The
Craven’s Estate was selected to become The
2010 Pasadena Showcase House of
Design. A fundraiser called an
“Empty House” party was held to celebrate and allow the public to view the house
in its current condition and to raise money towards the transformation. It was an amazing party where guests
strolled through the mansion meeting with and speaking to the chosen designers
while enjoying wonderful drinks and delicious food spread across various rooms.
Dessert Bar
Another Bedroom
Entry Hall
Living Green
The
idea of a Pasadena Showcase House of Design developed in 1965 and the committee
became known as the
Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts committee. With hard
work from the committee, community support and enthusiasm - more than $11,000
was raised the first year. Admission to the first Showcase House was $1.50,
which included coffee and cookies, and approximately 7,500 visitors attended.
Parking was in the neighborhood and, in some cases, on neighbors' lawns. Today tickets range from $30 - $40 and
approximately 40,000 visitors are shuttled from a nearby location.
Delicious Cheese & Pate Bar
One of the Designers and His Assistant
This
year the nearly 20,000-square-foot Craven’s Estate, on what was once
Pasadena's
Millionaire's Row was chosen to be the Showcase House of Design. The Craven’s Estate, built in 1929
& 1930 was headquarters to the San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter of the
American
Red Cross who is collaborating with the PSHA on the endeavor.
Plans For One of The Rooms
The Grand Staircase
Shoe Closet
Piano Music
Twenty-six
interior designers and seven exterior designers will work with a team of
experts in historic architecture and preservation to renew and create the
Design Showcase House which will be open for viewing from April 18 to May 16, and
tickets are currently available.
Plans for Another Room
Guests Enjoying the Evening
A Beautiful Chair
Benefit
chair
Beverly Marksbury said in a statement:
"...
While we're taking the greatest care to respect the estate's past, our
designers will also make use of cutting edge design technology, trends and
creativity," she said.
Lovely Details
A Bedroom
Famous
San Francisco architect
Lewis P. Hobart designed the French chateau mansion for
John and Mildred Cravens. The Grand
Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte in France. Inspired the design.
Designer of My Favorite Room
A Large Light Fixture
“What’s
interesting is that Mildred Cravens was a Board member of the American Red
Cross," Beverly Marksbury said. "She held many meetings at the estate
and, then, as it turned out, the house was sold by its current owner, Simon
Zervos, to the Red Cross in 1964. But here's what we didn't know until very
recently: The
Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte (in France) served as a Red Cross
headquarters during World War I and II."
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