Holiday Look In Tour Survives Rain and Power Outage

Saturday’s rain did not deter the 1,500 home tour enthusiasts from exploring four Pasadena homes decorated by floral designers for the holidays for the 46th annual Holiday Look In Home Tour. The tour continued Sunday under sunnier skies.

The Women’s Committee of The Pasadena Symphony Association showcased four residences including a 1926 French Gothic revival house and a 1914 modified colonial-style home decorated for the holiday season by renowned floral designers Drew Domenghini, Mary Falkingham, Jacob Maarse and Ixora.

“Despite the rain and the power failure, the lines at the houses have been longer than they have ever been. People have been patient. We were shocked at how long the lines were,” Event chair Gerry Jackson said. “The turnout for the boutique has been phenomenal.”

A power outage on the two homes on Oak did not stop tourees from enjoying the floral arrangements inside the homes.

Marlene Konnar has been helping with the Look In Home Tours for several years and currently serves as a member of the Women’s Committee of The Pasadena Symphony Association. She looks forward to the tradition each year.

“It’s at the beginning of December and it’s an opportunity to usher in the Christmas Holidays; the light, the camaraderie, the gathering of good souls, and the celebration of the end of the year and the coming of a new one,” Konnar said.

In one of the homes the Occasional Consort sang carols for the onlookers.

Among the featured homes is the Cordova Residence, a 1926 French Gothic Revival residence once featured in Architectural Digest. It has a Cotswold stone construction, Gothic columns and pointed window frames lend a medieval touch to this remodeled and restored architectural masterpiece. It also houses a salt-water swimming pool, spa and fountain jets surrounded by a stone-walled garden.

The Montoya Residence, meanwhile, is a 1928 estate with Spanish Colonial influences is an “architecturally significant home for the city of San Marino Centennial Celebration in 2013.” Recently restored to 1920 grandeur, the home’s exquisite original features are enhanced by an intriguing blend of traditional and Asian style in décor. The lush garden with swimming pool and spa serves as well for entertaining as for solitude.

The Saeta Home is a 1915 Colonial Revival style home designed as a wedding gift is being considered for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources. Restoration efforts have retained the turn of the century design. A carriage house has been transformed into an art studio for the homeowner whose canvas paintings are displayed throughout the home.

Finally, the Sauer Residence is a stately Modified Colonial style home built in 1914 for lumberyard owners who finish it with beautiful woods. Purchased in 1922 by Charles H. Barker of the Barker Brothers furniture company, the property later became the parsonage for the Oneonta Congregational Church. The home is furnished with exquisite antiques and art, and is surrounded by an enchanting garden.

The committee has also organized the 2013 Home Tour Boutique with an all new wall of wine raffle including 54 bottles of wine. Proceeds from the home tour and the boutique selling will be used to support the Pasadena Symphony’s annual concert series as well as many educational outreach and community engagement programs throughout southern California.

The Women’s Committee was able to donate $100,000 in proceeds from its 2012 Holiday Look In home tour to its beneficiaries.

The Women’s Committee of The Pasadena Symphony Association is a group of volunteers who celebrate and support the musicians of the Pasadena Symphony Association through the annual Holiday Look In. Over the past 45 years the Women’s Committee has donated over $3 million to the Pasadena Symphony Association.

or more information, visit http://www.pasadenaholidaylookin.org.

The power was out for two of the homes for most of the day.