House Design: What's Inside the Home of the Interior Designer Cynthia Almario?

The popular interior designer of Atelier Almario welcomes Tatler into her favourite spaces

As the creative director of Atelier Almario, which she runs together with her sister Ivy, Cynthia easily fills up her daily schedule with showroom-hopping and client meetings. However, this does not stop her from creating a living space where she can unwind and retire by day’s end, surrounded by the things she loves and collects.

Can you walk us through your typical day?

Upon waking up usually around 6:00 am, I first say a quick prayer of thanks. I then check my phone messages and do a quick scroll on Instagram. Then it’s time for a doubles tennis game at Hillsborough Tennis court with the Hampton ladies at 7:00 am. My workday begins with a meeting with my interior design team at around 10:00 am.

We are currently working on several residential and hospitality projects, so we discuss timelines and design priorities. By 11:00 am, I pay a visit to the furniture factory to check on prototypes of the sofa, dining chair and coffee table specified for a hotel project maybe. I then proceed to go to different showrooms to select wallpapers and fabrics to create schemes.

Above Natural light flows from the picture windows of the high-ceilinged living room. Photo: Gabriel Jireh M Laygo

Above A charming blue and white tablescape

Come lunchtime, I often eat with my sister Ivy or with a member of my team. At 2:00 pm, I meet with clients to present furniture and fabric schemes for their living room and bedroom. I also attend the status meeting for a hotel project which happens weekly at 3:00 pm. Next is a trip to a tile showroom to select the tiles we are going to specify for an entire house. If time still permits by 6:00 pm, I head on to another showroom to select bathroom fixtures and fittings. Around 7:30 pm, I finally get home to have dinner with my family!

Before I go to bed, I think of all the things that I am grateful for and thank God for another wonderful day.

Which area of the home do you spend your time in the most and why?

I love staying in my bedroom because I am surrounded by objects that I truly love. I have a passion for blue and white, so my sister Ivy designed lit shelves to display my blue and white collection. I also enjoy entertaining in my living room because I simply love the furniture, lighting fixtures and accessories I have curated over the years.

Above Right lighting adds drama to the space. Photo: Luca Invernissi

Are there parts of your home that you’d like to change? If so, how would you like to change them?

I would love a laundry area on the second floor of my house so it will be near the bedrooms. I find it more practical and convenient for my staff to do laundry; it also doesn’t hurt to smell the fragrant scent of fabric softener from time to time.

What are your favourite pieces in your home?

My blue and white collection! I started collecting them the time I lived in Los Angeles and continued doing so through my travels to China, Vietnam and Thailand. Whenever I look at my collections of books, jars and gourds, they remind me of the great times spent in those places, the stories they tell, the people who travelled with me, and the joy that I had searching for each item.

Which is your favourite spot for entertaining?

I am lucky to have the architect Ed Ledesma design a wraparound pool by my living room. It created this floating area in the middle of the lanai and became the perfect spot to entertain guests, together with my dining room.

Above Indoor plants are a good way to add a touchof nature inside the home. Photo: Gabriel Jireh M Laygo

Above Photo: Luca Invernissi

Above Floralscapes never fail to set the mood. Photo: Luca Invernissi

Above Almario’s blue and white collection that she curated from travels through the years. Photo: Gabriel Jireh M Laygo

What are your entertaining must-haves?

I love flower arranging and I make it a point to stick to a colour palette for every theme. For example, I do either green and white, all red, or blue and white depending on the occasion. I also like using a variety of votives in different heights because it creates visual interest, on top of making my tablescapes warm and cosy. My flower arrangements are geometric and graphic, so I also make sure that it coordinates with my personal collection of plates and vases.

Where do you usually shop for items for your home?

I usually go to Portoro, Shelter, Pietro Collection, W17, Lanai, Crate & Barrel, Rustan’s, A Touch of Elegance, Pottery Barn, West Elm and Landmark to source and shop for items.

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What's Inside the Home of the Interior Designer Cynthia Almario?