2019 Pasadena Showcase Marks 55 Years of Design Excellence

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design. The Showcase House is a celebration of the best in design and Pasadena architectural history and future (including state of the art technology and appliances in the kitchen).

Modern Family Room by FOUR POINT DESIGN BUILD, INC

The home’s interior and exterior spaces feature the exemplary work of 26 different design firms. The Pasadena Showcase House of Design, one of the oldest and most successful home and garden tours in the nation, is open now through May 21, 2019. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Solarium by TRACY MURDOCK INTERIOR DESIGN INC.

The Boddy House

The Boddy House, which sits atop a hill overlooking the lush grounds of Descanso Gardens, serves as the canvas for this year’s designers. The 12,000-square-foot, two story, 22-room estate was originally built in 1939 for Elias Manchester Boddy, publisher and owner of the original Los Angeles Daily News and Founder of Descanso Gardens. Boddy sought a family home for himself, his wife, and their two sons, and commissioned Los Angeles architect James E. Dolena to design their Hollywood Regency style mansion.

Dolena was no stranger to designing homes for L.A.’s wealthy and elite. In fact, he was often referred to as an “architect to the stars.” The architect’s notable work includes homes for Hollywood’s early stars, the original L.A. Farmers Market, and in 1949 Dolena built the “Carolwood Estate,” — a 5,669-square-foot, seventeen-room mansion for Walt Disney. The Boddy House previously served as the Pasadena Showcase House of Design in 2007.

Living Room by LOUISE O’MALLEY, INC.

2019’s Color Palette

Dunn-Edwards has been the proud, exclusive paint sponsor of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design for over 50 years and is thrilled to be a part of this annual celebration. The 2019 color selections highlight the history of the Boddy House at Descanso Gardens and its legacy of a glamorous bygone era. These hues strike an artistic balance with the subtle nod to historic influences based on the estate’s architecture.

To see a list, by room, of 2019’s featured Dunn-Edwards colors visit here.

Dining Room and Kitchen by SAMANTHA WILLIAMS INTERIOR DESIGN and Reliable Cabinets

This Year’s Designs

Often, the Pasadena Showcase House of Design is a privately owned home. Descanso Gardens and the Boddy House, however, are owned by L.A. County (Boddy sold it to the county in 1953). Because the home is publicly-owned, the designers of 2019’s showcase house created a fictional “homeowner” to help provide context and direction for all their Boddy House design choices. The “homeowner” is an entertainment industry professional with a family who enjoys hosting guests and social functions at home.

Technology features prominently in the home’s kitchen and entertainment lounge. Sustainably-minded design was also highlighted this year. For example, the home’s morning room features re-purposed materials in its design choices, as well as eco-friendly cork flooring. Each distinct space ultimately ties together with the rest of the home with a cohesive color palette from Dunn-Edwards.

Craft & Cigar Retreat by Studio Akiko

Entry Foyer and Halls by Kelly Ferm Inc.

Guest Suite Bedroom and Bath by Slesinski Design Group & Serena Brosio Design

Lady's Hideaway by The Art of Room Design

Master Bedroom by Robert Frank Interiors

Master Dressing Room by Jeffrey Design LLC

Morning Room by CarbonShack

Teen Atelier by Taylor Jacobsen Interior Design

Writer's Haven by Simon Projects

Terrace by Staged Spaces

About PSHA

The Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to bringing music enrichment programs throughout southern California. The Pasadena Showcase House of Design is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser, enabling the PSHA to donate more than $20+ million to support local community art and music programs.

To learn more and to get tickets to the tour, visit pasadenashowcase.org. To view color palettes of Pasadena Showcases from prior years, visit dunnedwards.com/about/events.

All photography by Marni Epstein-Mervis