Pasadena Showcase House 2014 features a Stiles O. Clements residence
Architect Stiles O. Clements had a knack for designing lavish buildings — the Spanish Colonial Revival El Capitan Theater, the Adamson House and the Art Deco Wiltern Theatre among them.
Beginning Sunday, architecture buffs can go inside one of Clements’ more low-key residential designs as the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts stages its latest design house in Pasadena.
As always, design trends are on display. Twenty-five designers have transformed the 1915 English Arts and Crafts estate while retaining the home’s warm spirit.
Drama comes from the abundant color installed throughout the 8,200-square-foot house, including chocolate brown walls in the hallways and vibrant green tones in the dining and great rooms. Mixed metals add further appeal as silvery paint and shimmering wallcoverings blend with brass, copper and gold fixtures and accessories.
There are some surprising touches. A new Walker Zanger collection of intricate tile designs makes a splash in the bathrooms. Decorative head busts — another trend — add visual interest and keep the eye moving along the tour.
Designer Michael Berman described his comfortable dining room as more “country” than “town,” with an antler mounted on a mirror above the fireplace and a chandelier made from bayonets hanging from the papered ceiling. The dining table is left undressed, adding to the casual feel that permeates the design house.
Indeed, the kitchen and butler’s pantry are open, with informal living areas designed for visiting. “The goal was for the family to be together,” said designer Cynthia Bennett, noting the bar stools placed around the travertine island.
Contributing to the family-friendly feel, Amy Peltier papered the walls of the nursery with a lovely dahlia wallcovering by Osborne & Little. In the adjoining bathroom, a farmhouse sink is a thoughtful addition for infant bath time.
In the backyard of the 3 1/2-acre estate, a pool, outdoor kitchen, lily pond and Robert Frank’s clean-lined poolside changing rooms offer outdoor entertaining ideas. And in a contemporary update that feels of-the-moment while balancing the home’s history, Sacred Space Garden Design transformed a traditional bed of roses into a colorful terraced garden filled with succulents and drought-tolerant plants.
The Pasadena Showcase House of Design will be open Sunday through May 11. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Tickets are $35 to $45. Participants park at the Rose Bowl and ride a shuttle to the house. On Sunday and April 26 and May 11, visitors will park at Parsons Corp., 100 W. Walnut St., Pasadena. No children younger than 12. To order tickets: www.pasadenashowcase.org. Recorded information: (626) 578-8500.
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