Cynthia Lananh

09/08/2026

A design detail in my Bay Area PH residential renovation project included updating a small, outdated fireplace that lived in a corner of the primary bedroom en-suite.

The overall design goal was to revise the layout & design a residential/mixed-use private experience. I recommended transitioning the primary bedroom into a quiet executive lounge. I felt a linear fireplace design with an interesting stone and low profile that spanned the length of the wall would create a sophisticated backdrop to the beautiful city view & Lake Merritt.

The horizontal proportion is central to warm minimalism: it grounds the room, elongates the wall, & lets the focus remain on a lovely cityscape view.

lakemerrit

08/31/2026

Neat things I learned about Italian doors while traveling 🤍

While walking the streets of Rome, Florence, & Venice this summer, I gravitated towards every door I passed. I wondered about the stories hidden behind each one.

Every door felt monumental in scale, with carved stone surrounds, bronze hardware, & heraldic knockers.

My favorite door patterns were in Florence 🤍

What I love is how the Old World translates into warm minimalism.

A marble threshold, worn smooth by 2,000 years of foot traffic, sits beneath new glass doors: clean-lined, quietly modern, retrofitted into the original opening of an ancient building.

Neutral warm stones, texture, clean lines, & character in natural materials aging beautifully over time. These are the design details I love to see when I travel.

08/17/2026

7 summers ago, I quit my full-time design position at a high-end SF firm & launched my ​design studio in San Francisco. A BFA​ in interior architecture & design, & a decade of living & designing​ at residential & hospitality firms across SF, NYC & Milan​, I felt it was finally time to ​v​enture out on my own.

My only mission? Freedom.

Freedom to dream up my own designs. To sit with clients & shape spaces that feel meaningful for them. To build real, lasting connections ​with the people who shape this field alongside me.

& ever since, I’ve never looked back.

The honest truth? My studio is a love letter to myself. So that one day, I can look back & be grateful I pursued my dreams. This kind of fulfillment ​is immeasurable; one ​that can​ only be built.

This year, for my 7th anniversary, a brand refresh felt like a breath of fresh air. I’m so grateful to Sydney & her studio , who helped me bring this vision to life.

To the next chapter ahead ✨

08/15/2026

My Friday evening plans include deep diving on mosaic tiles I fell in love with in Venice a few weeks ago 🤍

more on my design diaries: http://www.cynthialananh.com/designdiaries/travel/stmarksbasilicatilepatterns

Sharing my perspective on the history of materials I see during my travels and what they mean to me for my designs.

A few weeks ago, I visited St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, & I haven’t stopped thinking about the mosaic tilework ever since. Every pattern, every glimmer, is meticulously laid out, & completely mesmorizing.

What I loved most of St. Mark’s mosaics is in the mix & integrity of natural materials, & how they were meticulously & thoughtfully placed, one by one. An organic beauty that could never be replicated.

It’s the same principle I love to use in my designs today:

Honed marble next to glazed ceramic, accented with patina brass. Different natural finishes, each with their own history, working together to weave one cohesive, organic  story.
Seeing how materials are used in history during my travels, makes every finish I select feel even more meaningful.

 TileDesign

07/28/2026

07/28/2026

Travel diaries | Why I love Travertine, Italy🤍

Sharing my perspective on the history of materials I see during my travels & what they mean to me in my designs.

While visiting Rome, I noticed travertine everywhere:

Ancient buildings, sidewalks, architectural columns & facades. It was so inspiring to see.

I love sourcing travertine for my residential design projects, so getting to see the stone woven into Rome’s rich architectural history, & at such a grand scale, felt incredibly special to see in person.

The history, the craftsmanship, & the way the stone has aged over centuries, makes me appreciate & fall in love with travertine even more.

What is travertine?

Travertine is a natural creamy white porous limestone formed by hot springs, most famously quarried near Tivoli, Italy.

It ages beautifully & develops a richer patina over time. It’s durable, lighter than solid stone, & is a timeless natural stone with a long lifespan.

Travertine feels organic, natural, & timeless, and always fits in with my warm & moody neutral palettes.

Seeing the way travertine was used in Italy has given me a whole new appreciation for the beautiful natural stone.

Project: Oceanbeach residence, San Francisco, CA
Interior design by CYNTHIA LANANH
Select photography by

To read more: Www.cynthialananh.com/designdiaries


sfinteriordesigner

07/17/2026

This year, I’m committed to doing more of the things that inspire me to create. Curiosity and love for novelty are my compasses — they’ll always lead me back to inspiration when I need it.

Which brings me to travel. It’s an essential source of design inspiration for me. Every country has its own version of beautiful living. I love seeing the materials used in the architecture and design: the way they age and evolve with the natural elements over time, and how they show up in modern design today. Looking into a material’s history — how it was used across centuries — gives it meaning and life.

For me, Italy feels personal. Interning in Milan showed me what warm minimalism looks and feels like, and it’s resonated with me ever since. What captivates me every time I’m there: century-old ornate buildings from the Renaissance, Gothic, Byzantine, and Neoclassical architectural periods, paired with the clean minimalist lines of the Italian rationalist period. That blend of ornate detail and restraint feels timeless — spaces that have been lived in for centuries, yet feel intentional and new, full of stories from the past and stories still unfolding.

I’ll be sharing a few of these adventures as they relate to design. Travel diaries coming soon 🤍

06/29/2026

I get asked often what I do day-to-day as an interior designer in San Francisco. Truthfully, no two days are the same, & amidst the presentations, deadlines, meetings, & everything in between, there are also small moments of beauty in every day ☁️

06/21/2026

Deep diving into residential theaters that feel like that nostalgic theater magic. Rich velvets, moody tones, low-lit glow, & a petite bespoke bar for popcorn + a drink. Cozy, cinematic, & just the right amount of drama.

photos via Pinterest

06/15/2026

Warm minimalism, to me, is restraint with a soft edge. Warm neutrals, clean lines, natural materials, & quiet contrast.

A shot from my Marina penthouse project in San Francisco.

Sharing more on my design diaries:

https://www.cynthialananh.com/designdiaries/warmminimalism



Interior renovation & design/styling: CYNTHIA LANANH
Photography: Taka Taira-Kaplan Photography