So where does a Stickley salesperson go when visiting southern California? Why Pasadena, of course.
Last month I had the opportunity to visit Pasadena’s Bungalow Heaven Landmark District. It gained its name because of the great number and rich variety of early 20th Century homes that still exist there. The neighborhood is anchored by the Gamble House, and includes other significant Art & Crafts houses designed by Greene & Greene and other architects of the day (including the Millard House by Frank Lloyd Wright).
Stickley was inspired by the Asian-influenced designs of master architects and furniture designers Greene & Greene to create the Pasadena Bungalow Collection of furniture. It’s my favorite Stickley collection. The Greenes believed in a totally designed environment, encompassing the home, its site, and its furnishings; they incorporated Craftsman style, Art Nouveau, and Asian influences from the Pacific Rim into their designs. Smooth, rounded edges, elaborately pegged joints, and intricate inlay were hallmarks of Greene & Greene furniture and are exquisite features on the pieces of the Stickley Pasadena Collection today.
