The Selonick House, a modern home just outside Cincinnati, was designed in 1963 by Warren Holly for Federated Department Stores (now Macy’s) executive Edward Selonick and his wife Mildred. Selonick, who would eventually become the CEO of Shillito’s department store, was on the fast track, quickly moving through the ranks of management with the various Cincinnati based Federated divisions (Shillito’s, Foley’s, Hecht Co., etc.) when a promotion and transfer took him away from Cincinnati just as their dream house was being completed. They barely had a chance to enjoy this expansive 5,500-square-foot raised ranch with 5 bedrooms (one originally designed as a maid’s suite conveniently located near the laundry room) and 3.5 baths.
Obviously designed to entertain on a grand scale, the home is located on a 1.8-acre wooded setting outside the Cincinnati city limits in exclusive Amberley Village and features a parking area near the garages and a sweeping circle drive to drop guests off in style. The gracious foyer has a slate floor, open staircase to the lower level and telltale midcentury vertical windows. Sensitive updates throughout include new lighting; insulated windows; kitchen appliances, counters and backsplash; and updated flooring since, in 1963, wall-to-wall carpet was all the rage.
But the original midcentury features are what really stand out. The huge kitchen and breakfast room still have the original wood cabinets (you can’t tamper with perfection) and the midcentury baths with mosaic tile tub/shower and star-shaped recessed lights are to die for.
The large vaulted-ceiling family room is the gathering point of the house and features a beautiful stone gas fireplace and walkout to the paver patio, which is also accessed from the breakfast room. Beck Architecture designed a master bedroom and luxury bathroom addition in the early 1990s that seamlessly integrates with the original home’s architecture and provided a home office for the owner.
Perhaps one of the most exciting features of this home–besides the abundance of closet space—is the oversized and heated garage with Gorilla floor. From floor to ceiling, this home is chock-full of features mid mod fans will love.
The Facts:
5 beds
3.5 baths
5,500 square feet
Built in 1963
$650,000 asking
To learn more about this home or to schedule a showing, contact Susan Rissover at Cincinnati Modern, or call (513) 886-7841.
Susan and Arlen Rissover founded cincinnatimodern.com in 2003 to showcase Cincinnati’s vast collection of midcentury and modern architecture. The Cincinnati Modern Team has a unique niche in the market representing buyers and sellers of modern homes and are considered the area’s foremost experts in midcentury residential architecture. Their personal home was featured in Atomic Ranch Midcentury Interiors, published in 2012. Susan, Arlen and associate agent David Smith are charter members of Cincinnati Form Follows Function (cf3.org), a non-profit group dedicated to educating, preserving and advocating for the area’s rich architectural and design history.
