Top designers were chosen to re-create the look and feel of 1940s Hollywood glamour in the Pasadena Showcase House in Pasadena, CA. Built in 1941 by architect Roland Coates, little had been done over the years to modernize the home and the glamour faded. Instead of reconstructing areas of the home, the designers were given the challenge to work with the existing footprint and use clever decorating techniques to bring back the charm. Kitty Bartholomew shares the designer's inspirations for re-creating the allure of the 1940s in this beautiful home.
Spacious Living Area
Designer Gene Zettle took on the task of re-creating 1940s elegance in the spacious living room. Inspiration came from the homeowner's light green and metallic wallpaper, purchased over 40 years ago and originally intended for the dining room. Zettle instead created panels on the wall above the chair rail around the perimeter of the room and cut the wallpaper to size to fit in the panels. When he ran out of wallpaper he used mirrors instead, which act like windows and help make up for the lack of natural light.
Since the room is so long, Zettle wanted to break up the expanse and create intimate conversation areas. Three distinct areas were created--two intimate seating areas on each end and four loveseats squared off in the middle to anchor the room. Since the room is used for entertaining, he wanted to make sure the arrangement allowed for the maximum amount of seating, while maintaining intimacy. On the windows, he used sheer draperies to give the room a fresh look. He picked up on the soft pastels used throughout the furniture and accessories and simply pieced each of the different colored panels together.
Garden Lanai
In the patio room, designer Kathryne Dahlman created a 1940s garden lanai filled with woven woods and tropical accents. The rattan and bamboo furniture add texture to the room and complement the smooth chenille and waxed linen fabrics. Instead of bringing in an all-purpose area rug, she installed a tile floor with an extravagant mosaic in the center.
Crisp White Kitchen and Breakfast Room
Designer Mark Cutler didn't want to change bones of the kitchen, so he kept the cabinets and just refurbished them. He installed vintage cabinet hardware and added detail to the base mold to make it look handcrafted. To open up the space, he installed bright white brick tile from the countertop to the ceiling. The center island was designed to create extra counterspace and also be used as another family table--to contrast the dark wood countertop, he added a a simple above-mounted white sink on one corner.
Cutler transformed the breakfast room into an entire banquette that seats 10 to 12 people. He added a few surprises for a more playful art deco look--an aquarium light fixture, complete with a live fish, hangs above the banquette table and floor to ceiling "message" boards were created on both walls to hold pictures and momemtos.
Art Deco Butler's Pantry
Designer Sue Potter put her designer touches on the butler's pantry using similar colors from the kitchen, but with a more retro style. For a striking statement, she added black mosaic tiles on a curved wall and created her own chandeliers using teacups and saucers. Convenience was also very important in her redesign--she took out an old refridgerator and added a TV and wine rack in its place.
One of the most important details was ensuring all three rooms flowed together. To make this happen, Cutler and Potter selected a sturdy, naturally dark South American hardwood for the floors.
Elegant Master Bedroom
Instead of relying on 1940s-style furniture, designer Jon Jahr captured the glamour with 18th century antiques, silks and layered patterns. He incorporated the elements of the '40s design into areas that are more permanent to the room, such as the walls and curtains. The first item Jahr chose was the linen print used on the screen, which was placed in the triangular space behind the bed. On top of beautiful fabrics and antiques, he also employed a few tricks in the room to add to the elegance--to disguise the closet entrance, he continued the wallpaper directly over the door and to help create more light and dimension, mirrors were layered on top of the dresser.
Fantasyland Bedroom Suite
Any young girl would feel like a fairy princess in the lavish bedroom suite designed by Gigi Rogers. She created a fantasy bedroom using ice cream colors and a myriad of patterns and fabrics, which all seem to blend seamlessly together. From the lamps to the tuffet, every item in the room is outfitted with either tassels, fringe or beads. The opulent bathroom has a beautiful mural of an outdoor fantasyland, complete with little fairies hiding in trees.
Resources slipcovers, drapery fabrics and pillows - Waverly
Waverly
Website:
www.waverly.com
Guests Mark Cutler
Designer, Mark Cutler Designs
8656 Holloway Plaza Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90069
Phone: 310-360-6212
Fax: 310-360-6213
Kathryne Dahlman
Designer, Kathryne Designs
4034 Radford Ave.
Studio City, CA 91604
Phone: 818-762-3705
Sue Potter
Designer, Saxony Street Int.
11300 Weddington St.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
Phone: 818-760-8787 x114
Jon Jahr
Designer, Jon Jahr & Associates
610 Calle Bienvenido, Suite A
San Clemente, CA 92673
Phone: 949-443-0274
Gigi Rogers
Designer, Gigi Rogers Designs
66 Waverly Dr.
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: 626-683-3363
Gene Zettle
Interior Designer, Gene Zettle Interiors
Phone: 909-625-8496
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