Editor's Note
By Irene Lacher 04/01/2010
With a deep bow to classic décor, we still delight in the fact that many aspects of home design just keep getting better and better. The rise of such retail temples as Pottery Barn and Target during the late 20th century brought a vast increase in good design that’s accessible and affordable.
At the dawn of this millennium, you’re seeing more and more fabulous spaces for outdoor living. That trend that couldn’t be more at home anywhere than it is in mild Southern California, the notch on the Sun Belt least reliant on air-conditioning for comfort. Since we can spend the entire year outdoors, why not do it in luxury as well?
After all, who wouldn’t want to entertain guests in a sculptural poolside pavilion with disappearing walls and a stunning panoramic view? In this issue, Pasadena architect Stephen Hans Nuetzel takes B.J. Lorenzo on a tour of just such a fabulous space, commissioned by fortunate homeowners Linda and Rick McKnight.
Vanessa Kogevinas speaks to Studio City designer and outdoor room enthusiast Karen Tandy, who recently unveiled an elegant Glendale arbor that provides protection against an overabundance of sun for her clients and their guests.
For the 2010 Pasadena Showcase House of Design, which opens to the public on April 18, five design firms reimagined the outdoor spaces at the Cravens Estate, which gets this year’s extreme makeover. Kogevinas speaks to all of them about their tips for creating great outdoor rooms and discovers how Jan Ledgard designed an outdoor kitchen that is as kind to Mother Nature as it is beholden to her for ambience. And Karen Apostolina scours stores and websites for ideas about colorful and sustainable accessories for your outdoor space.
On the public space front, Morris Newman examines a high-profile project designed by Pasadena’s Gonzalez Goodale Architects — the new Robert F. Kennedy public school complex built on the site of L.A.’s storied old Ambassador Hotel.
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