Homearama Design: A Q&A with Cindy Allander

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Image Courtesy Homarama

Homearama is kind of a Midwest thing, but Floridian designer Cindy Allander is ready to take on her first Homearama house this year at Carriage Hill. Be the first to read Allander’s plans for this Arthur Rutenberg showplace.

CM: What is the Arthur Rutenberg home like?
CA: It’s a large, three story, 6,000 square foot home with lots of usable space (and a three car garage!). We designed the house for someone to live in, not as a stage. It’s convenient and comfortable. The furnishings are more traditional but not as ornate as one would expect. They’re cleaner, and the colors are clearer.

CM: How does your Floridian background play into the houses design?
CA: Well the home is an expanded version of the Ashville Plan, popular in Florida and the Carolinas. There’s no formal living room, which is a good thing because usually that’s just to look at. Instead, there’s a great room and a formal dining room. It feels more livable because it’s larger and not as closed off. Also, all the furnishings come from a design staff in Florida.

CM: Who are some of the companies that have contributed to the house?
CA: Drexel Heritage, Hooker Furniture, Century Furniture, and Vanguard Furniture supplied most of the furnishings. There’s also some lovely Sam Moore upholstery.

CM: How did you incorporate children into the house’s design?
CA: The children’s rooms are on the second floor as well as their study center, and the entertainment room. For the boy, there’s a Cincinnati Bengals themed room. The girl’s room is colorful and fun with a window seat. The house is very centered around entertaining both children and adults—there are TVs everywhere. Downstairs there’s a clubroom, a circular wet bar, a game table, a large clubby media center, and space for a sauna.

CM: What’s one thing visitors should check out?
CA: The wine room. It has storage incorporated into the wet bar, but it’s not your typical iron door. It’s a contemporary take on a wine storage area. Also the circular staircase that stretches from the top level to the basement. It’s neat, formal, and functional.

Cincinnati Homearama, July 12–27. Tickets: $13 dollars at the gate, $11 if purchased at a Cincinnati Krogers. Show dates: Mon–Thurs, 4 p.m.–10 p.m.; Fri–Sun, 12 p.m.–10 p.m., carriagehillliving.com/homearama

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