Come See the Show!
I have a limited number of complimentary golden Tickets – email me @
Pam@pamelasandalldesign.com
to get your ticket!
It’s another exciting year for us at Pamela Sandall Designs as we have decided to again participate in the Pasadena Showcase House 2022. Our last attempt in 2020 was derailed by the pandemic, so this year’s project has been doubly hopeful. We have loved working with the Pasadena Showcase 2022 Team. They are committed to their cause of servicing the Arts & Music community. We also have enjoyed all the talented designers that are donating their services to the show along side us. We are having a blast!
Before we began our work on our 2022 Pasadena Showcase House project, we wanted to understand the history of the 1904 Tudor Oaklawn Manor and we did our research.
We learned about the garden parties, the debutante coming out balls, elaborate English furnishings auctions in the 1930s and 1940s, a tale of terror when the then homeowners were delayed by “trigger happy young soldiers in Red controlled East Germany”, the rascal college sons who were nabbed on stolen tire charges, and the sad passing of some of the long time inhabitants.
These stories gave us an appreciation for all the lives the house has sheltered and it was a great place to begin.
From the The Pasadena Post, 11 September 1941 – Read More of our Factoids on our Pinterest Page
With this informed sensibility and the bracing realization that our space connects 10 different spaces in the home which have 10 different design aesthetics and 10 separate functions- we had our hands full. We also needed to get buy-in from the Showcase Team and a thumbs up from a very sophisticated homeowner with a singular focus.
It was our objective to bring light and modernity to the space for the contemporary owner whose timeless style and appreciation for art in all mediums was a wonderful contribution. Not only did the foyer have to be beautiful on its own merit, but it also had to flow elegantly into each new space, transitioning easily without a sense of jarring or confusion.
To give you an idea of where we began, you can watch Pamela’s initial walk-through video here.
Even in its original state, the wood-paneled entry to Oaklawn Manor, including the Grand Staircase, makes a dramatic first impression to Showcase visitors.
The stained glass windows, with their vibrant medieval scenes of knight, castle, and dragon, are original to the house and were recently restored to their original glory. We were told that the coat of armor at the top of the stairs is French Dress Plate Armor from the mid 1400s. People were smaller then and the knight who wore it was likely about 5’4” tall. We decided to name him G after the figure of St. George who appears in the stained glass.
The closet at the top of the stairs seemed like the perfect place for our boy G to hang out during the show! We created a space to showcase him with splashy red wallpaper and moody modern lighting. Visitors get a fun surprise as the round the top of the stairs! St. George is there to defend the gallery from any unwelcome visitors and reminds us that chivalry is alive and well in South Pasadena..
The stained glass windows are dear to the homeowner and felt that they were an integral part of the home’s story. We needed to include the windows in our design in a way that felt like they could live in a 2022 Showcase Home, and not feel stuck in an earlier century or feel like a gaudy anachronism.
We have a reputation at Pamela Sandall Design for being problem solvers, so this design project was right in our wheelhouse. We honored the existing architectural features by treating the entire space, including the second floor gallery, to a modern and sophisticated neutral palette of black, white and gold then added a few red accents to include the windows in the look. The color choices make a fresh statement for today, but they also work in harmony with the overall color palate in the stained glass.
After color choices, we begin, as we often do, by choosing light fixtures and we let them set the tone of the space.
For the chandelier on the high ceiling in front of the windows, we needed a vertical fixture that wouldn’t obscure the windows but would add necessary light and interest to the space. We loved the curve of the fixture (see below) and how it repeated the staircase curve. The gold brought sparkle and brightness to the room and made the space feel more current.
The gold is repeated in the sconces, pillows, and other furnishings in our space. Choosing one dominant metal establishes continuity throughout the space and brings much needed warmth to the foyer and gallery once the natural wood is painted a cool white.
We knew that lighting was key to bringing this home into the 21st century, and the entire foyer received almost a dozen new light fixtures to cast away shadows and let the space sparkle.
We created a powerful statement by using a stunning oversized black lacquer table which greets you as you enter from outside. A giant sunburst on the tabletop repeats the gold of the light fixture above it and custom seating nearby encourages homeowners to lay down the troubles of the outside world and exhale into the relief of being home.
Painting the walls white gave us a fresh canvas. The texture of the paneling, the low ceiling near the door, and the curve of the staircase gave us enough interest while the white allowed for a smooth transition between rooms. We added beautiful gold-flecked cork wallpaper to the insets of the low ceiling and these vertical lines draw you further into the space. We love how the gold on our light fixtures creates reflection and brings brightness throughout.
Upstairs, in the gallery, original art is displayed to encourage the narrative of the consummate collector displaying his cherished collection. Luxurious fabrics were used judiciously to soften the space, add texture and warmth, and to balance the coolness of so much open space.
We valued the opportunity to design a space that is the hub to every other room in the home. It was a bonus to be able to communicate visions amongst our fellow designers, the Showcase staff, and the esteemed homeowner, in order to bring this showcase to life.
Special thanks to all our resources that supported us and made this possible! Visit our resource page to check them out!
This House and Mainly our Foyer and stairs, are Hollywood Stars!
The TV Series – current Now – feature the showcase house as the primary focus of the Starz Show “Shining Vale”
