The Pasadena Showcase House is a nonprofit organization, showcasing some of the best in interior design for over 80 years. Esther McCoy founded the organization in 1929.
She and her husband saw the impact of architecture on people’s lives while traveling through Europe and Asia after World War I. Wanting to bring the experience home to Southern California residents, she opened her own showroom in order to help inspire others.
“This year’s Showcase House will inspire with contemporary trends highlighted by 32 talented interior and exterior designers.”
What is the Pasadena Showcase House of Design Fundraiser?
The Pasadena Showcase House of Design fundraiser occurs annually event thanks to the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts. The event helps fund music programs as well as gifts and grants to various non-profit entities. Each year the host location opens for tours from mid-April to mid-May.
A different venue is chosen each year for the showcase house. There are no universal criteria, although multiple staircases, ADA access, generous outdoor space and other practicalities all carry weight.
Some years the organizers select grand mansions while other years showcase the charm of smaller homes. No matter the size, every showcase home experiences a full renovation led by top designers featuring the latest trends.
Beneficiaries of the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission
- The Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles (ACCD). ACCD students provide design services for each room in order to showcase their skills and gain work experience as professionals do;
- AIA California Council. AIA California provides architectural advice throughout construction;
- Friends of Modern Art. This nonprofit organization promotes art education through exhibitions, lectures and tours throughout Southern California;
(pictured above) Front entrance outdoor furniture from Terra Outdoor Pasadena. Featured items include Lisbon lounge furniture and Ventura nesting tables
The 2023 Pasadena Showcase House
The 2023 Pasadena Showcase House features a 1933 grand colonial estate with spectacular acreage in a storied neighborhood of Pasadena. Located just a couple of miles down E. California Blvd, from the Terra Outdoor Pasadena showroom, it’s a sight to behold.
Designed by Marston & Maybury, the Stewart House harkens back to the days of gracious architecture and quintessential style. Boasting over 11,000 square feet of living space on two acres of exquisitely manicured grounds, this estate also featured in 1983 as the 19th Pasadena Showcase House of Design. 40 years later, The Pasadena Showcase revisits this stunning property, reintroducing it to a new generation.
The American Colonial estate draws immediate attention with it’s grand circular driveway and expansive lawns. Featured on either side of the immaculate front entrance will be two outdoor lounging spaces, furnished by Terra Outdoor.
Terra Outdoor at the 2023 Showcase!
(pictured above) The Bodega outdoor dining table and Palisades dining chairs
Terra Outdoor Living is thrilled to be partnering with the 2023 Pasadena Showcase House. In collaboration with Pasadena showroom manager John Bolduc, Terra has provided a curated selection of our contemporary outdoor furniture to be featured in the entryway area of the estate.
(pictured above) The Marin rocking chair
History of the Land
Prior to the home’s construction in 1933, the land belonged to Lucky Baldwin’s Rancho Santa Anita and later served as a flourishing orange grove. W.L Stewart, President of the Union Oil Company later gifted the land to his his son Arthur and wife Ruth as a wedding gift.
At $13,000, the original construction cost represented a considerable sum during the Great Depression era. The Stewarts and their two young daughters lived a quiet, country lifestyle at the home for many years. The family even kept a stable and a corral at the back of the property with a horse.
Close to a century later, following detailed improvements and magnificent landscape developments, it’s difficult to envision the estate as the scene of a quiet, country life. This exquisite Showcase House will surprise and delight with the latest lifestyle trends highlighted by our 32 talented interior and exterior designers, including Terra Outdoor.
How to Buy Tickets for the 2023 Pasadena Showcase
Check out this year’s stunning Pasadena Showcase House or make a donation the the Pasadena Showcase for the Arts by choosing from the links below:
- House Tours (April 23 – May 21, 2023): Click Here
- Premier Night Gala (April 21 @ 5:00pm): Click Here
- Make a Donation: Click Here