When Downsizing Inspires Creativity: ‘I’m 73. I Can Do Whatever the Hell I Want.’

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?

Happily, said Ferguson, she’s discovered that personal style can flourish in such circumstances. While big moves earlier in life involve a lot of practical strategy, not so here. “At this stage,” she explained, “it’s less about functional design, and more about emotional design.” Executing that approach in Conway’s condo meant spotlighting meaningful artwork, weaving in treasured heirlooms and swathing the rooms in a bright palette designed to stand out, not hide away.

“Many women of my generation look at [downsizing] as giving up their previous life, but I saw a new chapter,” said Conway. “I’m 73. I can do whatever the hell I want.” 

Here, a peek at her finished space—plus tips for creating a not-so-big home with what Ferguson calls “unabashed attitude.” 

Tip 1: Explore past lives

Though used differently now, almost every piece of furniture and art in Conway’s condo came from her former home, said Ferguson. In the dining room, the designer assembled a gallery wall of meaningful artwork—each piece has a personal story—to help her recently widowed client “feel like she had a cocoon around her when she was really vulnerable.” A retro Danish-style dining table and chairs stand out against vibrant walls slicked with Sherwin-Williams’s Loch Blue; new pencil molding adds architectural interest. The goal was to embody “the kind of sophistication she had in her [previous] house,” said Ferguson. “So it wasn’t too much of a dramatic shift.”

Tip 2: Give thanks for the memories

Beyond creating a sense of abundance in a smaller space, designing sensitively for downsizing requires plenty of “hand-holding, compassion, understanding and storytelling,” said Ferguson.

In the living room, finding a spot for Conway’s heirloom drinks cabinet was nonnegotiable. A prized piece, it was a wedding gift from her late husband’s aunt and uncle, which they had first received on their own wedding day. “I wanted to keep this because of the story,” Conway said. Plus, “it’s cool to open it up and pour yourself a vodka from a 1940 piece.” 

Tip 3: Go big in small spaces

Rather than shying away from color and pattern, inject petite spaces with pops of personality, said Ferguson. “People think ‘It’s small, so everything needs to be neutral and blend together.’ But really, we need to create focal points.” Here, in Conway’s office-cum-guest room, Zebrawood wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries serves as an energetic, painterly backdrop. On the far wall, Serena Dugan shades, rendered in a mod outdoor performance fabric, both catch the eye and block harsh southern light. Another chic-yet-practical solution: To enliven the floor, Ferguson recycled a Moroccan rug from Conway’s former home by cutting it down to fit the smaller footprint.

Tip 4: Suit yourself

Of her bubble-gum hued closet, Conway says, “I’m not sure what my husband would’ve thought…but alone, I realized I could have it [my way].” Near the shelves, sentimental sartorial gems like magenta Manolo Blahniks and vintage cowboy boots take pride of place, while dreamy Cole & Son wallpaper, carried over from the bedroom, adorns the ceiling.

Tip 5: Play favorites

Many spaces in Conway’s home act as a love letter to her favorite colors: black, white and pink. In this powder room, what Ferguson calls the “unapologetic design” began with black and white Saltillo floor tiles and a vanity glossed with Benjamin Moore’s Pink Raspberry. But that wasn’t the end. “I told Rayner, ‘It’s going to look like we forgot the walls if we just paint it white,’’’ Ferguson said. Instead: Azteca wallpaper from Drop It Modern echoes the tile and picks up a through-line of abstract pattern that runs throughout the place. Said Ferguson: “I’m really glad she took the leap of faith.”