COMFORT ZONE
Layered elements make for an inviting show space at Westbourne Residences
The ability to fulfil homebuyers’ needs and tastes, while still staying true to personal style and artistry, comes easy to Cynthia Florano, the designer behind Westbourne Residences’ New Westminster display home.
An in-house designer for another local developer for some time, Florano has extended her reach as an independent designer. The sense of healthy risk and creativity that first propelled her to reach out is ever present at Jago Development’s Westbourne show suite.
Florano has already forged a reputation as a designer who embraces the contemporary without being too cool; she chooses finishes for their sleekness as much as their durability.
“Overall, my design style is contemporary, yet warm and fresh,” says Florano, who launched Cynthia Florano Design after a successful tenure at Parklane Homes. The timing was right to branch out, she says.
“I love working with a colour scheme that blends neutral shades: Warm greys, soft beiges and welcoming whites. Then I add a layer of textured fabrics for that added luxury. Art is very important as well — it’s that element in the room that can add the most personality and colour.”
Florano kept the tone of kitchen cabinets in the Westbourne suite close to that of the flooring in the open-concept space without having them mimic each other exactly. This creates a feeling of continuity and “expands the feel of the room and adds that contemporary style,” she says.
For the bathroom, Florano chose the large-format tile — perhaps the first feature a visitor notices in the room — for its contemporary, timeless look.
“The quartz engineered countertop also brings a layer of timelessness,” she adds. “By creating a bathroom space like this, you can easily add your own personality to the room. A smaller tile has a more vintage element and wouldn’t have been suitable for Westbourne.”
Durability and timelessness in a more contemporary setting are the mainstays of Florano’s style and are at the root of her advice to new buyers at Westbourne Residences. She embraces the notion that good design affects peace of mind and it’s the designer’s job to convince buyers to consider their physical surroundings at home as instrumental to their outlook and mood.
“Your home is where you spend time either alone to unwind or a place where you gather with family and friends. It has to feel comfortable without being sloppy; cheerful and pleasant without the addition of clutter.”
This philosophy fuels the way Florano approached her work at Westbourne and how she’ll continue as an independent designer, she adds.
“I feel confident about my creative ability and being able to understand what my clients are wanting to achieve.”