Another year, another Showcase! For the 55th annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design, we’ll be revisiting the Boddy House on the grounds of Descanso Gardens.
This April 21 to May 19, 2019, Showcase-goers will get a glimpse of a glamorous bygone era as they tour the Hollywood Regency style, 12,000-square-foot historic mansion. Designed by “architect to the stars” James E. Dolena, the grand interior and landscape architecture emerge from a central sphere, extending to numerous rooms with magnificent views. At the hands of 27 designers, the house will be magically transformed into a contemporary masterpiece.
THE BODDY HOUSE
Nestled atop a tree-covered knoll inside Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, the Boddy House (now known as Hospitality House) was also the site of the 2007 Pasadena Showcase House of Design. The downstairs is laid out in a circular pattern revolving around a central entrance foyer. The rooms radiate like spokes of a wheel. These rooms include a living room, a solarium, a modern family salon, an entertainment lounge and bath, a powder room and a formal dining room. Directly off the dining room, there is a morning room, kitchen, and a catering kitchen.
There are two staircases that lead upstairs, which is divided into two wings. The Master Bedroom wing includes a master bath, a linen closet, and a vestibule leading into the master dressing room. Full-length French doors from the bedroom open to a balcony with spectacular views of the San Gabriel Mountains. The east side of the second floor across the petite landing, is a lady’s hideaway, a writer’s haven, a guest bedroom ensuite, a teen atelier, and a craft and cigar retreat.
COLORS OF SHOWCASE
Each year, a new color palette is selected to reflect the latest design trends and accentuate the home’s classic architecture and surrounding landscape. For 2019, visitors will experience warm neutrals punctuated with richer, saturated tones with paint names like Spice of Life, Secluded Canyon and Espresso Machiato. Through an exclusive partnership with Dunn-Edwards Paints, the color palette was chosen to highlight the distinct character of the estate.
MORE THAN A HOUSE TOUR
In addition to house tours, Pasadena Showcase is rolling out a Designer Talk Series and guests can visit the art gallery featuring California artists. And for those with a selfie stick and smartphone, there will be an Instagram Photo Wall. Plus, this year, the event will have the largest Shops at Showcase with 29 vendors and new pop-up shops every week, in addition to restaurant amenities.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE
While Showcase is the must-see destination for the latest interior design and garden trends, the event is a fundraiser for the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts (PSHA), an all-volunteer non-profit organization, that’s been around since 1948.
This year’s house is being chaired by Barbara Damerel, who, with the help of nearly 80 volunteers, have helped pull off the herculean feat of Showcase. The Showcase House of Design is one of the oldest, largest and most successful house and garden tours in the country. Each year, about 25,000 guests attend.
Proceeds from the Showcase House go to funding arts and music programs throughout Southern California. For over 66 years, PSHA has funded and produced programs that have enriched the lives of countless people and brought a lasting legacy to the community, including:
Gifts & Grants: Cumulative donations of more than $23 million have been made in support of outstanding music and arts programs throughout the community. Gifts & Grants are awarded to non-profit organizations for music education, music therapy, underwriting of concerts, etc., as well as continuance of our longstanding support of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.
Pasadena Showcase House Youth Concert: Begun in 1953, more than 250,000 fourth grade students have attended this annual free concert designed to weave musical concepts into an appealing program that is presented at the Walt Disney Concert Hall by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Pasadena Showcase House Music Mobile™: Created by PSHA in 1971 and now produced in partnership with Pasadena Conservatory of Music, the Music Mobile™ is a hands-on, award-winning program that is presented to third grade students. It provides an introduction to classical music and the opportunity to play a selection of instruments and be part of a simulated orchestra. More than 125,000 students have participated since its inception.
Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition: Since 1984, promising young musicians between the ages of 16-24 have been competing annually for monetary awards in the categories of woodwinds, brass and strings. Nearly $600,000 in prize money has been awarded to assist them in furthering their musical education.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets cost between $35-$50. Includes complimentary off-site parking and a short shuttle service. Open to the public April 21 – May 19, 2019 (house tours are closed on Mondays). For more information, visit www.pasadenashowcase.org.
