Let's start with the GORGEOUS house as it looks today with limited grounds...
as opposed to the way it looked originally... I would love to see it when it had fabulous grounds...
"Designed in 1930 for Mr. & Mrs. Cravens by the San Francisco architect, Lewis P. Hobart who was inspired by the baroque Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte. The same chateau which was also an inspiration for the Versailles.
This luxury home features 50 rooms and originally cost $310,000 to build. At the time, it was the most expensive home in Pasadena. The estimated square footage was 19,970 sq. ft.Mr. & Mrs. Cravens shared their home with 32 servants!" (via PasadenaViews.com)
The San Gabriel Pomona Valley American Red Cross acquired the Estate in the early-1960s and it is available for rent for events and it has been used in several films and television. This year is it was selected by Pasadena Showcase Organization... 30 design firms come together to transform the Estate for the 2010 Pasadena Showcase House of Design, the 46th edition of the fundraiser for music performing groups and education.
Let's take a peek inside... amazing ironwork on the front door...
This was one of my FAVORITE rooms on the tour... the colour and this photo do NOT do it justice... such a happy room... I could spend hours in it... it was called the Morning Room designed by Linda Allen Designs, Inc
This is the Linen Room... in person it was FAB... I would loved to have snapped a few photos to show you... but photography is NOT allow... this room was designed by Ammie Kim Interior Design...
LOVED the copper in the kitchen... this ECO-friendly kitchen designed by Cynthia Bennett & Associates, Inc...
this was a LOVELY space for more than "breakfast"... this Breakfast Room as it was called was designed by David Reaume Construction & Design...
this next room is for YOU Sally... LOTS of BLUE in this Library designed by Lawrence J. Rizkowsky Design...
and the last room in the house that I will be showing you is a room that was design quickly since the original designer had to back out and I might add it is also one of my FAVORITE rooms... the photos are not good of this Powder Room designed by Michael Berman Limited... it was GLAMOROUS in person...
after exiting the Powder Room (the last room on the tour)... it is on to the small formal French garden... Strolling Garden designed by FormLA Landscaping, Inc... LOVED it... would LOVED to have seen it MUCH larger... I say more more more si'l vous plaît!!!
once you are done strolling this delightful garden... it's on to either the Marketplace to shop... I purchased my annual scones mixes, clotted cream and gourmet items!!! As you all know, I ENJOYED a FAB lunch at the Parkway Grill after touring the Pasadena Showcase House... BUT... I could've had a lovely lunch under a GORGEOUS GORGEOUS tent designed by Billy Butchkavitz Designs with food prepared by Wolfgang Puck... I wish I had a photo of the whole tent to show you... it was AMAZING!!! AMAZING!!!
All of the photos in this post are via the Showcase House program... they are only glimpses... the rooms are always thoroughly decorated! I only showed you a few of the rooms... it is really an event that MUST be seen in person... soooo looked out for notices next year for Pasadena Showcase House 2011... and book a reservation!
Some years are better than others, but I am never disappoint... I ALWAYS enjoy the tour! This year's house had FAB designs, but it was not homey and did not seem to flow together... I prefer houses that people will actually live in rather than a house that is a business/organization building. I also LOVE to see GORGEOUS grounds that will be lived in... pools, gardens, outdoor living rooms, etc. Unfortunately, the house original grounds no longer exist. I can see that it would be a LOVELY place to have an event!
Hope you all ENJOYED a mini tour... now be sure to visit other Metamorphosis posts via Between Naps on the Porch and Blue Monday posts via SmilingSally!
35 comments:
GOrgeous fantabulous rooms! Now I have house tour envy. There are not alot of tours available here in rural Oregon (okay, none) but sometimes the desire to knock on someone's door to see their decor is strong. So far I've resisted. Love the rooms in this tour just for the design styles if nothing else! Thanks for posting it!
Oh that library is just stunning. The bright blue just is glorious. All of the rooms are beautiful. Happy blue monday.
Ann
Hi Fifi, Thank you for taking me on such a beautiful "tour".
Hugz,
Kim
Fifi, what a delightful post! I really enjoyed this showhouse and appreciate you taking us along with you.
Here's wiahing you a Happy Blue Monday! I am featuring a little French doll made by a lady originally from France. Thought of you immediately and of Claudie, too!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Not sure if I wished you a Happy Blue Monday or not, but if I didn't Happy Blue Monday! If I did, then it's a double portion of happiness!
Amazing house, Fifi. So elegant and magnificent!..Christine
All looks very grand and the photo's does the pictures justice.
Thanks for sharing,I look forward to your part of the world.
Yvonne.
So amazing each room out did the next, loved them all.
That was a really fun tour, thanks for giving us a glimpse inside that amazing home!
Cindy
I love the copper kitchen & breakfast room! I visited a castle in France last week and it had a copper kitchen; I fell in love with it!
oh wow! what an amazing house an the designers really out did themselves. That KITCHEN! and there is a linen room? a whole room for linen??? and that bathroom. and...
stopped by via smiling sally's blue monday and am charmed. What fun artwork! What a delightful blog. Am so happy to have met you this morning-
CailinMarie
http://cailinyates.blogspot.com
What a great house! I love that linen "closet." Happy Blue Monday, Fifi.
I'm fixing your link as soon as I finish this comment.
Beautiful rooms and a great tour. Thanks for sharing. I can see where it would be easy to spend hours in each room and oh, the garden.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Oh Ms. Fifi, thank you for being such a renegade an snapping those pictures. I love house tours like this, but it drives me crazy that they do not let you take pictures. I figure you pay plenty to go in and see the houses...what would a few pictures hurt? I love the metal work on the entrance. Beautiful!
♥, Susan
Wow this are pretty...Happy blue Monday.
Your blue makes my heart go pitter pat. I adore it.
I did not snap photos at the Showcase house... if I did they would not be these views... and I waited until the event was concluded before showing you any photos... I wanted to share the Showcase House without violating the organizations no photography policy.
If you are in the Los Angeles area next year between mid April to mid May... you really MUST try to visit the Pasadena Showcase House 2011... I will be attended POSITIVELY!!!
Oh, Fifi, you beat me to this post. Don't tell me we were both there on Saturday and passed by each other unknown!!!! I thought this house was fabulous and loved everything (except for the amoeba looking chandeliers in the entry). Can't wait until next year.
Janie... I was there last Thursday... so we did not walk passed each other... maybe next year!
If you speak of the chandelier in the grand staircase area with that GORGEOUS ceiling... I AGREE that chandelier was HORRIBLE!!!
BUT the chandeliers that were on strands in the Solarium room were AMAZING!!!!
Glad you ENJOYED it!
What beautiful rooms!!
Thanks for taking us on tour!!
Debbie
Beautiful as always Fifi
You got an award on my blog:)
Oh Fifi, what a fab post. You make me feel as if I had been with you. I love the blue room with the fuscia orchids. xx's
Oh, what a glorious house, Fifiness! I loved the tour.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
It's a beautiful house and the rooms are amazing. Thanks for taking us along on the tour.
My Blue Monday.
Thank you so much for sharing! I wish I could have gone, I just love those events. Perhaps next year I'll come to town for it...I love Pasadena, and miss the Norton Simon Museum very much...
Have a great week!
Nathalie
Dropping by here Fifif from Blue Monday. The pictures says it all how pretty this architectures are. thanks for the post.
Looks like it was fun to see. They only give you a glimps of what is inside in those magazines. I loved the patio area. What was around the house now? More homes? Probably sold off the land because of Taxes. ?
Hello Fifi, this home is fabulous. I love the kitchen but it is all wonderful. I too would love to have seen it in the glory days. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Hugs, Jeanne
PS Congratulations on your Art Blogging feature. Beautiful. I just found the magazine this past weekend.
Happy day to you.
Hugs, Jeanne
Beautiful rooms and photos! Thanks for the tour! Have a great week!
What an amazing place! Kind of sad to see all those fabulous "grounds" are gone now. Thanks for the tour!
Bonjour Fifi!
Fabulous tour! I will be in L.A. in June,and I must see good old Pasadena again. I grew up in L.A. but have long since gone...living in Massachusetts and now in Minnesota. LOVELY POST! Anita
You had me at the front door, then i got a little distracted, but i could have powdered my nose all afternoon in that powder room.
What a fun day and shopping too!
xo Lisa
WOW,,,Fantastic!!! Are you in Pasadena California??? I was from there to a few years ago anyway.. Lovely pics and thanks for sharing them. I was just going here and there doing the blue monday thing..
Have a blessed week...Hugs from Iowa ~ Dena
Oh, wow, Fifi...this is such an amazing house and grounds. I can't even come CLOSE to thinking about having that much money. *sigh
Gorgeous! Just saw ECO countertops in the Kennedy kitchen in House Beautiful--amazing!
Post a Comment