We’re looking forward to introducing you to Candance Toscano. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Candance , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
For me, it’s integrity, hands down.
That’s either something you have or you don’t. Intelligence can be learned, and energy is a mindset you can shift. But integrity? That’s the foundation. It’s how you show up when no one’s watching, and it can’t be faked or taught. Everything else builds from there.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Candance Toscano, and I wear a few hats- I’m an Interior Life Designer, Realtor, and the owner of Toscano Interiors, my brick-and-mortar boutique in downtown Clearwater. At the core of everything I do is the belief that your home is more than just four walls, it’s a reflection of your inner world. I help people create a conscious relationship with their space, whether that’s through intentional design, buying or selling a home, or finding meaningful pieces that speak to who they are.
My approach to real estate is personal and deeply hands-on. I don’t treat it like a transaction; for me, it’s about helping people navigate major life transitions with clarity and confidence, and making sure their next chapter truly supports the life they want to build. My background in construction and design allows me to bridge the gap between vision and reality in a way that’s both practical and soulful.
Toscano Interiors, my store, is an extension of that philosophy. It’s a space I’ve intentionally created to feel sacred, a place where people can slow down, be inspired, and find pieces that hold meaning. Whether it’s a piece of décor, a piece of jewelry, or a gift, everything is curated with intention. It’s not about following trends; it’s about helping people choose items that add beauty and soul to their spaces.
Right now, I’m continuing to grow my Airbnb design and investment projects, expanding my digital offerings, and building deeper community connections through my boutique and collaborations with other local businesses. Everything I do ties back to one idea: your space should support your story, your growth, and the way you want to feel every single day.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that’s been in constant hustle mode- always pushing, striving, proving has served its purpose. For a long time, that energy was what built everything I have today. It got me to the top of my game, allowed me to create multiple businesses, build a name for myself, and achieve every goal I set. I’m proud of that season. But I don’t need to live there anymore.
Along with that hustle came a quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) need to be seen, to be validated, to have my worth reflected back through achievement, recognition, or other people’s approval. That part of me came from a place of wanting to be understood and valued, and it shaped a lot of my success. But it’s no longer the fuel I want to run on.
I love that I’m now in a place where I get to choose what I give my time and energy to. I no longer have to prove anything. I can release that version of me that believed my value was tied to constant motion and outside validation. She got me here, and I honor her for that. But this next chapter is about trust, ease, and alignment. It’s about creating because it matters to me, not because I need to be seen doing it.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Betrayal through infidelity was one of the deepest wounds I’ve ever had to face. It wasn’t just about someone being unfaithful, it was the collapse of trust in a space that once felt sacred. When someone shares your bed, your table, your dreams, and then chooses dishonesty, it doesn’t just break your heart – it shatters your sense of safety. It makes you question your instincts, your worth, and the very reality you thought you were living.
And betrayal isn’t limited to romantic relationships. There’s a unique kind of pain that comes from breaking bread with people who smile in your face but aren’t loyal when it counts; people who sit at your table while quietly standing somewhere else. Those moments taught me that loyalty isn’t defined by proximity or words; it’s revealed through action when no one’s watching.
For a while, that betrayal hardened me. It built walls, sharpened edges, and created a version of me that led with “never again.” But with time came something more unexpected- forgiveness. Real forgiveness. Not the kind people romanticize, where you just decide to “let it go” and everything magically feels better. No, forgiveness for me has been gritty, layered, and ongoing.
Forgiveness isn’t linear. It’s not a one-and-done moment like people want you to believe. It’s a daily act, sometimes an hourly one. There are days where forgiveness feels easy, like I’ve fully released the weight. And then there are days where the sting resurfaces and I have to consciously choose it again. That’s the part people don’t talk about enough: forgiveness is a practice, not a finish line.
For me, forgiveness wasn’t about excusing what happened or erasing the betrayal. It was about reclaiming my power from it. It was about refusing to let bitterness be the thing that shapes my future. By choosing forgiveness, over and over, I freed myself from being emotionally tethered to someone else’s choices. It didn’t happen overnight; it happened in layers, in quiet moments, in tears, in prayers, and in standing back up stronger.
Betrayal taught me discernment and boundaries, but forgiveness taught me grace. I learned that I can forgive without forgetting, love without being naive, and move forward without carrying the weight of someone else’s actions. I no longer let betrayal define me; I let it refine me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Integrity is everything to me. It’s not just a value I talk about – it’s how I live. I can work with different personalities, styles, and opinions, but if integrity isn’t there, I’m out. I’ve walked away from opportunities that didn’t align, and I’d do it again without hesitation. That’s just who I am.
Depth matters more to me than appearances. I’m not interested in surface-level anything. not in people, spaces, or conversations. I want substance. Intention. Meaning.
But the biggest one- the one I don’t always articulate, is my intuition. My gut has guided me through every major turning point in my life, personally and professionally. Even when the logical path looked different, my intuition has never led me astray. I’ve learned to trust it more than anything else. It’s like this quiet, inner compass that picks up on things long before my mind does. And the older I get, the more I lean on it, not as a backup, but as my first sense.
These truths don’t need to be shouted from the rooftops – they live in how I carry myself, the choices I make, and the way I show up. They’re my foundation, even when I’m not talking about them directly.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
You know, when I’m gone, I hope the story people tell about me isn’t just about what I built or accomplished – I hope it’s about who I was in the process.
I hope people say that I was someone who never stopped investing in myself, even when it was hard, even when no one was watching. That I kept growing, learning, evolving, not because I had to prove anything, but because I believed in becoming the fullest version of myself.
And just as importantly, I hope they say that I helped other people believe in themselves, too. That I saw something in them -sometimes before they saw it in themselves – and I gave them permission to rise. I’ve always given more than I got back, and yes, that’s been bittersweet at times. But it never stopped me. Because giving, encouraging, and showing up for people is just part of who I am.
I hope they remember my unwavering moral fortitude, that I stood firm in what I believed, even when it wasn’t popular or easy. That I was brave enough to speak the truth and to live it, even in the face of discomfort.
I want people to say I was a steward for the earth, that I loved plants and animals like family. That I created spaces, literally and figuratively – where life could flourish. That I nurtured, protected, and respected the natural world with the same care I gave to people.
And above all, I hope they say I was brave. That I showed up. Over and over again – in business, in love, in community, in the quiet corners of life that no one else saw. I hope they say that even when things got hard, I didn’t shrink back. I kept showing up with heart, grit, and a sense of purpose.
But the greatest part of my story – my truest legacy – will always be my four beautiful children. They are, without question, the best thing I’ve ever had a hand in creating. I hope people see pieces of my heart, my strength, my wit, and my values living on through them. They are the living, breathing continuation of everything I’ve poured into this world.
If people can tell that story – of a woman who invested in herself, lifted others, lived with integrity, cared fiercely for the world around her, showed up bravely, and raised four incredible human beings, then I’ll know I left something real behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: Https://www.Toscanointeriors.com
- Instagram: @toscanointeriors
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candancetoscano?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/toscanointeriors
- Youtube: @CandanceToscano
Image Credits
Kristyn Photos
http://kristynphoto.com/?fbclid=IwRlRTSANTT6lleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHgshxgo0wU9jEqC0dB2K8e9acAU2_X_CpnlqoREn1RS_OxBf_DzU2J044Am2_aem_E2-o1l6Hkg27k7teLD6Hrw
