Gena Sylvester
Design Consultant, Houston
“It’s an obsession…an illness, from which, I do not wish to recover.” That is the only way that Gena Sylvester can describe her passion for the home fashion industry. Whether designing hotel ballrooms and showcase homes, assisting Houston custom builders with floor plans and product selections, or selling accessories to retailers in the Dallas and Highpoint furniture markets, she has spent most of her life as a hands-on student of the furnishings trade. Her last twenty years have been spent honing that craft by following current trends swayed by world markets and an aging population, discovering new products resulting from emerging technologies, researching the explosion of ideas related to “going green” and applying those lessons to create luscious, functional spaces.
Her eye for excellence, along with a healthy intuition, landed her at Cantoni’s door. Returning recently to Houston from Sarasota, Florida, Gena can see the profound influence of Houston’s growing international communities on Texans’ historically traditional tastes and the savvy client she now welcomes. “Traditionalists are beginning to understand the mix of styles as opposed to planting an entire furniture group in a room. Technology has brought our earthly neighborhoods together and given our clients carte blanche to the endless possibilities of design and how it will affect their budgets. The options can be overwhelming and confusing. That is now the best argument for using a designer. I can easily sift through the endless data and propose a plan based on my customer’s taste, timeline, use of space, and budget in very short order, while building their trust and, hopefully, a longstanding friendship. Cantoni provides me with the best product and customer support available in the industry. It enables me to serve my client in a way that makes me proud to be a part of this team. ”
Her ultimate goal? “I like to hear the sigh of satisfaction every time they walk in their homes. That tells me I’ve done my job.”
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GETTING TO KNOW GENA (Q&A from eNewsletter 187 which featured Gena’s 2727 Kirby project
Who or what influenced you to pursue a career in design? Living in seven cities in eight years and experiencing different cultures and architecture opened the design door for me. While house-hunting, I couldn’t wait to see what the owners had created inside and how I could improve each home.
If you had a free day, how would you spend it? I used to play tennis and golf, now there is no such thing as a free day for me as I’m always in the showroom. Now if I had a free week, I’d go to the beach or New Orleans!
You’ve been given great seats to the concert of your choice, who would you like to see live? Hollywood Bowl. Tina Turner.
Favorite luxury item in your home? Best budget buy that you’d recommend to a friend? Any of my collection of body scrubs, lotions, and bubble baths, silk-embroidered slippers given by a precious friend and my new Keurig coffee maker…in that order. Neutragena Sesame oil - do yourself a favor.
What would someone be surprised to know about you? (past, present or future) That I’m going to write a book someday about all of the characters I’ve had the pleasure to know.
