A Look Inside This Year’s Pasadena Showcase House By Writer and Contributor Emily McGinn
This year’s Pasadena Showcase House of Design — Bauer Estate and Gardens — opened its doors for public tours on April 20 and will run through May 18. It is the 60th Pasadena Showcase House of Design to be featured and is one of the largest, spanning 15,000 square feet and sitting on five acres of land.
Created by architect Reginald D. Johnson and built by Peter Hall, the 1928 Monterey colonial estate was designed for Harry Bauer, the former CEO of Southern California Edison, and his wife Alice. The estate features gardens created by one of the earliest female landscape designers, Katherine Bashford, according to the Pasadena Showcase website.
The estate features 18 main rooms, including a dining room, bedrooms, an upstairs study and a family room. Sloping down behind the house, you can find the gardens, a pool and even a tennis court nestled among the trees.
The Pasadena Showcase House brought in 30 local designers to each curate a space at the estate.
The Palos Verdes Pulse received a preview tour of the house prior to its opening. These were the highlights.
Nods to the history
Perhaps the most notable quality of this year’s estate is the big-picture design of the rooms. While each room has unique twists added by the designer, there was a clear effort to preserve the history of the estate and provide nods to the original home. The designers were dedicated to preserving the history of the space while also updating it so that it felt fresh and warm.
Because the designers all kept the context of the house in mind, the rooms flowed easily from one into the other. Many of the designs emphasized warm tones with unique design accents. Incorporating nature elements was also a major factor in several designs, including the outdoor loggia designed by Shari Tipich, the flower room designed by Gex Designs, and the unique hand-painted floral elements of the young lady’s suite designed by Sukeena Design Studio.
Some rooms’ designs also acknowledge the family that owns the estate. For example, the gentleman’s study (designed by Carmine’s Design and Decor) preserved the historic desk already in the room and maintained an ultra-masculine atmosphere. The estate also features a purse room (designed by Meredith Green Designs), named as such because that is where the former owner would keep purses.
Attention to detail
What sets this estate apart is the elements of detail included by many of the designers in their spaces. Not only were major rooms such as the formal dining room (designed by The Art of Room Design) and the primary suite (designed by Plaster and Patina) intricately curated, but spaces with smaller footprints also delivered some standout designs.
The garden studio and washroom (designed by Beatriz Rose Design) featured unique local art pieces and a nature-themed color palette. The ladies’ powder room (designed by Jennifer Bevan Interiors) stood out for its artistic wallpaper and its showcase of various items and artifacts. The morning room (designed by Samantha Williams Interior Design) also did a lot with a little space, offering a picturesque setup for morning tea in a bright space.
Elements such as the textured walls found in the guest suite (designed by Billman Designs) and the formal dining room add a tactile element to the visuals. Hand-painted elements such as the ceiling of the loggia and the flowers on the walls of the young lady’s suite add to the uniqueness of the estate.
Know before you go
Tickets start at $48 for general admission, with Friday “happy hour” admission for $38 after 4 p.m. until closing. In addition to touring the house, visitors can explore shops and food and beverage options set up in the backyard area.
Some of the designers will likely be on-site during your tour. If you see something you like in the space, know that it is for sale, or the designer can make something similar for you if you ask.
Find more information about the house and tickets here.
Bio:
Emily McGinn is a journalist based in the Los Angeles area. She enjoys reporting on and writing about a variety of topics from lifestyle to news, especially in her areas of specialty, environmental science and political science.
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