Design Wins

STORY LORI DAVIS | PHOTOGRAPHY DEVON PASTORIUS

As seen in the Windsor Spring 2026 issue.

Francesca Millner once considered a legal career. But her love of designing homes ultimately led her in a different direction. “I thought I would go into law,” she recalls. “But I realized I was deeply influenced by the spaces around me and I enjoyed thinking about how I could change the ambience or make them more functional.”

After completing her interior design studies, Francesca gained extensive experience working in both residential and commercial spaces. “I started my career at the Michigan Design Center in Troy, MI. Then I moved to a much different market on Queen Street West in Toronto,” she tells us. “I made a lot of contacts over the years and built up my portfolio.”

Today, with more than 25 years of experience, Francesca brings a seasoned perspective to each project. In 2009, she founded Façade Interiors & Furniture, which offers a full range of interior design services for residential and commercial spaces, in addition to lighting and furniture packages.

“Our studio delivers interior design, finishing materials, sub-trade support and project management,” Francesca explains. “My firm is inspired by family, function and natural materials. Our projects showcase quality in exterior and interior architectural details, timeless design and carefully layered colours and textures.”

Francesca’s philosophy is simple: she insists on quality, professionalism and never cutting corners. Her company is committed to craftsmanship, fully custom design and collaborative planning. “I like to get to know my clients and find out what they envision for their future,” she says. “It helps to understand whether their plan for their home is short term or for a lifetime.”

This personal approach is reflected in the elegant renovation of a five-bedroom ranch-style home just outside Windsor in Essex County. “I’ve worked with the homeowners for years, and we’ve become special friends,” Francesca says. “They were ready to build elsewhere, but their house sits on a large, beautiful property. If we renovated, they could keep this amazing location.”

The extensive renovation incorporates several defining design features, including arched door openings, a custom window-and-door system in the great room and the conversion of a bedroom and en suite with wheelchair accessibility. “These changes were very impactful,” Francesca says. “They completely changed the way the home functions and feels.”

The exterior of the house was refreshed with natural stone detailing and arched double-entry doors. For the interior, Francesca chose a light palette with rich accents, warm woods, natural stone, premium fabrics and quality lighting. She also curated a selection of designer fixtures featuring warm golds, silvers and some chrome finishes. “Mixed metals can work in a home if they’re balanced properly,” she explains.

Overscale chandeliers, defined by dramatic silhouettes, anchor the foyer and dining area, while pendants, sconces and pot lights provide layered illumination throughout the home.

Designed for entertaining, the kitchen invites cooking and conversation. “The original main-floor layout had a smaller opening from the kitchen into the great room. We removed a wall to connect the two rooms, improving the flow for entertaining and functionality,” says Francesca. Rocksolid Windows & Doors Ltd. supplied large windows that fill the space with natural light and highlight outdoor views.

A statement island finished in creamy Taj Mahal leathered quartzite has soft amber accents. Matching counters and backsplash from Mondial Granite & Marble unify the space while warm white cabinetry from Mylen Custom Kitchens adds a touch of timeless elegance.

In the nearby dining area, a striking credenza reflects Façade Interiors’ focus on bespoke furniture. “Clients come to us for custom furniture – unique, luxurious, design-specific pieces that are most often made in Canada or elsewhere in North America,” says Francesca. “This credenza was crafted by Domestic Woodworks, a local business in Amherstburg.”

A graceful arch frames the great room, one of the home’s defining features. A Town & Country gas fireplace from Forest Glade Fireplaces has a commanding stone surround installed by Andre Lariviere of Andre’s Masonry. “We also added this beautiful natural stone to the exterior of the house. It’s a stunning feature,” says Francesca. The stone’s light grey and gold colouring is paired with a tumbled finish, creating a gently worn, rounded profile.

Floor-to-ceiling windows line the back wall, brightening the space and showcasing the property’s natural beauty. Canadian-made lounge seating and recliners from Façade Interiors hug the perimeter, creating an inviting place to gather.

The primary en suite balances elegance and function, as high-end materials and contemporary conveniences shape a calm, retreat-like atmosphere. Large-format porcelain tile from Rose City Tile extends from floor to ceiling, creating a sleek, uninterrupted backdrop that visually enlarges the space.

A freestanding soaker tub and layered lighting add luxury and warmth. A sleek, glass-walled shower lends a refined, open feel to the space. Champagne-bronze fixtures from The Ensuite Bath & Kitchen Showroom add contrast and visual interest to the en suite, while custom cabinetry reinforces a tailored, boutique feel.

While her career path shifted from law to design, the values that guided Francesca’s early ambitions – discipline, clarity and accountability – continue to shape her work. Each project reflects the same insistence on standards, process and doing things properly. “I’m very intentional about the projects I take on,” she says. “It’s important to me that I can give each one the level of care and quality it deserves.” OH