RAYNER CONWAY wants to be clear. Despite the way her journey begins—“this is not a sad story.” In 2021, the Toronto-based nonprofit director was in the midst of downsizing from a four-story, 3,500-square-foot home to a condo less than half the size when her husband of 50 years died unexpectedly. Cynthia Ferguson, the designer the couple had tasked with preparing the space, faced a fresh challenge. Could she devise a comfy home for her suddenly solo client—whom she calls “a firecracker”—while also making a tough transition not just bearable, but invigorating?

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Persons: RAYNER CONWAY, ”, Cynthia Ferguson, “ Locations: Toronto