Talk shop: Cynthia Ferguson // Cynthia Ferguson Designs
ABOUT CYNTHIA
Cynthia Ferguson is the creative force behind her Toronto-based firm, Cynthia Ferguson Designs, a full-service residential studio with a global reach. Known for her signature use of color, pattern, and layering, Cynthia creates interiors that feel vibrant, collected, and deeply personal—spaces that balance elegance with a sense of joy and individuality.
Her work is defined by an intuitive ability to translate her clients’ lifestyles and personalities into thoughtfully composed interiors, resulting in a practice that has garnered international recognition. With a love for detail and a maximalist’s eye, Cynthia approaches each project as an opportunity to tell a story—crafting homes that feel as dynamic and expressive as the people who live in them.
Describe your style in three words or less:
Happy, layered and collected.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
My love of colour, my antique-obsessed friends exposing me to all that came before us, and definitely my love of travel.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
I fell into the design industry through a love of hand-painted furniture when I was 22. My favourite thing about the design industry would be the very beginning of a project—touring an older home and imagining bringing it back to life.
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
I have had so many incredible mentors throughout my career. I would say the most influential one is my business coach, who gave me permission to have a busy brain and taught me how to harness all of my ideas and inspirations into forward momentum for my firm.
What does your home say about you:
My home says that I need a bigger home!! It is filled to the brim with colour, pattern, antiques, art and my collections. I subscribe to a firm “one thing in, one thing out” policy.
Where do you find inspiration:
I find inspiration everywhere!! The pattern on the sand during a beach walk, the colour of the shells, the architecture in any city I visit, the drapery used to keep the dampness out in London, Instagram....inspiration is everywhere as long as you have your head up!!
Who are your style icons:
I have so many style icons, but top of mind would be Kit Kemp, Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Billy Baldwin, Dorothy Draper, Oscar de la Renta and Albert Hadley
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
My love language is my table setting. When I entertain, I love my guests to feel special, so setting an impressive table is my way of sharing my love and respect for those in my home. There must be candlelight, a great tablecloth, fresh flowers, and an unexpected, fun detail on the table—usually thematic in nature. Of course, a fabulous bar and music are musts!
Do you collect anything:
Oh dear. Yes. And I apologize to my sons all the time. When the time comes, they are going to have one heck of a fancy garage sale!! My current obsessions are silver place card holders, silver snuff boxes, and art. All kinds of art. I must purchase a piece a week. It is a real problem.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
@laurastephensid, @scoutandnimble, @homesandgardensofficial, @plainenglishdesign, my list could go on and on!
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
I always follow the rules for installing chandelier heights. Nothing irritates me more than light fixtures hung too close to the ceiling. It ruins the drama of having them in a room! Rules to be broken? I am never happier than when I am mixing periods in the same room—a modern stone coffee table with an antique side table. The tension between the design periods creates interest! Mix it up!
What are you working on right now:
I have three projects that stand out to me right now: one is a 1950s family cottage on Georgian Bay, one is a very large condo currently under construction, and the other is a historic home in my favourite neighbourhood in Toronto. All totally different and all equally exciting!
Wardrobe staples:
My staples are definitely a great pair of dark jeans, a cashmere sweater and a great blazer! Throw on a colourful scarf, and I am set to go!
Favorite fabric/wallpaper:
There is no way I could narrow it down to one favourite fabric or wallpaper. That is just cruel! Anything from Gracie for the walls and a printed linen from GP&J Baker would likely be my favourites. A specific pattern, however, is out of the question....I am far too fickle to select just one.
Best interior advice you ever received:
The best piece of advice I ever received was to buy what you love!
Best career advice you ever received:
The best career advice I ever received was to start with my own house! Decorate it as your heart desires and then promote it!
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
I always invest in really good chairs and sofas. They stand the test of time and can be recovered over and over again. What do I save on? I love finding a great piece of sculptural glass at an antique market or woven baskets. Layers of treasures that tell a story without breaking the budget.
Your greatest extravagance:
Oh, definitely my sheets and pillows. If my bed isn’t swoon-worthy, I have done myself a disservice. I want those 7 or 8 precious hours every night to be spent in pure luxury.
Favorite places to shop for home:
Portobello and Pimlico Road in London - you can’t go wrong on either!
Most prized possession and why:
Is it wrong to say my Nespresso maker? I couldn’t start a day without it. In reality, I would be beside myself if I lost my Bobbie Burgers painting. It took me over 15 years to be able to purchase a piece of hers, and it sits front and center in my Dining Room where I sit gazing at my piece every breakfast and dinner.
Your interiors motto:
More is more.
Your life motto:
Seize the day!
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
Use social media to help you! Pinterest is a fabulous virtual bulletin board of ideas. If you keep “pinning,” you will likely start to see a common theme. If you get overwhelmed - hire a designer for a consultation to help you sort out your board and give you direction!
Take Ten: My Favorite...
Food: Middle Eastern anything. There is a restaurant near my house, Byblos Uptown, and I swear I could eat there every night.
Drink: Ginger beer and lemonade with fresh lime
Film: Definitely a tie between The Talented Mr. Ripley and The Holiday (no coincidence that Jude Law is in both!)
Hotel: Rocco Forte in Rome - perfectly Heaven
City: London, always and forever!
Bedding: Sferra Linen
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Coffee - just one - in the morning - Flat white with non-fat milk. Tea in the evening - Citrus Chamomile
Playlist: Whatever my sons are listening to and 80’s rap!
Weekend Activity: The farmer’s market early Saturday morning, and Sunday is spent in my garden or at the nearest flea market looking for treasures.
Design Book: Anything by Veere Grenney - the man is a genius!