In Living Colour
STORY HEATHER WRIGHT | PHOTOGRAPHY GORDON KING
As seen in the Ottawa Spring 2026 issue.
A blank slate creates options when reimagining a home. Pinpointing a personal jumping-off point also generates impact and helps connect each space.
The revamp of this sunny Glebe condominium centred on wallpaper, accents from travels and much-loved pieces from the past and present. Designer Tanya Collins of Tanya Collins Design reimagined this two-bedroom, one bath condo, which included a full renovation of the kitchen and bathroom to make better use of the space. Decorative and functional changesincluded new lighting, flooring, paint and wall coverings.
The design journey began simply. “The homeowner loved this iconic William Morris wallpaper, which we used in the bedroom,” says Tanya. “We based a whole colour palette around that.” She incorporated colour and veered away from beiges and greiges.
Colour was central to the condo’s transformation, with shades inspired by the dynamic wallpaper, including olive and sage green paint, lovely window treatments and textural tile in the bathroom. Even a vintage Missoni rug with family ties, used as a wall hanging, echos the same green palette, creating a joyful and meaningful focal point in the living room.
Tanya’s approach shows that design continuity isn’t necessarily about sameness, but about intentional relationships between texture, colour and light.
It’s common to weave accents and pieces into the main design for decorative flair. Tanya took an integrative approach to several pieces that were dear to the homeowner, collected from trips abroad and trips down memory lane, including an impressive art collection, vintage pieces and modern furniture.
“We tried to incorporate everything in a little bit of a collage that comes together and makes a statement,” says Tanya. That’s her secret to curating an aesthetic and making different choices look intentional.
Take for example, the light fixtures in the living and dining areas. The dining room fixture was an existing piece, sourced from Switzerland. The nearby living room fixture was brand new and a different style, but connected easily within the overall décor.
Space planning was another key accomplishment. Compact spaces are common in condos, but the challenge is to maximize every opportunity to enhance livability and style.
“That’s been a forte of ours,” says Tanya. “We’ve been in business for 20 years, and we are problem solvers, good at space planning.” Among the homeowner’s wishes was a water closet in the bathroom. “First, we needed to look at the layout and figure out how to improve things for this client,” says Tanya.
To accommodate a water closet, with little space to spare and without moving major items like plumbing, they found creative solutions. “We were able to push the tub up against the wall and remove a small linen closet, creating enough room to rotate the toilet 90 degrees,” says Tanya. This created enough room for a water closet. To finish the space, they added more storage and a luxe single vanity. “We were quite happy with how we were able to make that layout work for her,” says Tanya.
In the kitchen, one of the challenges was housing multiple appliances in a small space, where placement is fundamental to functionality. The space was re-organized. Meanwhile, they used an earthy green on the cabinetry (Benjamin Moore November Rain). Combined with a warm backsplash and wood floors, the space feels open, rather than compressed, which is important in a tight galley kitchen where natural light is limited.
“We were able to improve the functionality and the aesthetics at the same time,” says Tanya. The homeowner’s end goal was to have a personalized base featuring her treasures but new functionality infused with lively colour.
Tanya says, “It was a great marriage of all the different things coming together. It’s a very personalized space.” OH