REDEFINING RETREAT

With her legendary red locks and personable demeanor, Cindy Meador of Cindy Meador Interiors has been a go-to interior designer for 30 years. Residing in Fairhope and owning and operating a stunning two-story shop and design studio on Canal Road in Orange Beach, Cindy is in her prime. Here she shares a project that demonstrates just how vital an interior designer can be and one magical home that effortlessly brings a bit of glamour to family retreat and has us swooning.

By Hayley Hill Photos Stevye Photography, StevyePhotography.com Makeup Courtney Matthews Makeup Artistry, Cocokat1978@gmail.com Hair Felisha Allen, HeadDress Salon, 251.689.7427

From local communities like Fairhope and Ono Island to neighboring states and all the way to Texas and even Utah, her talents range from contemporary to traditional and everything in between. “I have 30 years of experience working on everything from small one-room renovations to large full-scale construction projects customized to suit the clients’ needs, my team and I do it all! Some people think I only do contemporary or a more modern look, however that is not true,” Cindy shares.

The retail showroom hosts furniture, art, accessories, lighting, rugs and more. The second level serves as the full-service design studio recently expanded to showcase fabrics, wallpapers, tile, marble, and wood samples. “We offer design presentations, showcase renderings and elevations, and floor plans on large screens for clients. We also prepare schedules for paint, tile, plumbing, electrical, and all exterior and interior elements for the builder and homeowners,” Cindy tells us.. 

A rare skill in the design world, Cindy isn’t tied to one look and surrounds herself with a team of six talented women. The perfect segway, this brings us to the pristine vacation home project of Wanda and Poncho James. Nestled on a picturesque waterfront property in Orange Beach, this new build was a dream assignment. An industry driven by relationships, Cindy shares how she secured this fantastic project. “Jeff and Jared Cochran of Cochran Builders introduced us to Poncho and Wanda before construction started. We met in my design studio to go over the plans and make sure we all liked each other. I fell in love with Wanda and Poncho immediately! Because they do not live here full time, it was important to show them how we would handle every detail of the project. We also met with project manager, Skip Jones as well as Jeff at least once a week on site. Constantly going over details helps all of us catch snags before they occur. We love working with Cochran Builders as their attention to detail is what makes the difference in their custom homes. Skip can make anything happen and Deas Millworks did a great job on architectural details. Superior Granite, Ferguson, and Inspired Closets were all integral parts of the completed design.”

Preferring to jump in during the planning stages of any project, Cindy explains, “It takes an architect, builder, and interior designer to see all aspects and perfect the end result. Everyone has a different point of view from their field of expertise and it takes all eyes to get all the details just right! A lot of homeowners cannot conceive how their home will look and feel from a flat piece of paper. Luckily, we can make it even better than they could imagine. There are so many details to consider like plumbing, hardware, moldings, door styles, lighting, finishes, bathroom design, cabinetry design, and closet design, and the list goes on. We are here to source, create, and present a complete and comprehensive plan.”

Asking for her secret, Cindy tells us, “I learned to be a very good listener long ago and that has proven to be the most important aspect of my job. Getting to know each client and their family is so beneficial and results in lifelong friendships and multiple projects during their different stages of life. Sometimes it even stretches to the homes of other family members!” 

For Wanda and Poncho’s home, Cindy teamed up with her newest designer, Brianna Key. “This was Brianna’s first project with me and she brought so many fresh, new ideas. Brianna has amazing project management skills and shared in all of the sourcing and creative processes. It is wonderful to have her gorgeous ideas and to bring her excitement to all aspects of Cindy Meador Interiors. I like to have another set of hands and eyes to always know every aspect of each large project. 

Because this is a second home that’s lived in for long lengths of time, Wanda wanted a completely different look than her primary residence that is very traditional. Meant to be a true getaway and a place for family and friends to gather, Cindy and Brianna devised a very calming, serene, neutral pallet to create a spa-like feel. “We added subtle color differences in the bedrooms, too. For instance, their daughter loves her orange Hermes surfboard so we played off of that to create a fun and youthful color palette of oranges and pinks. Since it’s on the water, we used performance fabrics for those family gatherings and boat days, too,”  Brianna explains.

Boasting beautiful mature trees that frame an even better view, the Access team was in complete awe of how a push of a few doors, the inside and outside areas became one. “The big windows and high ceiling allow for maximum light inside and give the feeling of being outside on the water. The sliding glass doors overlooking the pool and outdoor spaces fully open up the entire back side of the home making entertaining an absolute dream,” Cindy tells us.

As for Cindy and Wanda and Poncho’s favorite aspects, “They hand selected the oversized Italian front doors and wanted the fireplace to be the center of her home. Therefore we made the fireplace a statement with the floor to ceiling tile. The primary bathroom is open, light, and beautiful, making it the perfect place to relax.The kitchen countertops and waterfall island garner the most attention from guests as well.”

As for the results? “We are so happy because our clients are happy. We love to create a level of trust with the homeowners in the beginning of a project, and Wanda and Poncho were very involved but also allowed us creative freedom. We’ve become great friends!” Cindy happily concludes. As for Wanda? “Cindy and Brianna made the decision making process so easy. They staged the home so beautifully, it was like a TV show when we walked through the final reveal. Both Poncho and I were blown away, we didn’t send one thing back! They are so good with the details and made everything perfect. We can’t wait to retire here.”

Cindy Meador Interiors

25299 Canal Road Suite A-4 Orange Beach, AL 36561

251.974.1907 | CindyMeador.com

Instagram: @cindyminterior

Facebook: Cindy Meador Interiors

Pinterest @cindyminterior