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From a three-bedroom model home with 1,789 square feet to one with double the space and five bedrooms (plus a main-floor in-law suite), Minto Communities is showcasing the range of single-family homes available in Barrhaven.

“These floor plans are what’s resonating in the market today,” says Karen van der Velden, Minto’s manager of product development. “We’ve given a wide spectrum from the entry family home to the top dog.”

The five single-family homes, which opened last year, join four townhomes that were opened in February 2020, creating an impressive row of model homes to visit for inspiration and to help with buying decisions.

The single-family floor plans chosen are meant to add to the mix of models Minto has across the city and include two that have never been built as models before — the Clairmont and the Quinton with guest suite.

They also show a range of options available at Minto’s Barrhaven projects — Quinn’s Pointe and Harmony. Although Harmony is close to selling out, Quinn’s Pointe still has plenty of homes on offer. Minto is currently selling phase 4 of Quinn’s Pointe, which includes more than 300 homes to add to the 1,000-plus already built in the first three phases. More phases are expected.

For designer Donna Correy, whose KISS Design Group team was tasked with completing the interiors of the models amid the challenges of the pandemic, it became an exercise in flexibility that prompted her to work with what she could find and get delivered in time, much as the average homeowner has had to. As such, the homes “reflect the most creative final result and we hope something that homeowners can relate to and emulate,” she says.

She also designed spaces being mindful of families struggling with the second year of COVID — “more areas for work at home, more areas as relaxing getaway spaces, learning for kids and spaces for extended family.”

Extra creative attention was paid to kitchen millwork in both design and colours “as this had to now be a major hub of the home, more so than ever.” She tended toward colours that were not only on trend but sent the message that “things are brightening up; life will be normal again, cheery, and your home can be fun.”

And furniture was chosen to embellish the themes of rest, relaxation, positive feelings and living in a home with more intended purposes than in the past.

Here’s a snapshot of the five singles:

30-foot lot, three bedrooms, 1,789 sq. ft.

Among the smallest of Minto’s singles and a best seller, the Kinghurst is aimed at a buyer looking to move up from a townhome to a single. Designed with an eclectic, boho/contemporary flair, the home leans toward mid-century modern with earthy tones and textures and touches of teal. It has an open-concept main floor, with kitchen, dining room, great room and den.

36-foot lot, three bedrooms, 2,171 sq. ft.

The Clairmont is a newer move-up single aimed at families and one that buyers were keen to see built, says van der Velden. It features hints of an industrial esthetic, with mostly muted tones in grey, taupe and blue for a calming, airy feel. For growing families who need room to spread out but also like to entertain, the separated formal dining room and the large upstairs loft add welcome spaces to gather or escape.

43-foot lot, six-plus bedrooms, 3,418 sq. ft.

If you need a lot of home, this is the one for you. Aimed at multigenerational families, this home has five bedrooms on the second floor, a main-floor suite, living room, dining room, den, family room and 4.5 bathrooms — all included. Plus, there’s the option to include a seventh bedroom in the basement along with a fifth full bathroom and a rec room, as has been done in the model. Minto has chosen this floor plan as the starting point for this year’s dream home for the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime lottery.

36-foot lot, three bedrooms, 2,461 sq. ft.

“This is our most sexy house,” laughs van der Velden. In effect a two-and-a-half-storey home, the key feature is the mid-level family room, which is situated halfway between the first and second floors with a ceiling that soars over 13 feet and a balcony. The home is aimed at growing families who like to entertain and has been done in a West Coast vibe and shades of gold, charcoal, and cream.

36-foot lot, four bedrooms, 2,474 sq. ft.

The Stanley is the second largest home in Minto’s 36-foot offering and features a curved staircase for a bit of drama, separate dining room, den and — unlike the other models — a mudroom for a handy drop zone. It’s decorated in soft neutrals that are peppered with geometric patterns, hinting at a retro influence.

For more on the homes and to take the 3D virtual tours, visit ottawahomes.minto.com.

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