I was able to pay a visit to the Pasadena Showcase House Of Design this week, and the best way I can describe it in two words... jaw dropping. I started the tour of the Cravens three story, fifty-room estate residence at the Grand Entrance which was designed by Pacific Ourdoor Living. The grey and cream colored paving stones used here take you back to a historic chateau in France, and really sets the tone for the rest of the house. The custom Red Cross medallion in the center of the entrance is a nice detail, especially since this is now the home of the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter of The American Red Cross.
The Portico is the next space that grabs your eye right before you enter the mansion. The hand forged iron panels that frame the large glass front doors instantly show how much craftsmanship was put into the space designed by Padua-D.K. Designs. Through the door leads into the Grand Gallery which is complete with a restored mural of the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte in France which was the inspiration for the design of the Cravens Estate. The walls in this room were darkened in order to bring out the pastel colors of the mural.
Next you will find yourself in the Morning Room and Morning Garden. The Morning Room is complete with high ceilings, French doors and a cast iron fireplace. The designer for this room, Linda Allen Designs, used neutral grey colors in this room to help bring out the brighter green fabrics and white trim on the walls. The arched French Art Deco mirrors that hang on the walls are the finishing touch to this room. The Morning Garden boasts rose colored marble flooring and a beautiful drought tolerant garden, which is an Eco friendly replacementt for water hungry annuals. The garden was topped off by designers Carson-Magness Landscapes with the addition of a contemporary water sculpture as the centerpiece.
The Drawing Room was the next section that really caught my attention and was probably the largest room on the tour. We were told that the original walls, fixtures and windows were preserved in this space. The bright colored wooden walls also seemed to be the inspiration for the furniture and gave it a very comfortable feel. I can easily see this as the main room to do the most lounging and relaxing. Saxony Design Build also did a great job of adding Red Cross memorabilia to pay tribute to the current owners.
The Eco Kitchen was originally one of the two butler pantries, and was completely re-designed by Cynthia Bennett & Associates using "green" materials. The surfaces were made from 100% recycled glass and cement, and tiles created through a zero waste process. The appliances are all energy efficient, and even the tables and chairs are made of sustainable wood. This is a beautifully designed kitchen that helps turns this mansion into a home.
The Media Room was literally transformed by Designs Of The Interior from a blank box into this gorgeous hang out spot for the entire family. I loved absolutely everything about this room, from the lighting fixtures and chairs, all the way down to the framing of the flat screen TV on the wall. Before I got too comfortable here, I realized that it was time to continue the tour. Time to head upstairs!
I went straight into the Master Bedroom which was nicely done by Julie Kays Design. The canopy bed and 2 sitting areas make this a place that is meant to do nothing but rest in after a long day. The silk wall covering, hand painted with birds and trees can be found surrounding the entire room, and the elegant furnishing were the finishing touches. The Master Bedroom then leads into each of Mr. and Mrs. own respective Dressing, Sitting, and Bathrooms.
Mrs. Cravens Sun Room is filled with African tribal art and completely surrounded by large windows. Designer Karina Oldemans describes this space as "sophisticated, elegant, and comfortable" and she couldn't have been more accurate.
Mr. Cravens Dressing Room will make any Don Draper hopeful instantly jealous. Its the perfect place for a man to kick his feet up and read the paper before he heads out for the office. Jennifer Bevan Interiors did an excellent job on capturing what this room should look like with the use of contemporary, traditional and classic furniture.
Mrs. Cravens Bathroom is adjacent to her private closet that would make most women stare in awe. The bathroom still uses the original tub and marble floors, but have been refinished and a painted design was added above the tub. Roberta Martin Interiors did a great job on bringing out and adding on to the beauty of this space.
The Gentleman's Bathroom uses a very nice contrast between the dark and light colors of the wall panels, and the dark colors of the floors and ceiling. The hanging chandelier catches your attention as it hangs over the contemporary vanity installed by DChristjan Design.
The Guest Bedroom was beautifully done by Lechman-Testa & Associates, as they used an old world look to really make the room stand out. All the furnishings used different finishes and textures but was still able to blend in nicely. The iron chandelier was a great touch and brought my attention to the gorgeouscrown moulding.
After exiting the house, we went over to the Terrace Garden which was designed by Pacific Outdoor Living, and uses a unique checkerboard look that blends turf and large concrete pavers. Two bubbling water features added a soothing background sound as you gaze at the beautiful landscape.
The Strolling Garden was designed to be a work of art more than just your usual garden. FormLA Landscaping used a lot of geometric shapes and curls which is surrounded by glass mulch and other Eco-friendly features such as reclaimed tire mulch and decomposed granite walkways. California native plants fill the garden and fill the air with a wonderful fragrance.
With so many rooms, we were not able to mention every single one of them, but there is still plenty of time to go see the Pasadena Showcase House Of Design, which is an event that shouldn't be missed. All of the designers did an amazing job and I already can't wait until next year. To purchase tickets or to view the full collection of pictures click the links below.
We have already mentioned it before, and still urge all of those in Los Angeles to attend the 6th annual Parade Of Ponds this year. With so many ponds, waterfalls, and streams on display there is tons to see and enjoy throughout the day. Circle Saturday, May 29th and Sunday, May 30th on your calendars as those are the days to head up to the Pacific Outdoor Living Design Center to start the parade. Advance tickets are still available by heading over to California Waterscapes' website and clicking the link at the bottom. Here is a quick teaser on what you can expect at the Parade Of Ponds.
There are a lot of myths out there on what is needed to maintain a pond, or on why a pond will bring you nothing but problems and headaches. Here are seven specific myths that I would like to officially destroy and hopefully help convince more of you out there to become a pond owner and water gardener.
Raccoons will eat all of your fish - Raccoons do not like to swim and will usually sit on the side to swipe fish with their paws. The fish are aware of a possible threat and will swim to the bottom and stay out of harms way until the threat goes away.
Rocks and gravel make it difficult to clean the pond - The Eco system pond will maintain a natural balance that allows mother nature to do the maintenance work on her own. Beneficial bacteria are able to colonize on the rock and gravel which are able to break down debris and muck that would usually feed algae and help it grow.
Fish cannot survive in cold climate - When temperatures drop the the fish will naturally swim to the bottom and hibernate during the winter, there is no need to bring them inside and protect them from the cold weather.
You must test your pond for PH daily - When working with aquariums and pools of water that use chemicals, you do need to check the PH balance often. But when working with a natural Eco system, there is no need to test
Ponds attract mosquito's - Mosquito's love stagnant water, so if the pond is stagnant then there will be mosquito's near by. The trick is to continuously have the water moving and less mosquito's will come around. Also any larvae on the water surface will be taken in by the skimmer and drowned, or eaten by the fish. A properly built pond can actually reduce the number of mosquito's in the area.
Draining and cleaning the pond must be done on a regular basis - If the pond you have is not working with a natural Eco system, draining and cleaning the pond will be a regular headache. But if you are taking advantage of a naturally balanced pond you may have your pond cleaned once a year max, and some don't require it at all.
The more filtration the better - If you were filtering water for drinking then more filtration is best, but when talking about a naturally balanced pond it is not necessary. Over filtering a pond can cause some maintenance problems that can become costly. if you can see a dime at the bottom of the pond, it is more than clean enough.
Still have more questions? Give California Waterscapes a call and they will be more than happy to answer them for you.
Pacific Outdoor Living were featured in an episode of Landscapers Challenge on HGTV. In this show, 3 landscape designers take on the challenge of coming up with a design that fulfills every want of the homeowner. The homeowner then chooses the winning design to be built and we also get to see the final results. Pacific Outdoor Living did indeed win this competition and the final design was jaw dropping once it was completed. Take a look at the video below which shows clips from the competition and the final result.
Pergolas are a good choice when looking to add to your outdoor area. But I do get asked often if this is an easy do it yourself project, or should a professional handle this line of work. Depending on ones experience in construction, it can be a DIY job, but I highly recommend you get a professional design done first.
There are some plans that you can purchase online, but who's to say that design which you saw on a computer screen would work perfectly with your home, hire a pro to do it. Once you have a design in hand then decide if this is a job you can take on yourself. This example here included columns, lighting, and electrical lines for a ceiling fan which can be very advanced for the average builder.
When choosing a designer or contractor, remember to always check references and past work. You only want quality work to be done on your house and this is the best way to find out how good they really are. Pacific Outdoor Living are professional landscape designers and builders and would be more than qualified in adding a pergola to you outdoor living room.
We made a quick stop at this years Pasadena Showcase House Of Design to give you a little taste of what you expect for this years home. As you will see, designers came out with some of their best ideas to really transform and beautify this home. Also make sure you stop and enjoy the Dining Pavilion which is going to be catered by Wolfgang Puck.
If you have yet to get your tickets to the Pasadena Showcase House, be sure to do so by clicking the link below.
brighter green fabrics and white trim on the walls. The arched French Art Deco mirrors that hang on the walls are the finishing touch to this room. The Morning Garden boasts rose colored marble flooring and a beautiful drought tolerant garden, which is an Eco friendly replacementt for water hungry annuals. The garden was topped off by designers Carson-Magness Landscapes with the addition of a contemporary water sculpture as the centerpiece.
