Cynthia Almario curates Ethan Allen’s new Uptown collection

Interior designer Cynthia Almario mixes pieces with a timeless look that are reimagined for the 21st century.

When I heard that interior designer Cynthia Almario was curating the new Ethan Allen collection called Uptown, I was excited to see the pieces and curious how she would do it, because Ethan Allen is a lot more traditional than her modern style. But if anyone can put furniture and accessories from different styles together to create a stylish space, it’s Cynthia. 

I’ve known Cynthia for almost 20 years and have seen her wonderful designs and installations in beautiful houses and restaurants around Metro Manila.

I’ve also developed a close friendship with a deep admiration for her and her sister and collaborator at Atelier Almario, Ivy Almario. These two ladies and I (sometimes along with Ivy’s husband Yong) have gossiped and talked politics over lunches, they’ve given me advice on personal decisions, and we’ve also laughed a lot —and when you hear Cynthia’s laughter once, you will always recognize it even before you enter the room.

In short, I love Cynthia and Ivy, and I’m continuously amazed at their family’s bond. But more relevant to this story, I’ve seen them up close transforming a space — and not just the finished project for once! —  when they helped me renovate what was previously an empty interior courtyard in my house into a stylish sitting room.

A cubist finch on a stand looks great on a shelf or table.

I saw how they do things so effortlessly. How they marked the floor in my house with a masking tape and designed a seven-foot sofa that fit and looked perfect in the space, how they put together paintings of different styles onto a single wall. Cynthia also wanted to create a focal point in the walkway from the foyer and I ended up choosing my own photo of the Blue Mosque ceiling, which we printed into a five-foot mural — and about 20 smaller black and white photos from my travels for the bookshelves, which she fixed so nicely.

Past midnight on the day of the installation, Cynthia with her hair up and very tired, stood back, looked at the space and said, “Honey, it looks beautiful no?”

Every time I would see her after that, she’d ask me, “Honey, how’s your house?” I’d tell her the house was fine, thanks for asking. I was doing okay, too. And we’d have a great big laugh.

Cynthia’s aesthetic and talent for designing spaces, her work ethic and easy-going attitude are qualities that led to her collaboration with Ethan Allen, beginning with the renovation of the showroom in BGC, where exclusive distributor Focus Global houses all its brands in its own building.

Focus Global president Stephen Sy says, “We’ve worked with Cynthia before, but this is the first time on a more formal basis, and the showroom looks wonderful.”

The Anderson Shelter arm sofa is a sleek, sophisticated tuxedo sofa.

She was asked by Focus Global EVP and Stephen’s wife, Loli Sy, to take on the renovation last March. Cynthia selected paint colors, wallpaper and introduced some walls and panels in the different parts of the showroom.

Cynthia says, “Fast forward to July, all the interior design improvements were implemented. The Uptown furniture pieces arrived this August and I was able to install it in the different rooms in vignettes.”

The beauty of this new collection lies in the details from the hand-tailored upholstery to the artisan-crafted decorative accents.  It exudes a quiet elegance but delivers drama with chic fabrics and sophisticated finishes, perfect for someone who wants to live it up in glamour.  

Cynthia adds, “The Uptown collection has a lot of Hollywood regency details and Art Deco influences designed to deliver modern and affordable luxury. It’s very glamorous and modern, a lot of high-gloss lacquer, mirrored finishes. I like how the collection has a timeless look that is reimagined for the 21st century. It looks very polished, with glitz and glam that is modern and yet with a timeless luxurious feel. The furniture pieces have transitional lines, which is why they look so good in contemporary settings.”

The Andover upholstered four-poster bed brings scale and grandeur.

She describes the pieces as livable luxury, where people can invest in good quality furnishings that are timeless and fit for different type of spaces. “Even smaller spaces such as condominiums can have the accents from the Uptown collection — key pieces that don’t take up too much space, such as the night stands and the TV stands.” With a bigger home, one can play around with the bigger pieces such as the Anderson Tuxedo sofa or the nice Andover upholstered four-poster bed, she advises.

“You can call me an Uptown girl,” she says describing how her design aesthetic matches with the latest Ethan Allen items. “I was really amazed at the variety of selections and the complimentary interior design service that they offer. It is an added value for homeowners who wanted to decorate their homes but do not have the time or expertise, or the extra budget for a designer. This way, they get good quality furniture along with advice from experts.”  

She says that design-wise, she also appreciates the customization that Ethan Allen offers its customers. “What sets it apart aside from the superior craftsmanship is that there are so many options to choose from. Imagine 144 finishes, from weathered oak to walnut, to different kinds and shades of fabric, to different kinds of details such as studs that can be in nickel or chrome. I like the fact that they can give clients what they want and what they value, and this makes everything bespoke and artisanal.”

A modern, brass chandelier

Her personal favorites are the Yves host chair, with its tall profile and nail heads, the Evansview rectangular dining table in champagne finish and the Westbourne console that can double as a media cabinet.

Indeed, her Uptown vignettes can’t be classified into one style because even as Ethan Allen approaches contemporary lines, it stays true to its signature look. 

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Visit the author’s travel blog at www.findingmyway.net. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @iamtanyalara.

Ethan Allen’s showroom is located at Twenty-Four Seven building in BGC, Taguig City  (705-9999) and at Pioneer corner Reliance St. Mandaluyong City (634-8587).

(Left) Interior designer Cynthia Almario and Focus Global president Stephen Sy(Right).