"It's the only room in the house without a view, but I wanted my office to be here, right off the garage," she says, while sipping on English Breakfast Tea. "That way, I can come in from the car and just drop everything in the office. Plus I wanted my office to be near my kids and a place where I can easily pop in and out of." Having an oceanside view just wasn't a priority for the busy mom and world-renowned fashion model.

It's that practical attitude and family-friendly philosophy that also mirror Cindy's home-furnishing line, which will debut in Michigan at Art Van furniture in May.

Partnering with Florida-based "Rooms To Go," Cindy offers six collections at Art Van that reflect her aesthetic, and her commitment to affordable comfort. The collection lines, such as "Malibu," echo certain parts of Cindy's lifestyle. The Malibu bed, for example, is inspired from Cindy's bed at home. Given the opportunity through fashion, she is a world-traveler and her experiences are seen in the textures and materials used in her collection.

The 41-year-old entrepreneur says working on the furniture project has been not only refreshing but also educational.

"Our furniture look is broad and our main focus is on value and quality," she says, surrounded in her own home by an interior design that's accented primarily with blues and jewel-tone reds. "I was astounded at the quality of merchandise when it first came out," she recalls. "Maybe I was living in a bubble but I had no idea that items that look this great could be priced so low. I would have paid five times as much for the same quality." (Moderately priced sofas, for example, begin at $699 and dining sets at $999.)

Cindy Crawford and her two children enjoy some down time. Cindy and her husband, Rande Gerber. APIMAGES/Dan Steinberg

a perfect fit
Cindy was contacted nearly two years ago by the furniture company because representatives thought her appealing image and commitment to family were a perfect brand fit.

"I have pieces now in my own home from the line," she says, referring to what is officially called the Cindy Crawford Home Collection. Then there's her sister in Colorado, who now enjoys a living room full of Cindy's creations. Their 60-year-old mother, who lives in Illinois, also has a Cindy-fied living room. Cindy and her husband, Rande Gerber, a restaurateur, live with their two kids (ages 5 and 7) in an inviting, five-bedroom home. The centerpiece is a warm and welcoming kitchen/family room space. Here, grey-green cabinetry blends with blue sofas and chairs atop a cozy multihued rug.

"We want friends and family to feel like they're on vacation here," says Cindy, dressed comfortably in old Missy Sixty blue jeans, a medium-brown sweater and clogs. Although she admits that the skinny-leg jean is more current than what she pulled out of her closet on this morning, she is not worried about the fashion police. Style, for Cindy, is what works. "Finding shoes that look good with the new skinny jeans is difficult. I could wear boots, but not at 8 a.m., at school," she says with a relaxed laugh.

Her home's interior design also is relaxed and hassle-free. "We invented a new interior-design - tropical/colonial - when putting together our interior," she continues. Resembling a pineapple plantation in Hawaii, the Crawford-Gerber abode also gives off a Balinese vibe. "In our house, I might mix like a soft George Smith-y English look with found pieces from Bali and Indonesia. And there's lots of wood in our house."

The kids' playroom is just off the kitchen. "But we live mostly in the kitchen," Cindy says. It's there, in fact, where she recently made heart-shaped Rice Krispie treats for one of her kid's school parties. Come evening, she'll throw together a burrito and taco dinner for Rande and the children. Her life is like most busy parents' lives and that's exactly why Rooms To Go contacted her. "After they (Rooms To Go representatives) were flipping through magazines and saw me, they thought to call me," Cindy recalls. "I was impressed with the merchandise. Then they came to my house and looked at the way I live and what I like."

That would be a laidback, coaster-free home. "I don't want to worry about ruining tables if someone puts a drink down without a coaster," she explains. "I also want furniture that can be cleaned easily. I never want to tell my kids or their friends that they can't go in there, or they can't touch that." Juggling a modeling schedule, parenting, the new furniture promotions, family life and fitness requires organization savvy, Cindy shares. "I'm organized and I'm realistic about what I can accomplish in one day."

She's also a stickler about the clock. "It's so much easier if I'm on time for everything. If I'm behind on anything, then the whole day just gets messed up." Her orderliness has kept her on track with being involved in every aspect of creating her furniture line, which includes style direction as well as choosing fabrics and finishes.

For Cindy and her furniture line, it's all about the senses. "I would want even a blind person to like my house," she explains. "A pillow might look great, but if it isn't soft and you don't want your head on it, I don't want it." The home should also smell good, she adds. "And if you're sitting in a chair, you should have a table nearby for your cup of tea. All of those thoughts are instilled in the line." Next to the tea, there also should be a spot for a good book, she adds. An avid reader, Cindy recently read and thoroughly enjoyed "Eat, Pray, Love," by Elizabeth Gilbert.

As for her supermodel status, Cindy still relishes being in front of the camera.

"I enjoy modeling now more than ever because it's not every day," she notes, adding that she's very comfortable with her over-40 looks. "I feel like I have more to offer now. Like an athlete, you can't get better because of time, but I own my body in a different way."

Being a mother, wife and entrepreneur helps Cindy define who she is and what her priorities are. And that doesn't include an office with a view.