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 Courtney Thomas to learn more about her creative process in designing the Mudroom for this project.
aspire design and home: How much time did you have to complete this room, start to finish?
Courtney Thomas: COVID notwithstanding, the initial turnaround time for the room was 2 months (End of January to the end of March).
aspire: What was your biggest challenge? Did you have a Eureka moment during the process?
Courtney: The tile layout for the pet bath was perhaps our most challenging. Each tile was handmade and the overall size of each tile varied by as much as 1/4”. That may not seem like much when putting two tiles together but across a whole row of tiles, it adds up. Add to that walls that were not plumb and we had to make some creative choices on finishing edges and corners. My eureka moment came when I realized I could use a bullnose liner we’d ordered to cap the top of the tile where the grout joints got large and uneven. I flipped the bullnose on it’s back to cover the grout line between the wallpaper and the tile and it finished the tile wall beautifully. Another challenge we faced was in considering how to utilize the back base corner cabinet beyond the washer/dryer. I don’t like underutilized spaces. My Eureka moment was when I realized we could reclaim the space for a perfectly sized dog kennel.
aspire: What did you and your team accomplish that you thought would not happen in time?
Courtney: The installation of the cement floor. I fought hard to get the cement tile I loved and with product delays, we weren’t sure it would make our install date. We spent a few sleepless nights hoping it would come in since it needed to get installed before anything else could (cabinets, counters, wallpaper). It showed up just under the wire.
aspire: What was your inspiration for this room?
Courtney: The pet bath. It was one of my first “what-ifs” for our design vision. When I walked into the room, my first thought was “What if that closet wasn’t just a closet? What if it was for bathing animals, hosing down dirty sports gear, filling heavy buckets? What if it’s a pet bath?” I started to envision other pet-friendly and family-friendly ideas and knew this room had a greater purpose than its current bedroom one.
With our mighty mudroom, which is what I began to call it, I wanted to make use of the space, not just as the typical pass-through area that a Pet Bath/Mudroom often is, but as a destination for decluttering our heads and our hands. Giving us the ability to move into the rest of the home physically and mentally lighter. This room invites you in with its warm, French provincial charm, takes your bags from your arms and stands ready to address your most frazzled need.
aspire: Did you step out of your comfort zone for this project, and if so, why?
Courtney: It’s one of my favorite parts of design, stepping outside of comfort zones. It’s where we grow and where our designs discover new potential. We knew the two month timeline would be challenging with product lead times and construction unknowns but deadlines and unexpected setbacks have led to some of our most creative solutions. When looking to replace a first design idea, I often find an answer or product that is even better than the original design called for.
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?
Courtney: We collaborated on decisions that impacted joint walls and flooring but did not collaborate on overall room design. It was just fortuitous that our rooms blended so cohesively.
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?
Courtney: I enjoy the challenge of maximizing the layout in a small space because, in a small space, it’s not just about every square foot mattering. Every square inch counts to its fullest degree. The thrill for me is playing in any space…small or large…figuring out what works best for the physical space but also, and of course, how that supports/impacts, the emotional needs of the clients-how they relate and actually should inter-relate with each other harmoniously.
aspire: Describe the town of Pasadena in one sentence.
Courtney: Historical homes meet California casual lifestyle.
This or That?
aspire: Paint or wallpaper?
Courtney: Wallpaper
aspire: Hardwood or rug?
Courtney: Hardwood
aspire: Beach or Mountains?
Courtney: Beach
aspire: Saturated Color or Black and White?
Courtney: Black and White
aspire: Brunch or Dinner?
Courtney: Dinner
aspire: Midcentury or 18th Century?
Courtney: 18th Century
aspire: Draperies, shades, or nothing?
Courtney: Draperies
aspire: 2001: A Space Odyssey or The English Patient?
Courtney: The English Patient
aspire: Week at the spa or Week of Broadway shows?
Courtney: Week at the Spa
Click Here to view more interviews for the designers of Pasadena Showcase House of Design.
Photography by Peter Valli.
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