The 2020 Pasadena Showcase House Tour Goes Virtual

One thing that has impressed me during this pandemic is the creative ways businesses and organizations are pivoting in order to accommodate the public. Restaurants have turned into marketplaces, movie theatres have opened drive-ins and museums and events have gone virtual. One event I look forward to every year is the Pasadena Showcase House in which a group of designers descend upon a home in the San Gabriel Valley and outfit it to the nines. Every year the public is invited to tour the home but what to do in a pandemic? Go virtual of course! Recently, I headed to the home to check it out and give you a sneak peek into what you can look forward to online.

Last year’s house was located at Descanso Gardens’ Boddy House and transformed the historic home into a true showstopper. The 2020 Pasadena Showcase House has moved east to Arcadia and has taken over the beautiful Locke House.

The Locke House was built in 1937 and was designed by famed architect Gerard R.Colcord who was known for designing the homes of the Hollywood Elite. The Federal-style country home was built for the Locke family, then members of LA society with roots in publishing and oil. Over 6,700 square feet in size the home sits on 2 acres of land in the historic Santa Anita Oaks neighborhood of Arcadia.

A 6,700 square foot home offers a lot of design opportunities and this year 17 designers took over the inside while 4 worked on the exterior resulting in a showcase of the most up to date design trends including a particular focus on sustainability.

While allowed to let their creative juices flow the designers were suggested to find sustainable options for their spaces. So while the interiors are extremely luxurious they’re also environmentally friendly highlighting an array of sustainable material and repurposed objects. As I toured the home I discovered that many of the pieces I admired were repurposed from previous incarnations.

For instance, when touring the Live/Work Loft by Studio Palomino & Design Source Collective I particularly admired the luxe loveseat at the end of the bed and was surprised that it was actually an older piece that had been reupholstered. Surprises like this continued throughout the home.

The Breakfast & Morning Room designed by Cozy Stylish Chic featured artwork made from recycled luxury brand packaging. I especially liked this piece that featured Hermes boxes and butterflies created from their damaged and flawed scarves. Such a creative idea!

In fact, creativity runs rampant throughout the house I found so many things to adore from the cozy window seat in the Upstairs Laundry from Ilustracion by Jake…

to the elegant family room by Fiona Lau Interiors, Inc…

to the tropical paradise Master Bath from Studio Jhoiey…

to the doggy paradise Mudroom, Laundry & Pet Bath by Courtney Thomas Design.

The exteriors are just as impressive featuring a beautiful pool, lounge area and a most enchanting cottage from Shari Tipich Decorative Design & Artistry.

I wish everyone could view the 2020 Pasadena Design House in person but, alas, the pandemic has removed that opportunity. Luckily, modern technology allows the house to come to you virtually as Ultimate Viewpoints:56. This 360° interactive experience will offer you a tour of the house from the comfort of your own home. Tickets go on sale shortly and will be available here and all proceeds will benefit area music programs.