The color palette for Pasadena's showhouse includes soft golds, terra cotta, camel, charcoal, sky blue, and pale green. Also in the mix are cool off whites, taupe, leather brown, and metallics. Here's a look at a few of the most inspiring rooms...

The Sunroom -- This beautiful room done in soft greens offers serenity and repose in a long narrow space filled with windows at treetop level. Wicker chairs, soft cushions, an antique secretary, upholstered chaise, and tea table beckon visitors to relax and enjoy the view framed by shades custom made from Scalamandre fabric.

The Girl's Bedroom and Bath are done in soft blue and yellows. Blue fabric-look wallpaper by Scalamandre contrasts with the painted white floor which has been detailed with an antiqued hand painted border in pale gold. Custom fabric designed by Elizabeth Benefield through Travers hangs at each corner of the four poster bed and on the windows overlooking the gardens.

Teen Retreat by Lori Souza and Cynthia Piana Piana Design: Valencia, California Image courtesy PianaDesign.com

The third floor Teenagers' Retreat punches up the color palette with brighter shades of green, red, yellow, and blue. Entering this space from the narrow stairway, visitors are immediately enchanted by the sight of the front 1/3 of a full size lime green VW Beetle car, mounted directly on the facing wall and surrounded by a trompe l'oeil painting depicting the spot where the car has "burst" through the wall -- a sure-fire conversation starter if there ever was one! Game tables, a popcorn cart, a silk pillow lounging area, and home theater screening room complete with theatre seats round out this teenage paradise.

The Blue Room also features blue walls paired with classic blue and white patterned draperies. This small retreat is outlined in crisp white trim and balances a natural sisal rug on the floor with a similarly shaded camel toned painted ceiling. Curvy armless side chairs are covered in a wash of sky blue silk and a large chaise is fronted by a half round coffee table made of stone.

The East Lawn and Loggia is a lovely outdoor living space with furniture placed inside a porch defined by columns and graceful arches. On the lawn a large whimsical chessboard is set up as a focal point and sculpture. The sun-dappled terrace floor is tiled in plain stone tiles with an inset of floral patterned tile that mimics the look of a fine oriental rug. Wrought iron furniture with deep cushions in terra cotta are placed on top of this tile rug, for a space that's as perfect for casual entertaining as it is for reading a book.

Teen Retreat by Lori Souza and Cynthia Piana Piana Design: Valencia, California Image courtesy PianaDesign.com

The Master Bedroom of this home is a grand room filled with overscale furnishings. One enters the suite through a small foyer decorated with a pair of matching benches, oversize opposing antique mirrors, and a crystal chandelier. A king-size canopy bed is swathed in cocoa and cream colored silk on the canopy, bed covers, pillows, and custom upholstered headboard. Cream silk draperies hung on the wall of windows are defined by narrow stripes of cocoa colored silk, encased inside seams sewn so the rough unfinished edges are part of the design. An angled rectangular desk is skirted in flat panels of leather in a dark mahogany color, while a huge white ottoman invites relaxation in front of the fireplace. Instead of the predictible armoire or entertainment center, the long wall opposite the windows is home to a museum-sized, extremely long library table, sporting an undershelf filled with bound volumes of old newspapers.

The Dining Room offers lessons in space planning and color. The room is warm and cozy with touches of sparkling detail, and is framed by dramatic floor to ceiling draperies from Decorators Walk. The rectangular room has been visually divided by the placement of a pair of large bronze sculptures facing each other across the room. One half of this room showcases a beautiful dining room table while the other area includes a round glass-topped serving table and pair of benches in front of french doors. Overhead a metallic-look diamond-patterned ceiling gives the room a warm glow.

The Kitchen area features a flat panel screen showing slides and videos of the kitchen remodeling process "before, during and after". The existing kitchen was expanded by enclosing an outside walkway and adjacent maid's quarters, and now includes a massive island, bar area, informal eating area, powder room, and pantry, all located next to a large family room space. Soft gold Venetian plaster walls set off Italian furnishings, custom cabinetry, travertine sink, red marble counters, a large stove, hammered copper hood, and a vivid Harlequin patterned backsplash fashioned from diamonds of marble and limestone.

One of the favorite spaces on the entire tour was also gutted and completely rebuilt into a gem. The Guest House is a separate building that includes a cozy living room, kitchen area, bathroom, closet, and bedroom with a four poster bed. Gold walls, dark woods, beamed ceilings, Ralph Lauren fabrics, and a marble-fronted fireplace give these rooms an old-world look and feel. French doors open onto lovely tree-shaded patio just steps from the pool area. Any guest lucky enough to visit here may never want to leave!

Pasadena Showcase House of Design
Pasadena, CA / Call for hours and info: (626) 792-4661
Ample parking at Rose Bowl Parking Lot I
Free shuttle service to the event
Open: April 21 - May 19, 2002

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