A ceramic egg-head sculpture by Mexican surrealist Sergio Bustamante was the first piece by the artist that Cindy Sartino purchased for her Carmel, Indiana, home.
The small delicate face in the middle of a 15-inch-tall white egg — with two detached hands — would be held closely by Sartino through security lines and airplane transfers on her journey to get it back home to the Indianapolis suburb. Her home would eventually become like an art gallery with more than a dozen more Bustamante pieces, including a custom piece, among other artists.
As she amassed an impressive collection of illustrious contemporary art, the interiors of her home would also be reshaped to match. A vibrant and dreamy painting from Brazilian artist Ferjo hangs above a fireplace in a room with polka dot curtains and royal blue tufted furniture.
It was the move that kicked off the home’s interior palette of reds, purples, and blues.
“That picture actually caused us to change everything in our house. We changed all our colors from when we originally moved in,” said Sartino in an interview. She grew up surrounded by similar art pieces in her childhood home. “Everything was done from that.”
Sartino is now selling her six-bedroom, five-bathroom home, and the interior juxtaposition against the stereotypically modest Midwestern home exterior has brought a wave of attention, amassing 70,000 views on Homes.com so far.
Listing agent Bill McMurray of BluPrint Real Estate Group has heard visitors describe the interior design style of the 434 Sheffield Court listing as very 1980s, Duran Duran, or even “Miami Vice.” Seller Sartino says not quite — it’s contemporary and with a bit of whimsy and glam.
“I think it’s interesting, when I’m in this house, I feel comfortable,” said McMurray. “I say to people, ‘If you don’t like the decor, do your own thing, make it your own canvas,’ because that’s what people do anyway.”
The 5,429-square-foot home is listed for $1.3 million, which features a finished walk-out basement with a built-in bar, an in-ground pool, and a three-car heated and air-conditioned garage.
It comes down to $239 per square foot, above Carmel, Indiana’s $210 per square foot average. Carmel, a suburb located 16 miles outside of Indianapolis, has an average home value of $632,132, according to Homes.com data. Carmel was recently named second in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live rankings, which is based on survey responses from residents.
“The community is just phenomenal, and the thing I like about this house is that it truly gives a different look. It doesn’t have a standard Midwest look,” said McMurray.
The home sale won’t come with Sartino’s art pieces, unless purchased separately, but does include other personalized touches such as a koi pond near the front door, imported silver glitter wallpaper from London in the primary bedroom, and a custom stained glass window emulating a new wave-style woman’s face in the primary bathroom. The marble-drenched bathroom includes mirrors with built-in televisions, and it’s Sartino’s favorite room.
“We often stay at a resort in Mexico where all their showers and bathrooms are all marble and big tile floors like downstairs,” said Sartino.
The home originally came with bleached wood flooring and cherry wood kitchen cabinets. Both were changed quickly after Sartino’s purchase 32 years ago to heated marble flooring and black cabinets paired with speckled countertops. The kitchen today features Miele and Wolf appliances. Sartino also finished the basement, which harks back to her and her husband’s frequent travels to Las Vegas with a custom-painted mural of the Strip.
