--- title: "Otta Decorate! — Interior Designers & Decorators | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/otta-decorate-pfvwus-pf~847340578 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~847340578.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Otta Decorate!" category: ["Interior Designers & Decorators"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/16d3d4c600fa15ed_0358-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0S1, Canada" latitude: 45.2971 longitude: -75.934 phone: "(613) 864-5123" website: http://ottadecorate.com rating: 4.9 review_count: 8 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 101 last_updated: 2026-09-26 --- # Otta Decorate! Original Houzz profile: [Otta Decorate!](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/otta-decorate-pfvwus-pf~847340578) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Interior Designers & Decorators - **Location:** Ottawa, ON - **Serves:** Aylmer, Barrhaven, Bells Corners, Britannia, Gatineau, Gloucester, Hazeldean, Hull, Kanata, Nepean, Orleans, Ottawa, Rockcliffe Park, Uplands - **Houzz rating:** 4.9 out of 5 (8 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2014–2019), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves Best of Houzz 2014 and 2015. Otta Decorate! is a multi-award winning interior decorating firm offering great design, great value, and great service. ### Services Provided - Interior Design - Kitchen Design - Bathroom Design - Color Consulting - Space Planning - Kids Bedroom Design - Lighting Design - Floor Plans - Playroom Design - Nursery Design - Downsizing - Holiday Decorating - Kitchen Remodeling ### Areas Served - Aylmer - Barrhaven - Bells Corners - Britannia - Gatineau - Gloucester - Hazeldean - Hull - Kanata - Nepean - Orleans - Ottawa - Rockcliffe Park - Uplands ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Otta Decorate! | | Address | Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0S1, Canada | | Phone | (613) 864-5123 | | Website | http://ottadecorate.com | | Followers on Houzz | 101 | **Social profiles:** - Blog — http://www.thetbbs.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Otta Decorate!](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/otta-decorate-pfvwus-pf~847340578) - **Website:** http://ottadecorate.com - **Phone:** (613) 864-5123 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Algonquin College Residential Decor ProgramMember of Canadian Decorators Association2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Winner in CDECA National Design Competition - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2014–2019), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 — 8 reviews** ### All 8 reviews **★★★★★ — HU-964142925, Dec. 2018** > Mary Anne took the time to understand both what we wanted and what we needed in our new place. > > Throughout the process she presented us with multiple options within our tastes and agreed criteria, pointing out many unique items and ideas that we soon fell in love with. > > Mary Anne made the decorating process exciting and fun and now, with her help, our new home is completely “us”. **★★★★★ — Heike Britton, Dec. 2014** > I initially engaged Mary Anne of Otto Decorate to assist me in selecting a new colour scheme to update our home after some recent renovations. She was able to provide options that reflected our personalities, worked well with our existing furniture and updated and freshened the rooms. We were so pleased with the outcome that, when shortly thereafter additional decisions needed to made ( backsplash tiles and draperies for the formal areas) I once again contacted Mary Anne to solicit her advice. > Mary Anne is knowledgable, creative and considerate of budget objectives. Her greatest attribute though, is her ability to listen to her client and to assess what they are trying to achieve and then translate this into design ideas. > Thanks Mary Anne - it was a pleasure! **★★★★★ — tryanything, July 2014** > Mary Anne you were great! You helped me make the hazy picture of my laundry room that I had in my mind, into a detailed, finished room. And, all within my budget. I’ll definitely call you for my next project. **★★★★ — kathmarg, May 2014** > I was very satisfied with the advice provided by Mary Anne. She quickly identified options and brought samples to my house for me to view in the lighting of my home. She had very good recommendations about flooring and then for area carpets. When there was a delay by one of the suppliers she quickly intervened and brought things back on track. I would not hesitate to hire her again. **★★★★★ — brimat, March 2014** > For the renovation of our 30 year old tired kitchen Mary Anne helped with the space design emphasizing the functionality as well as the appearance of the kitchen. She knew one of my frustrations with the older kitchen was a lack of counter and storage space. A few of her many recommendations included a very functional island, as well as kitchen cabinets and drawers configured to look like a built in buffet highlighted with upper cabinets which included glass doors and a granite counter top. I absolutely love it and now have more counter and storage space. The glass doors in the cabinets were a great alternative to open shelving and they lighten up the room. She recommended additional drawers and a configuration which significantly contributed to improved functionality and storage space. Mary Anne did the sourcing and selection of: the cabinet door style, the finish, and the door and drawer handles; the granite counter; back splash tiles; and the lighting. I could not have done this project and achieve the beautiful end result without Mary Anne! Her attention to detail has resulted in an efficient, functional, timeless kitchen design! We get numerous compliments on our beautiful kitchen that has that ‘Wow factor’! > > In 2013 Mary Anne helped me with two bathroom renovations. For the smaller bathroom she sourced and selected the tile for both the floor and the tub/shower walls. The result was tiling which complemented the quartz counter top on the new vanity. She also found this gorgeous unique mirror for over the vanity and it completes the room. It gives the room that Wow factor! > > Our Master ensuite bathroom needed major updating and a complete redesign. Mary Ann’s expertise was invaluable in determining the solution. She helped select the style of the new double sink vanity and the custom stand-alone shower. Critical factors were that I wanted both a large vanity and a large walk in shower but had limited space. The removal of the old tub freed up space for the new design. With Mary Anne’s help we were able to maximize the sizes of both to satisfy my requirements but still make the space feel roomy and not crowded. Mary Anne sourced matching floor and shower tiles and then added a unique tile feature in the customized glass walled shower. The bathroom has a spa like feel with a colour for the walls that completes the look of the room. Both bathrooms are a complete transformation that have been modernized but are still have timeless design. I love them and so do our friends and family that see them. > > Mary Anne’s friendly warm personality and patience make it a pleasure to work with her. I would definitely recommend hiring Mary Anne as your interior designer! **★★★★★ — donnalmather, March 2014** > Prior to our son’s wedding, Mary Anne helped us with the interior design of our living room, dining room and family room. There was an aggressive time pressure but she still agreed to take it on to help me. She has so much patience and is a delight to work with. She never made me feel pressured or stressed. With her help, we completed the work within the deadline we had for the rehearsal party for 50 people with stunning results. > > For our living room, this involved the selection of a new couch, sourcing and selecting fabrics for upholstering several pieces of existing furniture and a carpet. She chose the new wall color and repositioned the furniture making a huge impact on the feel of the living room. Mary Anne introduced lots of texture into the rooms that is quite subtle but gives the room a definite Wow factor. She recommended accessories for our family room that added pops of color to add interest and warmth as I tend to shy away from color. The rugs she found are very interesting with a unique pattern and very affordable. She has an uncanny eye for picking the right colors and pattern. After all the changes were completed, our main floor was transformed from outdated rooms to current but timeless, comfortable, beautiful rooms. Our guests are constantly complimenting me on these rooms. I love Mary Anne! **★★★★★ — pimpmycondo, Dec. 2013** > My wife and I recently bought a condo that has not had a makeover since it was built 25 years ago. We were looking for a decorator to redesign our main bathroom and laundry/utility room. Mary Anne from Otta Decorate and her refreshing sense of taste and style came to rescue! > > Mary Anne is very friendly, approachable, patient and down-to-earth. Although we thought we knew what we were looking for, she showed us a variety of inspiring options which helped us quickly refine our selection. Mary Anne shared much information with us about selecting and coordinating the right materials, colours, and textures. In addition to her decorative abilities, Mary Anne also ordered and organized the delivery of all required fixtures and materials as well as managed the project for us. She also found us a skilled contractor to precisely realize her design. > > My wife and I love our new bathroom and laundry/utility room and are currently working with Mary Anne for our master bedroom bathroom and closet. > > Thank you Mary Anne! **★★★★★ — kanatareader, Nov. 2013** > We approached Mary Anne with very specific requirements: bring our well-used, well-loved kitchen up-to-date in an eco-sensitive manner. Our dream kitchen: a classic white kitchen, with natural stone and simple fittings. > > We had a very strong preference to re-use our existing cabinetry and make more efficient use of space within the existing footprint. Mary Anne's manner is very collaborative - she validated our overall concept and provided professional guidance in material and colours selection (an area where we lacked confidence). > > Mary Anne's experience is reflected in recommendations to incorporate “extra’s” such as a second sink and enhanced lighting; we would't have thought of these ideas on our own. In addition, Mary Anne’s professional relationships with suppliers and tradespeople contributed to an on-time, on-budget project; we all know how often kitchen renovations run over time and budget! > > The result is a harmonious, space-efficient design, with minimal waste (only our old melamine counters were discarded). Three years later, we are still completely delighted with the results and would heartily recommend OttaDecorate as your design partner. ## Selected projects - [Graffiti Bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/graffiti-bathroom-pj-vj~1019496) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - [Ottawa Condo](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ottawa-condo-pj-vj~782492) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: I photographed this space for the Designer Mary Anne Van Gaal of Otta Decorate. - [Urban Condo Bedroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/urban-condo-bedroom-pj-vj~706566) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - Description: Although this modern bedroom is modest in size, it packs a big punch with style and storage, The custom walnut bed, with drawers in the base and the custom white and walnut nightstands/dressers provide lots of storage. An upholstered velvet headboard extends the width of the room for more punch. Chrome articulated bedside lights are wall mounted to save space on the nightstands. IKEA came to the rescue with a PAX closet unit with glass doors depicting a tree branch and a shallow dresser substitu… - [Transitional Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/transitional-kitchen-pj-vj~147641) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 3 - Description: The original footprint of the dated golden oak kitchen was maintained and a small but very functional island was added. The dark raised panel doors were combined with a shiny glass backsplash, a beautiful granite countertop and modern stainless appliances to create a transitional look. The kitchen was made more functional with drawers, pullouts, and a recycling centre in the island. A pantry to the right of the fridge was reconfigured to look like a buffet with a counter to use for serving drink… - [Sexy Condo Bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sexy-condo-bathroom-pj-vj~439918) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 4 - Description: This 25 year old condo needed a remodel. A beautiful custom walnut vanity replace the original basic built in cabinet. Topped with a large trough sink with two taps, the sink area is now functional for two people. Deep drawers add tons of storage and mean no cabinets to dig through. The mirror angles easily and sconces on either side provide great light to compliment the pot lights. The bathtub was replaced with one that could be tiled on the front apron for a built in look. New shower fixtures… - [Kitchen Transformation](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/kitchen-transformation-pj-vj~439926) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 5 - Description: This white kitchen originally had maple cabinetry with a pinky washed finish. The cabinets were in great condition, just dated, and my clients wanted an environmentally friendly update. They also wanted to reconfigure an awkward angled island to allow for casual dining. The cabinets were professionally spray painted BM's Cloud White and a neutral light coloured quartz counter replaced the original laminate. A small second sink was added to create a coffee station and an extra work zone. Shades w… - [Urban Condo Dining Room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/urban-condo-dining-room-pj-vj~706550) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 2 - Description: The open space dining room is grounded by a custom made walnut live edge table with chrome legs. The table is large enough to fit a custom six foot banquette with storage drawers and five magenta leather chairs. A cow skin rug helps to define the area while the mobile style light keeps the look airy while extending over most of the table. - [Farmhouse Country Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/farmhouse-country-kitchen-pj-vj~770720) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: A dark and dreary kitchen is now a bright country kitchen. Upper cupboards were removed on one wall, an additional window was added over the sink, bright white handmade subway tiles, lighter cabinetry and lots of additional light fixtures all combined to achieve a fresh new look. An island replaced the table, allowing for double the counter space and extra storage, while still enabling five people to sit around comfortably. A beautiful antiqued countertop of Calacutta quartzite has the look of m… - [Urban Condo Loft Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/urban-condo-loft-kitchen-pj-vj~147543) - Location: Ottawa, ON - Photos: 4 - Description: This kitchen was redesigned from the builders standard kitchen in a new condo development. The wall with the open shelving was lengthened one foot to allow a rearrangement of the appliances and new placement of the sink. The island was made a little larger to allow for seating, Open shelving was added for extra storage. The cabinetry was upgraded to walnut and the appliances were changed to European sized integrated ones. This made the open kitchen blend more into the adjoining dining and living… - [Urban Condo Living Room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/urban-condo-living-room-pj-vj~706536) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 6 - Description: This open space living room serves as an all purpose space in this 1000 sq. ft. condo. The downsized homeowners wanted to be surrounded by things they loved and wanted to keep the light and airy feeling of the condo. A mix of mid-century modern and industrial create a comfortable and cool vibe. - [Modern Country Bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-country-bathroom-pj-vj~147617) - Location: Ottawa, ON - Photos: 3 - Description: This updated cottage bathroom was made brighter by painting the dark bead board and replacing the flooring . The claw foot bathtub was replaced by a large walk in frameless, glass shower. The original antique sink was placed on a painted antique dresser for more storage. Modern elements like the large piece of artwork were mixed with country elements for an eclectic look. - [Industrial Laundry Room](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/industrial-laundry-room-pj-vj~147580) - Location: Ottawa, ON - Photos: 3 - Description: This laundry room was designed for a client who wished to move her washer and dryer into her furnace room but embrace the look of concrete floors, unfinished ceiling,exposed pipes, furnace and hot water tank. The floor was painted, a storage/display unit was strategically placed to hide the hot water tank, and industrial track lighting strung across the rafters. [See all 12 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/otta-decorate-pfvwus-pf~847340578) ## Ideabooks - [modern farmhouse](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/56687701/list/modern-farmhouse) — 10 ideas - [sloped ceiings](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/44716615/list/sloped-ceiings) — 13 ideas - [headboards](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2889882/list/headboards) — 5 ideas - [Traditional bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/44461298/list/traditional-bathroom) — 3 ideas - [bathrooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7984682/list/bathrooms) — 53 ideas - [Lindsay condo](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/28121436/list/lindsay-condo) — 28 ideas - [kitchens](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/17821160/list/kitchens) — 5 ideas - [Wall units with fireplaces](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/23183570/list/wall-units-with-fireplaces) — 9 ideas - [Eclectic global style](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/16241430/list/eclectic-global-style) — 8 ideas - [panelled walls](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2070019/list/panelled-walls) — 14 ideas - [exterior window colours](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/3209235/list/exterior-window-colours) — 23 ideas - [multifunction living rooms](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2889179/list/multifunction-living-rooms) — 43 ideas [See all 12 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/ottadecorate) ## Community Q&A **Q: What accommodations to the vanity had to be made for the walkout antiq** *(in Photo Questions)* A: We had to cut a small hole in the top of the dresser for the plumbing and rejig the top drawer to allow a space to go around plumbing. The sink sits on top of dresser. **Q: Tile?** *(in Photo Questions)* What is the backplash, and where could I find something similar? Thanks A: Hi Lindsay. The tile is Cubica Blanco by Porcelosa and is 13"x39" yet looks like a small mosaic. I ordered it through Astro Design Centre in Ottawa. **Q: Need help with my kitchen-Countertops** *(in Design Dilemma)* Hi. I am new here and I need your help. We moved into or third and final house in August. We love it and I love decorating, but this move ate up all our money. We are in the market to buy new countertops, but we had to paint the cabinets. The cabinets came out beautiful. See picture. I painted them off white on the uppers and charcoal gray on the lowers. I can't decide between these two color stones for the countertops. I had the SuperWhite Quartzite in my old house and love love loved it! The issue is it is super expensive! The second granite is half the price and I like it alot, but not sure which one looks nicer. Please help me out. Which stone looks nicer with my cabinets. Thank you so much! Top Cabinets Bottom Cabinets Granite 1 SuperWhite Quartzite Thank you so much!!!! Nicole A: While the granite is nice, you said this is your final house and you seem to love the quartzite way more than the granite. Thus, I think you should bite the bullet and get what you love because you will have to live with it a long time and you don't want to always regret not having gotten the quartzite! It is beautiful and will look amazing too. **Q: Should I pain, stain or leave natural?** *(in Design Dilemma)* I have purchased this large hand made wardrobe . I am placing it in my master bedroom for extra closet space. My furniture is a mixture of pecan and darker antique. Floors are hardwood (pecan color) My curtains are dark brown, quilt on bed and throw rug are cream with brown and blue accent . What should I do with the finish on this wardrobe? A: Sounds like you have enough wood tones and brown in the room. I would paint it blue like the accent colour you have in your rug and then add a couple of other blue accessories ie. Cushions, painting, vase etc. to pull it all together. **Q: jazz up this area with Asian Contempory** *(in Design Dilemma)* Any Suggestions? Want it to look like a cool hotel lobby...something with wow factor. A: I agree with the above. You presently have a very generic room in need of colour, texture and some Asian accessories if that is the route you choose to go. Stone to the ceiling would not go well with an asian theme. --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-26.*