By Kaitlin Candelaria
If you visited Cyndy Cantley’s home today, you’d never guess that everything in her house used to be white.
Cyndy, who is one half of Cantley and Company, the successful kitchen and cabinet design business she owns with her husband, Keith, said her love for color and wallpaper is something that’s snuck up on her over the years.
The couple bought their Forest Park home six years ago after many years of living in Mountain Brook. Although they oftentimes spend weeks and even months conceptualizing the kitchen spaces they create for customers, Cyndy said they took a slightly different approach with their own home.
“I think it’s always harder to do your own house,” Cyndy said. “It’s easier to tell other people what to do, but we’ve just tried to have fun and not get bogged down. We’ve taken our time and done things slowly.”
In those six years, the Cantleys have redone the house top to bottom, doing everything from painting the brick on the outside of the house to installing a custom front door that they’ve hauled from home to home. Their home is filled with custom pieces they’ve created and acquired throughout the years as well as a vast array of artwork and photographs.
But it will come as no surprise to anyone who is familiar with Cantley and Company what room is Cyndy’s favorite.
“People always want to know what my kitchen looks like,” Cyndy said. “We definitely spend more time in the kitchen than anywhere else. From the time we get home, we’ll have a glass of wine and cook dinner and eat all in the kitchen. We love, love, love to cook.”
She said they also enjoy entertaining dinner guests, and oftentimes people will park in the kitchen for the duration of the night.
The Cantley’s kitchen is filled with custom white cabinetry with a matching oven hood and island. The entrance to the kitchen features a large glass-paned cabinet that holds an eclectic assortment of fine China, stemware, chalices and other drinkware.
The cabinets are impressive, but what really makes Cyndy’s kitchen stick out is her new Hunt Slonem wallpaper.
“I saw (the wallpaper) and just absolutely fell in love with it,” Cyndy said. “I love tradition, but I love a little quirkiness.”
Rabbits aren’t the only animals you’ll find in the Cantley’s home. Their pets, two dogs and a cat, also live in the one-level residence alongside some other critters. In Cyndy’s dining room, you’ll find a set of Warhol cats on the wall that were once used in her son’s nursery. Her living room border also hides a few other feline companions.
“This is a very serious room with very traditional furniture and a very serious border, but then it has cats,” Cyndy said. The cats are scattered throughout the border and are depicted chasing mice.
The cats chasing mic
e are one of many fun touches throughout the home that make it the Cantley’s unique haven.
“I don’t know that I really have a style,” Cyndy said. “I think as I’ve gotten older I’ve definitely gotten braver. I think it’s fun and I think that you should have fun with your house. Whatever you’re feeling like doing that year, do it as long as it’s not permanent.”
Both in her home and in her business, Cyndy says she’s careful with trends.
“We really try to stay away from trends because with kitchens, they’re so permanent and so expensive,” she
said. “We try to do the kitchens classic and then if you want to go crazy with wallpaper, do that. Do something that isn’t expensive to change.” She recommends using paint and wallpaper to dress up rooms.
