Empty House Party – Pasadena – 2011

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The 47th Annual Pasadena Showcase House Of Design Empty House Party recently drew quite a crowd. Situated in La Canada Flintridge, California, a handsome estate designed in 1927 by celebrated Architect Paul R. Williams is the recipient of this year’s high-class design makeover. The re-model is scheduled for completion mid-April, 2011 and open to visitors through mid-May, 2011.

The attractive city of La Canada Flintridge, California is bordered by the Angeles National Forest on the North and the cities of Pasadena and Glendale on the East and South.

Paul R. William is a renowned architect, well known for his LAX Theme Building, Beverly Hills Hotel, Saks Beverly Hills, as well as his designs of 2,000+ private homes. This remodeling project boasts a roster of high-end designers including Barclay Butera, Garage Envy and David Dalton, Inc. Over the next three months, a team of twenty-four acclaimed interior and exterior designers from all over Southern California will transform this English Period Revival-style estate and by April it will be transformed into an inspiring, must-see destination for design enthusiasts and industry professionals.

[Pictured:  PSHA GROUP from left to right: Assistant to the Benefit Chairman Eileen Reilly, Benefit Chairman Kathryn Hofgaarden, Interior Chairman Susanne Abbott, Exterior Chairman Linda Jenkins, President Marti Farley, Exterior Chairman Cindy Steffen, Exterior Chairman Brigett Guitron.]

Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts (PSHA) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization, supporting outstanding music and arts programs throughout the greater Pasadena-area community. The group held its Empty House Party recently, drawing more than 600 guests. The visually exciting and gastronomically satisfying event unveiled the 47th Pasadena Showcase House of Design prior to renovation and kicked-off the organization’s annual fundraising efforts.

“We are most fortunate to be in partnership with some superb designers this year,” said PSHA Benefit Chairman Kathryn Hofgaarden. “Their plans for the renovation are remarkably innovative and will undoubtedly offer every visitor inspiration and enjoyment as well as practical information.”

[Pictured: KDMB from left to right: Benefit Chairman Kathryn Hofgaarden, Empty House Party Chairman Delise Menik, President Marti Farley, Empty House Party Chairman Beverly Marksbury.]

Walking past expansive pastoral grounds, guests gathered inside this elegantly designed, architecturally detailed house while viewing illustrations and descriptions of the designers’ concepts. An extraordinary selection of culinary delights were offered to guests at gourmet stations located throughout the house. The menu, created by Peggy Dark of The Kitchen for Exploring Foods, included savory seafood, farm fresh grilled seasonal vegetables, delectable hors d’oeuvres and sumptuous desserts.

Showcase 2011 highlights one of Williams’ earlier designs that boasts Old World charm and masterful detail. Built in 1927, Williams borrowed ideas from the past without using excessive ornamentation and married traditional architectural styles with smart, stylized looks. Resting in the heart of La Canada Flintridge, California, the estate features a 7,200+ square foot home, 1,800 square foot guesthouse, eight gardens, championship concrete tennis court, oversized swimming pool and accompanying pool house on 4.5 acres.

In addition, the Showcase will feature – for the first time in 47 years – a three-car garage as a design space. Outfitted with hefty design elements, such as custom-light fixtures made from welding tanks, this ‘man cave’ will also house a wine refrigerator, beer tap and flat screen TV for the ultimate hangout.

One of the oldest house and garden tours, the 2011 Pasadena Showcase House of Design will be open from April 17 – May 15, 2011. The proceeds from the Showcase support music and arts enrichment programs throughout the community. Since its inception, the Showcase has helped raised over 17 million dollars and brought music programs to hundreds of thousands of school kids throughout Southern California.

Every year, volunteers come together to make the Showcase possible and this year is no exception. “I am inspired and amazed by the tireless efforts of our devoted volunteers working to transform this property into the 2011 Pasadena Showcase House of Design. I am really proud to be part of the organization,” said PSHA President Marti Farley.

Approximately 35,000 guests will visit the Showcase House this Spring to view the results of the time and dedication invested by the designers and the PSHA volunteers. For more information visit their official site.

Tickets cost between $30-$40 and can be ordered by mail,

online

or by calling 714-442-3872.

For updates on construction and to follow the progress and story of Showcase 2011, please visit PSHA on Facebook.

Report by Pauline Adamek