Striking modern design elements, one-of-a-kind amenities, and livable luxury features combine in the showstopping 2025 Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home.
14 | The Main Event
The first floor takes center stage with high-end furnishings, distinctive custom finishes, and thoughtful convenience features.
23 | Suite Dreams
The five upstairs bedrooms display distinctly different moods and styles while following the home’s modern theme and neutral color palette.
29 | High Style Below Ground
The lower level is all about entertainment, whether residents and guests are playing basketball, relaxing after a workout, gaming, or watching the big screen.
37 | The Great Outdoors
The stunning pool and fun alfresco spaces invite everyone to come outside and play.
42 | Dream Alliance
The 2025 Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home charity partner, Fishers Youth Initiative, strives to empower local youth.
48 | Vendor & Sponsor List
Built to Thrill
Striking modern design elements, one-of-a-kind amenities, and livable luxury features combine in the showstopping 2025 Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home, which opens its doors for weekend tours on August 8. BY LORI
THE 2025 Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home checks a lot of aspirational boxes. Opulent luxury? It’s there. High-end kitchen? Wait until you see the Gaggenau appliances that will have professional chefs coveting a spot at the stove. Spacious rooms
ROBERTS
colors? The top-quality design unfolds from the moment you step inside the
Fishers home. An NBA regulationDream Home without over-the-top amenities?
This year’s home, built by Carl McIntyre of Carrington Homes with interior design by Revkah Gordon of Revkah Design and architectural design by Emily Handke of Emily Handke Design, is more than just a
PHOTOS BY SARAH SHIELDS
luxury homes
What makes us unique is that we design your entire home in our 3D software from day one. Every design presentation is done in 3D so
important to have this 3D capability throughout the design process to help our clients visualize their home from the beginning. We focus on all details both big and small to ensure the home we are designing perfectly suits you
showpiece. It’s a family home. The owner, a professional athlete with roots in Indiana, knows this will be his legacy home. But he also wants a space that’s comfortable enough to hold his family, including his children, adult siblings, parents, and extended family members. The result is a residence that encompasses every luxury you can imagine, from the spa area in the lower level with a hot tub, spa bath, and barber chair, to the dual primary suites that offer extravagant comfort and
the great room that’s the only one of its kind currently installed in the state.
“We really wanted luxury, but ahead of luxury, we had to choose an approachable living environment,” Gordon says. “This was not going to be just a show home. It was a family home and would be lived in.”
The Dream Home is a study in exceedingly modern beauty. It’s contemporary without becoming sleek or cold, offering more than 18,000
square feet of indoor living space and extensive outdoor recreation and entertainment areas. The Kansas City limestone exterior is a vivid white, complemented by Nichiha
appearance of wood without the inevitable breakdown. With seven bedrooms and nine-plus bathrooms, there’s plenty of room for family and visiting friends.
“We really want you to have this immersive modern home experience
from the moment you walk in the front door,” Handke says.
McIntyre, Gordon, and Handke started working together about four years ago, when the land was little more than a driveway off 116th Street in Fishers. The homeowner’s representative was an important part of the conversation, weighing in on the materials and design requests
homeowner like his favorite athletic shoes. The owner leaned toward contemporary styles, Handke says. He wanted a showstopper home
with at least a six-car garage, the aforementioned basketball court, and a
have overwhelmed the eye from the beginning. But McIntyre, Gordon, and Handke understood the challenge, designing and building a home that incorporated these big must-haves in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Take, for instance, the basketball court. Hoops hangouts are not unusual in today’s higher-end homes, McIntyre says. This is, after all, Indiana. But it’s not always easy to include such a large
“I wanted it to look like a home, not an arena,” Handke says. Instead, the gym has been tucked to
man cave and behind the garage. A wall of windows connects the space to the main level of the home, making it easy for someone to knock on the window and tell the players it’s time to come up for dinner. This separateyet-connected space mirrors the homeowner himself, whose athletic background will always be part of his persona.
This year’s Dream Home also features dual primary suites, one on the main level and one upstairs. It’s a growing trend, especially in luxury homes where homeowners may want more than one grown-up retreat.
“A lot of families have a multigenerational thing going on,” McIntyre says. “They often want to build a bedroom for their family members to stay with them over a long period of time, if not all the time. We run into both scenarios.”
Tour Details
This year’s Dream Home tour starts Friday, August 8, and runs three consecutive weekends until indianapolismonthly.com/dreamhome. Visitors should expect to be wowed from the moment they walk inside and at a Las Vegas trade show and was
“We really want you to have this immersive modern home experience from the moment you walk in the front door.” —EMILY HANDKE
excited to incorporate it into the Dream Home.
Take time to enjoy every level and space, from the grand pool area to the butler’s pantry on the main level
grab their snacks after school. Watch out for the little details that have big impact on the home’s character:
• Large doorways accented with wooden transoms that give the feel of height without the weight and safety concerns of an extra-tall door
• Floor details that separate individual spaces, keeping the open
areas their own character and feel
that contribute to the home’s contemporary feel and reinforce the colors in the porcelain and natural
stone around the home
• Furnishings chosen to offset the home’s symmetrical angles, offering approachable and soft complements to the overall design and outdoor spaces, giving visitors and family members alike a place for gathering or retreating
The initial plans, combined with many walk-throughs, conversations,
Dream Home is a place that lives up to its name.
“We took the homeowner’s dreams and elevated them,” Handke says.
For more details about the 2025 Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home, visit indianapolismonthly.com/ dreamhome.
MAIN FLOOR
With a large TV mounted above the fireplace, the great room is a spot where people can gather for cozy evenings and big games.
The Main Event
The first floor, which encompasses the main living and dining spaces, a gourmet kitchen, and the homeowner’s primary suite, takes center stage with high-end furnishings, distinctive custom finishes, and thoughtful convenience features. BY LORI ROBERTS
THE MAIN LEVEL of this year’s Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home is more than just a collection of rooms; it’s a meticulously crafted experience designed to blend expansive luxury with inviting livability. Every detail, from grand architectural statements to subtle, comforting textures, is thoughtfully curated to create a home that is both eye-catching and comforting. You’ll discover spaces, each with its own distinct purpose
into one another and that together communicate a cohesive vision of modern elegance.
Fired Up
When visitors step through the Dream Home’s door, they can expect their imaginations to ignite and that accentuates the warmth of the study in luxury and comfort.
up symmetrically opposite the front contemporary order and intentionality of the home’s overall design.
The great room’s vast 22-foot
softened with a combination of colors and furniture that add warmth and serenity to the space. Interior
Design accented the straight angles with soft curves, choosing one-ofthat create impact without adding clutter. While most of the great room furnishings face inward toward each other, one sectional includes a doublesided seat for anyone who’d prefer to harmony to the space with shades of
is covered with a custom wool rug in
joined by a triangular coffee table with rounded edges resembling a guitar
Natural and porcelain stone are found throughout the main level, including two pieces in the great room
neutral Cristallo quartzite featured
show, the expansive two-story glass
draws the eye outward, offering an uninterrupted view of the inviting pool area and meticulously designed outdoor entertaining space. It’s set
turning a purely functional piece into an additional decorative touch.
Overhead in the great room, a mezzanine and bridge with colored glass railings open the second level to the primary level.
“I think a sky bridge is really cool because it offers connectivity between levels,” Handke says. “It creates this really aesthetic visual. It also allows someone upstairs to be able to say something to someone downstairs.”
The colored glass carries onto the main stairway and is also discreetly
Gordon’s choice of a bronze tone for the glass wasn’t arbitrary; it was a deliberate decision to enhance the
Custom-designed rounded sectionals by Thayer Coggin in the great room invite people to sit back and enjoy gatherings in front of the fireplace.
colored veining, which contributes to the home’s truly unique ambiance.
Fine Dining
plan, a dining room can sometimes feel lost, but not in this home. The Dream Home’s dining space commands attention with oversize furnishings, a
details. The homeowner opted for a custom dining table, generously built to seat 10 guests but could comfortably accommodate more. The table features a heavy pedestal base in a rich, deep wood tone, accented by a striking table and delineate the dining area within the open layout.
“The scale of furniture is really critical when you’re doing mansions like these,” Gordon says. “A beautiful dining table can look like dollhouse furniture in some large homes. You want to be big.”
The space needed a stunning light source, and Gordon found one in
toned, tubular pendants mimicking organ pipes combine art deco and
create a timeless design repeated in the adjacent kitchen lighting.
Heart of the Home
No Dream Home is complete without year’s property doesn’t disappoint. White oak cabinetry lines the walls and sets off the backlit range hood. While any cook would feel comfortable in the space, professional chefs will think they’ve come home with the extravagant Gaggenau appliances. The cooktop offers gas cooking, induction cooking, and a teppanyaki grill for multiple preparation options.
The kitchen features two distinct islands, both crowned with stunning Cristallo quartzite. One island boasts a chic waterfall design, while the other provides a relaxed, casual seating area.
“I think having the kitchen be the center of the entertaining spaces was key to us,” Handke says. “You can have a big family gathering space that’s close to the dining room. Everything feels very connected.”
The kitchen also includes a butler’s pantry with ample counter space
and a refrigerator for leftovers or child-friendly snacks. Its walkthrough location next to the kitchen makes it a perfect spot for kids to visit when they’re on their way to play outside or leaving for school.
Sophisticated Retreat
Tucked away in the back corner of the main level, the primary suite is a sanctuary of privacy and quiet,
found throughout the home.
The hearth room coordinates with the nearby kitchen and invites relaxation with its indoor/outdoor fireplace and luxurious green ottomans that add pops of color.
The 10-by-10-foot bed is customdesigned for the homeowner with plush leather upholstery and a black
mounted directly above it. “If you’re lying in bed, you’re still looking at something pretty,” Handke says.
Charcoal, bronze, and gray hues and a sectional by Fendi Casa boasting gentle curves add to the aura.
The attached bath is as meticulously designed as the rest of the home and repeats its symmetry, which Handke says was a conscious choice.
An inviting soaking tub sits against a majestic gray Cristallo quartzite slab with black and copper veining. Copper
king—or in this case, a professional a convenient bench.
This suite boasts not one but two dedicated walk-in closets. One for clothing and accessories features subtle yet sophisticated touches like leather accents. The second is a shoelover’s dream, designed to house the
Hundreds of cubbies protect favorite footwear, with prominent displays to
ADVANTAGE THEULTIMATE THE ULTIMATE
Tickets include tastings from this year’s top restaurants, plus cocktails
early entrance and extra drinks when you upgrade to VIP
BEDROOMS
The Dream Home’s upper primary suite evokes peaceful comfort with its soft finishes and neutral color palette.
PHOTOS BY SARAH SHIELDS
Suite Dreams
The five upstairs bedrooms display distinctly different moods and styles while following the Dream Home’s modern theme and neutral color palette. BY SHARI HELD
The marble-encased bathroom and walk-in closet in the upper primary suite are accessible through a pocket door from the bedroom.
THE UPPER FLOOR of the Dream
Home houses a traditional black-andwhite wallpapered laundry room, a loft gathering space, and a study, but the focus is the stylish, comfortable
thoughtfully and uniquely designed
Luxurious Upper Primary Suite
“I’m still designing more single primaries than anything else, but
frequently or for medical professionals who can be called away in the middle of the night,” says interior designer
we always try to make sure that they closet, and ample space for windows to let in natural light,” says Emily Handke, architectural designer with Emily Handke Design.
Outside the upper primary suite is a sitting room for one featuring a striped B&B Italia Up chair by designer
the room inside, where clean, modern themes meet soft luxury. The bright,
airy space includes a private balcony overlooking the backyard, helping establish a lavish retreat for the woman
rest of the home while personalizing it to her wants and needs. Gordon accomplished this using cozy, textured fabrics in neutral colors juxtaposed with the modish black notes that appear throughout the house.
“I like to have something black in every room,” Gordon says. “It really grounds the space, and it literally goes with everything.”
The bedroom’s comfy, oversize bed by Alaskan King Bed Company features a custom-wrapped headboard in a soft antique brown. The chair and ottoman from Massoud Furniture are covered in
strand necklace ceiling light adds a touch of whimsy.
Separating the bedroom and bath
is a magic door, a sliding portal with a concealed track and hardware that
and bath’s palette combines peaceful shades of ivory, sand, oyster, and beige with modest grays and browns.
The shower’s smooth marble and the custom reeded cabinetry by SimsLohman provide contrast through texture. The bath features a sit-down vanity with a wall-to-wall mirror and copper and crystal pendant lights for
space, a dark animal print gives an edgier look to the cream color and gold hardware of the walk-in closet.
Boys’ Retreat
“As people come up the back staircase, we wanted to create a welcoming kids’ loft area,” Handke says. This refuge, which contains a TV and a kid-friendly jumbo sectional, leads to a
Guests are treated to stunning views of the wooded property surrounding the Dream Home when they stay for overnight visits.
bunkroom—a purely all-boy space.
The custom bunk system includes two full-size beds and built-in side tables that are integrated into the room. Gray is the dominant color, with accents of navy and red. A tall, sloped ceiling accommodates the carpeted, railed loft, reached by a mini-staircase with netting (like a basketball hoop’s) along the handrails. Additional decorative netting, comfy chairs, and a TV make the space snug, while two huge windows provide views of the outdoors and pool.
“It’s like living in a treehouse,” Handke says.
The bold, celestial-patterned tile in
the boys’ bath is a mix of bright blues, black, browns, taupes, and creams. It was selected by the homeowner’s 5-year-old son, with the rest of the bathroom designed around it.
“A little boy had fallen in love with a beautiful piece that he wanted for his own,” Gordon says.
A Trio of Guest Rooms
The upstairs boasts three guest bedrooms to accommodate visiting family members. Each has a distinct and overall style of the rest of the home.
a mink-colored, velvet, queen-size black dresser and two green ottomans complete the furnishings. The large window with views of the backyard is the room’s focal point. The bathroom contains the only bathtub in the home primary suite, with herringbone tile in a neutral color.
“I’m still designing more single primaries than anything else, but having two primaries is becoming a thing—especially for people who travel frequently or for medical professionals who can be called away in the middle of the night.” —REVKAH GORDON
The second guest bedroom has a decidedly masculine vibe, with rich,
size bed, headboard, and side table
into the wall. The bath boasts black and gold hardware and lighting and a bold, dynamic tile in black, brown, and white. In the future, one of the boys could easily lay claim to this room.
grounded, and feminine. Gordon accomplished this using gentle tones and rounded shapes. The room is furnished with a king-size bed,
nightstand, console, and a barrel swivel chair. The tall cathedral ceiling with chandelier and huge window are focal chosen for the bathroom, provided inspiration for the rest of the space. An earthy, reeded pattern adds a tactile element to the shower, which has a ledge rather than nooks for a more of marble and travertine covers the bring continuity. Gold accents are used throughout the rich space.
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Featuring Tahitian Cream
Floor-to-ceiling glass panels on the main and lower levels allow unobstructed views of pickup basketball games.
PHOTOS BY SARAH SHIELDS
High Style Below Ground
The lower level of the Dream Home is all about entertainment, whether its residents and guests are playing basketball, relaxing after a workout, gaming, or watching the big screen.
BY SHARI HELD
IN A HOUSE the size of the Dream Home, planning every detail is a challenge. “Figuring out how to make the home look awesome, not just OK, is the fun part,” says builder Carl McIntyre of Carrington Homes.
The team—builder, interior designer, and architectural designer—worked together to make the home both comfortable and complex, and the
accomplished their goal.
The heart of the lower-level entertainment center is the gym and basketball court. Jack Laurie Group engineered the playing surface as they would a professional basketball court, using multiple layers of hardwood over can expand and contract.
The cold plunge and hot tubs feature metallic tile, complementing the wood-paneled sauna nearby.
The gym is equipped with a series of glass doors with a remote access system for the homeowner’s convenience. Appearing frequently as a design element throughout the house, the glass serves another purpose.
be a connection point in the home rather than just a destination that’s more secluded from the house,” says architectural designer Emily Handke of Emily Handke Design.
Fitness Focused
wellness area, and spa are connected
strip for agility training. A Tonal all-inone home gym is mounted on one wall. Smoked glass on the back wall gives the space a moody, modern look.
few steps to the wellness area, where the owner can take a cold plunge, relax in the hot tub, and take a shower. A high-tech infrared sauna can help relieve sore muscles.
The wall behind the cold plunge and hot tubs is paneled in gray ledger stone, while charcoal-hued reeded tile covers another wall. Both repeat in the
with smooth black river rock under the vanity mirror adds ambience.
“We’re still staying with that soothing, calming natural spa feel, but we’re doing it in a masculine, modern way,” says interior designer Revkah Gordon of Revkah Design.
Out of This World
When the homeowner requested a Handke proposed a two-level garage so the doors wouldn’t overwhelm the front exterior. A ramp at the rear of the home leads to the upper level, with half of the lower level designated for man cave used as a gaming room.
The owner wanted the man cave to be funky, futuristic, and space-like. The
The illuminated wine wall in the lower level showcases the homeowner’s bottle collection.
walls are painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Iron Ore, while the high-gloss epoxy
integrated into the walls resembles
That’s Entertainment memorabilia display, and a galley
kitchen stocked with everything but center’s lounge and bar. The lounge is the perfect spot for serving drinks, relax at the table or in a pub chair at light hardwood.
and theater area, which boasts views of the outdoor hot tub and pool. The sight is drawn to the things that are being distracted,” Handke says.
sectional in gray by Vanguard offers views of both the pool and the theater.
The projector is housed in an adjacent
The
appropriate scale of the size of the where there are big, open spaces,”
A separate inside/outside door
in blue porcelain tile, this full bath is the only one open to visitors on the lower level.
residences, connects all areas of the the owners are hosting an event, they can use the elevator to carry things downstairs.”
Privacy, Please
space to play without interrupting the adults. The blue-gray built-in cabinetry for toy storage and neutral
catching rug boasts all the colors of the rainbow, and two bubble-inspired appearance.
Finally, for guests, the lower level household in the black-and-white adds a fun pop of color.
Sims-Lohman
www.sims-lohman.com
The Great Outdoors
The Dream Home’s stunning pool and fun alfresco spaces invite everyone to come outside and play.
BY AMY LYNCH
PHOTOS BY SARAH SHIELDS
BY WORKING closely together, the team of Carl McIntyre of Carrington Homes, Phil Ennis of P.J.E. Lawn Care & Landscaping, architectural designer Emily Handke of Emily Handke Design, and interior designer Revkah Gordon of Revkah Design crafted a Dream
With a clean, modular structure, a lines, marble slabs, and wood trim, the front elevation makes a statement that’s decidedly modern yet opulent at the same time. Tall grasses and plantings lend just the right dash of drama and proportional height, and a
full-size basketball court just off the driveway can be easily adapted for tennis and pickleball, personalized with a mural by Indianapolis-based artist Koda Witsken.
Through a mix of naturally sourced and manmade materials, the entire landscape extends the design and style of the home itself with hardscape features that create not just a look, but an experience. For example, wide stepping stones usher guests over a koi pond, making the mere act of walking up to the front door memorable.
“We partnered with [Louisvillebased] Atelier Vals to create all of the
The pool area includes plenty of lounge chairs, as well as a U-shaped conversation area.
Perfect Harmony
Deep Dive
intentional and well thought-out, like something out of a movie,” Gordon says. “You have to go through the like a fun little secret.”
On one side of the pool, a recreation
zone for the kids includes a metal play structure with two slides and a small rock-climbing wall. Past the swimming pool and down three steps is a cozy ideal for decompressing on a warm
The outdoor furnishings coordinate with the exterior surfaces of the Dream Home for a unified palette.
summer night while catching up on favorite shows on the large-scale, covered, outdoor TV. From here, the view to the property’s wooded perimeter is unobstructed, giving a sense of privacy and seclusion.
Features throughout the backyard capitalize on the current trend of
maximum interest and visual impact.
Handke says she’s seen much more emphasis placed on creating fun, dynamic outdoor spaces like this since the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In that sense, this home very much aligns with what we’re seeing across the market and what our clients are asking for,” she points out. “This really is a showplace house, but we still wanted it to feel approachable, inviting, and livable. At the end of the day, it’s a family home. Just on a very elevated level.”
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Dream Alliance
The 2025 Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home charity partner, Fishers Youth Initiative, strives to empower local children.
BY PEYTON TATTERSFIELD
Left: Students from HSE Schools packed meals for the Summer Meals program during a Day of Service. Below: Paws to Read volunteers help students build confi dence and reading skills.
THE DREAM HOME charity partner, Fishers Youth Initiative, which will provide knowledgeable, friendly guides during this year’s tour, aims to ensure a promising future to every young person in the Fishers community by delivering support and opportunities through connections with volunteers and specialized programs.
In 2025, the Fishers Youth Assistance Program and the Youth Mentoring Initiative merged to form the new, more comprehensive organization, offering a mentorship program, academic support, and services to meet kids’ basic needs.
“Fishers Youth Initiative is really a one-stop shop for all things youth in Fishers,” says Ashley Elrod, director of community and public relations. “When it comes to mentorship, food assistance, tutoring, and everything in between, all students and every young person in Fishers are welcome to our programs.”
The initiative’s core project is its weekly one-on-one mentor program, through which it pairs students with adult volunteers who help children
communication skills, and sense of accountability. To date, more than 300 students have been matched with mentors. The program is set to expand in the coming school year to reach all 20 schools in the Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation.
The initiative also offers academic tutoring by coordinating with HSE schools to schedule professional tutors.
“We connect students to tutors in a variety of subjects and help facilitate getting it scheduled within the school,” Elrod says. “It’s just one more thing that helps the school.”
The organization’s food and assistance programs focus on summer and school breaks, supplying more than 600 students with a week’s worth of easy-to-prepare meals.
The Fishers Youth Initiative also partners with the Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program to offer
the collaboration, families receive assistance with food, rent, and access to summer camps and recreational activities.
A portion of the proceeds from
the Fishers Youth Initiative. Elrod says she hopes the exposure will increase awareness and encourage more male volunteers to get involved in the mentorship program.
“We’re really hoping that we can make an impact on those who visit the Dream Home this year and generate more support for our other programs, volunteer opportunities,” Elrod says.
To learn more about Fishers Youth Initiative programs, visit
Each week, this elementary student shares his drawing skills with his mentor, proving that learning goes both ways.
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