City View: Cincinnati Embraces New and Old

I am on a mission to eliminate the term “flyover state.” Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, I picked up a great deal of style there that still influences me to this day. Cincinnati has come a very long way from the early days as a mucky river town known as “Porkopolis.” The town grew during the peak of the art deco movement and contains a wealth of architectural gems, by a iconic Roebling bridge that predates the Brooklyn Bridge and art deco masterpiece Union Terminal, to midcentury stone and cutting edge architecture, including new buildings by Zaha Hadid and Daniel Libeskind, among other starchitects.

All of the history, as well as the impact of new trends received through the Internet — and the desire to live more easily — have given the town a rich and one of a kind mix of old and new layout styles. “Cincinnati is a really diverse community with a rich legacy,” says architect Ryan Duebber. “This makes it an interesting place to live and practice architecture.”

Here we’ll correct some misconceptions about layout in this town, and we’ll examine trends and identifying elements that designers are spotting from the Queen City today.

VisuaLingual

“Each locality in Cincinnati retains a special stock of houses that defines its character and forms special communities,” Duebber says. “For instance, in downtown Cincinnati, the Over-the-Rhine Historic District encompasses the largest set of Italianate buildings at the United States. Now this district is becoming the Mecca for many young professionals and students.”

Karen Spiritoso Home Designs By Karen

Interior designer Karen Spiritoso credits the Internet with moving design here. “I’ve been in the design business in the greater Cincinnati area for eight decades, and up to about two years ago I found a number of my clients to become conservative toward design trends. These clients often shied away from a brand new design trend until it was well established,” she says. “With the recent explosion of layout sites and layout websites like , my clients now have more access and exposure to the current trends coming from the coasts as well as Europe.”

Karen Spiritoso Home Designs By Karen

“No more is there a need to wait for their daily decorating magazine to find inspiration. … All of this quick exposure to new items has motivated my conservative Midwestern Cincinnatians to have a chance on a fun trendy light fixture or daring pillow that they could have shied away from in the past,” Spiritoso says. “They’re embracing more modern, linear lines in layout and are having fun with all the light airy colors that are presently being shown throughout the country.”

VisuaLingual

Graphic designer Maya Drozdz is a Brooklyn transplant who has been embracing and documenting the design, urban planning and style of Cincinnati on her website, VisuaLingual, since she arrived in town about six decades ago. “Cincinnati has a reputation as a traditional, traditional town when, in actuality, pioneering Modernism was alive and well here during the middle of the 20th century, and also these ideas and aesthetics are still going strong today,” she says.

Watch the rest of Drozdz’s loft, a former beer hall from the Over-the-Rhine area.

VisuaLingual

VL HQ – $85

“Cincinnatians have begun to express their town pride through place-centric products like artwork and apparel,” says Drozdz. “Cincinnatians are a sensible bunch and prefer functionality over decoration. Successful products seamlessly combine form and function.”

ALPINE CONSTRUCTION

Interior designer Amy Schuermann initially appeared back to Cincinnati design history. “One magnificent and clearly Cincinnati layout is that our world renowned Rookwood Pottery Company,” she says.

Founded in 1880, Rookwood Pottery initially produced Victorian and Oriental style products, but later became best known for its art nouveau, art deco and Arts and Crafts antiques and tile. They’re highly coveted around the world these days and could be viewed throughout many Cincinnati houses.

“Fortunate Cincinnatians have the luxury of having Rookwood tiles in hundreds of old houses in the area,” says Schuermann. “Known for its organic and picture elements, Rookwood tiles became a standard in most homes of its era. A lovely Rookwood vase was even used as a present to Rodger Federer, the Western and Southern Open winner in Cincinnati this past summer!”

Amy Youngblood Interiors

“Although steeped in heritage and frequently traditional layout fashions, urban life is booming in Cincinnati,” Schuermann says. “Our downtown is developing fast, and hence, homeowners are choosing a more urban experience and, provided the economy, not moving into big houses. This implies spaces that aren’t enormous but tasteful and much more clean-lined.”

Amy Youngblood Interiors

“While we’re not New York or even Chicago, Cincinnatians are very mindful of what’s happening in the world. … They take bits and pieces of what they find in the national design websites and make it their own,” Schuermann says.

Amy Youngblood Interiors

This mix of old and new ends in a fresh style that is transitional. “I have many clients that come to me needing a more straightforward, more complex look with updated colors like burnt orange, lavender, oxblood and heavy green, and naturally neutrals are always a timeless,” Schuermann says.

Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC

Duebber also notes that his clients are paring down and yearning for easy modern lines. They’re “creating spaces that make sense and that are located in large part on function and viability,” he says. “They need to simplify their lives by first simplifying the way they live. Subsequently, this produces a modern timeless aesthetic.”

Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC

For instance, in this bath, Duebber’s clients wanted to make a modern aesthetic that reflected their personalities and tastes. They eliminated a large soaking tub, which freed up room to expand the shower and install a massive window. A floating vanity and clean lines give it an open and relaxing feel.

Essence Design Studios

“While white kitchens continue to be popular, yet another tendency popping up is using various shades of the gray color palette,” says Jessica Allison of Essence Design Studios. “Gray is a gorgeous neutral, and when used in the ideal way it may have a cool or warm look.”

Essence Design Studios

Essence Design Studios

“The tendency of incorporating gray is shooting Cincinnati by storm. All of my current clients are wanting to incorporate gray in their houses,” Allison says. “My favourite use of gray is using a medium gray on a ceiling and neutral colors on the wall. It really grounds the space, and provides a level of sophistication.”

Debbie Basnett

“I think one of the biggest design misconceptions about Cincinnati is that it’s a conservative Midwest town when it comes to interiors,” says Debbie Basnett, of Vintage Scout Interiors. “We even hear it from our sellers, that Cincinnati is one of the most conservative cities, more than Lexington to its south or Indianapolis to its north.”

Debbie Basnett

“Luckily we have clients who are willing to let us push the border with layout; mixing designs and creating interiors that tell a story about its own owners and are always evolving,” Basnett says. “This living room is a fantastic example — that the acrylic seats were purchased at the 20th Century Cincinnati display and are paired with traditional sofas.” Basnett also blended metals and added eclectic accessories.

Designs on Madison

Amy Holt, president of Designs on Madison, notes that her clients are changing layouts and plans to match the way they live. “Our clients like to amuse on the first floor in numerous areas, including the kitchen,” she says. This big, open kitchen has an island and another bar area.

Designs on Madison

Holt also notes that clients are adding elegance and functionality to sunrooms, like this one with its dramatic ceiling.

Designs on Madison

Holt agrees these days that Cincinnati clients desire contemporary style. “Although traditional layout is very well known in Cincinnati, there are many people who love modern layout,” she says. “We have had many clients of various age groups requesting a contemporary and modern look.”

Overall, Cincinnatians are embracing their customs while hammering into a pared-down, clean-line future, resulting in unique transitional and modern style.

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