A Luxurious Entry Welcomes You Into The Pasadena Showcase House Of Design

Nestled in the park-like grounds of the Santa Anita Oaks neighborhood of Arcadia, California is an historic 1937 Federal-style home—Locke House— designed by architect, Gerard Rae Colcord, known as “Hollywood society’s architect.” The home is modeled after an East Coast country estate.

In 2020, Locke House was chosen to be the Pasadena Showcase House of Design. Now in its 56th year, the venerable showcase is one of the longest-running house and garden tours in the country. The 6,700 square-foot home was reinterpreted by 17 interior designers and four exterior designers and was an opportunity to completely reimagine what the home could be, more than 80 years after it was built.

In our recently released aspire design and home Showhouse Issue, we sat down with Christine Jahan, to learn more about his creative process in designing the entry foyer for this project.

aspire design and home: How much time did you have to complete this room, start to finish?
Christine Jahan: Originally we had from January 20 – March 22, 2020. However, COVID-19 hit, and everything stopped on March 13. In August we resumed construction, moved our items in, and got professional photography for the Virtual Tour. We were all moved out by early September.

aspire: What was your biggest challenge? Did you have a Eureka moment during the process?
Christine: Other than COVID-19, it was the fact that I was in the Entry/Foyer & Main Staircase and everyone had to go thru my space to get to theirs. That meant that I had to wait for everyone else to complete their spaces at each stage so I could continue with my space. It was a challenge, especially during installation, but thankfully no major destruction occurred.

aspire: What did you and your team accomplish that you thought would not happen in time?
Christine: I’m happy to say I never had any concerns about not finishing on time.

aspire: What was your inspiration for this room?
Christine: Natural Class and Love. I am a firm believer that people (and things) are their most beautiful when they show off their natural selves. Love yourself and be happy! I wanted to translate that into my space so that when people walked in they would feel the loving energy and also see a highly luxurious space with natural class.

aspire: Did you step out of your comfort zone for this project, and if so, why?
Christine: I totally did. In August, which was when installation happened, I was nine months pregnant (high risk for COVID-19) and on bed rest in the middle of the pandemic. I’m kind of hardcore so I decided the show had to go on! My awesome family and amazing trades stepped in to help me finish my space while I directed, seated, from the back of an SUV. I’m sure that will never happen again, but it definitely took me out of my comfort zone. Haha!

aspire: Despite the fact that there were so many designers involved, there is an inherent cohesiveness to the home. Did you all converse/collaborate? Or was this a completely individual process?
Christine: Our Showcase has a consultant designer every year and part of their job is to keep an eye on all of our designs and make sure they are cohesive. Personally, I made sure to keep tabs on my neighbor’s designs so I could ensure the transition from my space integrated well with theirs.

aspire: Is your preference for a showhouse a small space or a large space? Does one or the other provide a better opportunity to stretch your creativity?
Christine: There are benefits to both. I don’t prefer one over the other.

aspire: Describe the town of Pasadena in one sentence.
Christine: A diverse city with a future full of many exciting possibilities.

This or that:

aspire: Paint or wallpaper?
Christine: Wallpaper. The different types of texture possible these days does it for me.
aspire: Hardwood or rug?
Christine: Hardwood. But I love rugs, too.
aspire: Beach or Mountains?
Christine: Mountains. Winter or summer!
aspire: Saturated Color or Black and White?
Christine: Saturated Color
aspire: Brunch or Dinner?
Christine: Brunch. You can spend the day walking it all off after you eat haha!
aspire: Midcentury or 18th Century?
Christine: 18th Century
aspire: Draperies, shades, or nothing?
Christine: Shades…with drapery on some occasions…or just smart glass. I love them all!
aspire: 2001: A Space Odyssey or The English Patient?
Christine: The English Patient
aspire: Week at the spa or Week of Broadway shows?
Christine: Week at the spa, unless magically only my favorite Broadway shows are showing.

Aspire Design and Home Magazine featured the interior design work of Christine Jahan Designs and interviewed her to get some inside information on what it is like to do a Showcase House.

If your home needs this level of care and attention, contact Christine Jahan Designs. Christine Jahan is an interior designer based in Los Angeles that transforms spaces to achieve the current style needs of her customers.