When this homeowner bought her Craftsman bungalow in Pasadena, California, it was stripped of a lot of its charms by bad renovations. She and her boyfriend at the time worked on the home constantly, but they went a bit overboard on Craftsman style. After she split from the renovation-helping Craftsman-inclined boyfriend, the home seemed just too dim and clunky to the homeowner and her own son. “The home had a lot of heavy Stickley furniture, an extremely large leather sofa and was dim; it was not comfortable for her,” says interior designer and best friend Angela Dechard. Dechard lightened it up by blending Craftsman, Japanese and ’60s-mod styles to suit her friend’s tastes.
at a Glance
Who lives here: A household of 3 (the homeowner has since married)
Location: Pasadena, California
Size: 2,500 square feet plus a pool house and studio
Angela Dechard Design
Dechard and the proprietor began on the master bathroom and worked their way around the home, adding a little den, a walk-in closet and a cabinet and enlarging a bedroom. They moved to the lawn and into the outbuildings, such as a pool home and studio. The whole process has been ongoing for many years, and the residence has become just the correct match for the proprietor, her new husband and her son.
From the home’s one living area, and the den, an oversized leather sofa went out and a fresh cushy sectional with mixed upholstery came in. Striped Missoni cloth adds ’60s-mod style; the restored wood trim and mantel highlight the first Craftsman style. Roman shades in chocolate-brown berry improve the windows without overwhelming the room.
New lighting also can help brighten the room, such as recessed lights and a pendant light with a color made of Spanish horsehair.
Sofas: Roche Bobois
Angela Dechard Design
Dechard removed a wall between the dining area and the kitchen to open things up. “The backsplash includes a Mondrian impact,” she says.
The mix of woods on the breakfast bar brings in more mod style. A wine refrigerator and drawers have been tucked on the other side. The oak cabinets were there, and reusing them stored a lot of cash. Dechard had them sandblasted and additional translucent panels to the doors to lighten up them.
Counters: Caesarstone; backsplash tile: Mission Tile West
Angela Dechard Design
The previous owners had remodeled the guest bathroom with generic big-box-store cabinets and fixtures. Dechard sourced unique cabinets and a sink from Duravit. The cupboards’ combined panels bring from the ’60 mod and plenty of storage, with built-in towel bars attached.
All of the tiles are glass, including the green mosaic shower tiles you can view in the mirror’s reflection.
Incidentally, that cutie taking a rest is Dechard’s dog, Chica.
Sconces: Shy Up Duo, glass tiles: Mission Tile West
Angela Dechard Design
Dechard turned out a large, heavy Craftsman-style mattress with this platform bed that she tradition designed herself, along with both little nightstands. She also custom designed the Japanese-inspired dresser.
A yellowish accent wall pops up the space, while fresh recessed lights decorate it. Hanging pendant lights by Alison Berger save nightstand space.
Angela Dechard Design
The dresser’s design incorporates a floating bookcase. Dechard worked with cabinetmaker David Barahona of Three D Cabinetry throughout the house and cannot say enough good things about his skills. “He had a lot of helpful thoughts, and he taught me a ton,” she enthuses. Her designs and his carpentry surely carry on the Craftsman philosophy.
Angela Dechard Design
A shoji-style doorway brings Japanese style to the master bedroom plus closet. Cherry Tree Design crafted it out of solid walnut and coated rice paper. The identical company also crafted the gorgeous pendant lighting from the closet.
A Noguchi flooring lamp and Saarinen Womb Chair bring in Japanese and ’60s-mod style.
Angela Dechard Design
Dechard had the cabinetmakers craft a his-and-her dresser in the middle of the walk-in closet. She made it at counter height since her friend and client did not want laundry to wind up stacked or strewn across the top.
Lantern: Cherry Tree Design
Angela Dechard Design
The top of the two-sided dresser is throw rock. Dechard had the cabinetmakers make these tiny carvings for collecting jewelry and other little bits and pieces.
Angela Dechard Design
The master bathroom indicates the most Japanese influence; it’s relaxing and spa-like. A bluestone counter comes with a blue-green cast. The countertop’s delicate brown veining picks up on the zebrawood cabinets.
The mirrors are hinged and have close-up makeup mirrors onto the backs (that is, indoors). A porcelain pendant light picks up on the vessel sink.
Pendant light: Oh China 7 Up Suspension Lamp, Tobias Grau; Italian mirrors: Ann Sacks; vanity: habit, Three D Cabinetry
Angela Dechard Design
A teak shower seat brings warmth into the steam shower and ties in with the timber vanity. Dechard splurged on the handmade mosaic tile out of Ann Sacks. Using this as a banding accent and using a less expensive tile for the rest of the shower produced a big design impact when saving money. A floating rock shelf keeps soap and pulp within easy access.
Angela Dechard Design
Dechard also made the pool. The pool surround is sandstone.
Angela Dechard Design
There’s a large ledge on the left side of the pool for sitting a charm in the water. The construction behind the pool would be the studio.
Angela Dechard Design
The swimming pool bathroom is accessible from the pool house and straight from the outside. Dechard took her inspiration from Morocco for this.
The salvaged doorway, ironwork above it, pendant lighting, mirror and tile edge are Moroccan. The market has weathered teacups with candles in them and also includes a Moroccan grate in it. The brass sink is habit.
Angela Dechard Design
The homeowner is a photographer’s rep and runs her business from this detached studio construction, which she shares with four employees.
Angela Dechard Design
The studio is crafted out of a former two-car garage with an addition.
A perk for Dechard for designing this stylish and comfortable bungalow for her best friend? Visiting. When I interviewed her, she was airport in Portland, Oregon, on her way to Pasadena to enjoy any Memorial Day weekend fun with her friend.