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Pasadena has a few storied traditions, most notably the Rose Parade captivating spectators since 1890 and the Rose Bowl Game thrilling fans since 1902. Another tradition that is widely known throughout Southern California is the Pasadena Showcase House of Design.
For 57 years, the Pasadena Showcase House of Design has given the public the rare opportunity to tour stately mansions situated on impressive garden estates. With its return to South Pasadena for the first time in over 40 years, Oaklawn Manor, an impressive 1905 English Tudor mansion, is ready for its close-up.
South Pasadena has a long-standing tradition of historic homes nestled in a park-like setting. About one-third of the homes in South Pasadena were built before 1922 ranging from modest homes to grand estates. This Showcase House is only the fourth time a house is at least 100 years old at the time of the event.
Mark Gallatin, President of South Pasadena Preservation Foundation, explains that “Oaklawn Manor is located in a neighborhood laid out by local architects Greene and Greene, who designed the iconic portals at the neighborhood entrance and the river wall enclosing the property.” Gallatin adds: “It will be a wonderful opportunity for many people to tour this historic house and get to know the Oaklawn neighborhood.”
An event such as Showcase, shines a light on how design and architectural preservation can indeed transform a historic home. It takes a village to tackle and complete a project of this magnitude.
Dunn-Edwards Paints has partnered with the Showcase House since the beginning. They supply the paint and primer for the interior and exterior of the home, but they also support the design teams by collaborating on a yearly master color palette to help guide the designers in their specifications.
The master palette is a critical component in providing a roadmap for the designers to follow in creating a Showcase House that is cohesive with a balanced aesthetic. As Sara McLean, Dunn-Edwards Color Marketing Manager, puts it, “There is a master color palette each year, which reflects the history of the home along with updated, modern highlights to speak to today’s design needs. We talk about how to use color to marry past, present and future… and tie it to the feeling that we want to evoke. The fabric and textures, lighting and windows, the furnishing and decor… each piece is an integral part of the finished work.”
Color is the backdrop for it all.
McLean further explains, “This color palette helps to guide the designers in their specifications, keeping the home cohesive in appearance while still providing enough leeway for each designer to express their individual design aesthetic. In the end, how the designer uses the color palette creates a full story to show to the attendees and gain interest for future business opportunities.“
The Pasadena Showcase House of Design is more than a pretty house. As McLean exclaims,“Partnering with Showcase is a great way to highlight how our colors can come alive but through these dreamy Showcase Homes filled with the best of southern California design, architecture and history.”
Color and design can transform a home and the Pasadena Showcase House of Design shows how it can be achieved with curated style.
