Both have a deep connection to what the home represents. That it’s not about award-winning design. It's about honouring a 25-year partnership and supporting the selfless work done by CHEO.

Together—Minto, CHEO, Tanner Vine and countless partners—have created something more than a grand prize. We’ve built a legacy of hope, a space that reflects generosity and the dream of brighter futures for CHEO families.

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