25 Years, Countless Design Stories: Celebrating Cindy Allen

Picture this: It’s early fall in New York and you’re invited to a celebration—one that’s a quarter-of-a-century in the making—at a historic townhouse in Manhattan. As you move through rooms covered in bespoke tile, artful finishes, and ornate woodwork, you bump into friends, colleagues, and design stars. The patio, complete with a koi pond, is bustling as is the bar just inside. Welcome to Interior Design Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen’s 25th anniversary party.

The event, held September 23 at Clé Townhouse and hosted in partnership with National Kitchen and Bath Association, drew a crowd of Hall of Fame inductees, rising stars, and creatives throughout the design industry who came together to celebrate Allen’s storied career, and immense impact. “The party was bursting with 25 years of love,” says Allen. “From emerging designers to A-listers, everyone who attended was a who’s who in design, and held so much meaning to me.”

As did the location, considering Interior Design published its owner, Deborah Osburn, founder of Clé Tile, when she first launched the company. The five-story residence, located in Manhattan’s Turtle Bay Gardens, consists of two townhouses that were merged into one in the early 1900s. The house channels European sophistication throughout its 8,700-square-foot expanse and now serves as a creative hub and studio for Clé Tile. “To celebrate such a milestone, both the locale and the people needed to be extra-special (and feel personal),” says Allen, who called the party a full-circle moment between the magazine and the brand. “Fast-forward to this year, we awarded this chicer-than-chic residence (and showroom and studio) an NYCxDesign Award (perfect!)” she adds.

From sharing memories to creating new ones, the event served as a testament to the power of community, connection, and the leadership that makes it all possible. “I remember the first time I met Cindy, at a young designers meetup almost 15 years ago. I was nervous to say hello, but I walked up to her and introduced myself, told her how important the magazine was to me, and that I had a new business and was excited to be part of the community,” Dan Mazzarini, founder of Mazzarini & Co., recalls in Interior Design‘s September issue ShopTalk. “Flash forward 10 minutes later, and she was introducing me to the rest of the room, with an invitation for others to come say hello to both of us. She’s always been a legend to me, and that day I came to understand that she’s not only a nurturer of talent but also a builder of community.”

Echoing that sentiment, Malene Djenaba Barnett, founder of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, noted that Allen is a true champion of design. “The way Cindy is simultaneously as discerning as the most sophisticated critic, as selective as the strictest gatekeeper, and as warm as the closest family member is invaluable in this ecosystem,” Barnett says in the ShopTalk feature. “She has been bringing this to all of us selflessly, and she has made an indelible mark on the community and industry as a whole.”

As the night came to a close and guests began to say their goodbyes, they were offered a sweet treat featuring Allen’s signature “eye” for great design. “All-in-all it was 25 years in the making—and a party that’ll last in my heart for the next 25!” Allen concludes.

Event Snaps From Cindy Allen’s 25th Anniversary Bash

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A very special thank you to our event partners National Kitchen and Bath Association and Clé Tile, as well as event DJ JAYKAY.