We were excited to participate in the 2014 Pasadena Showcase House of Design, especially since 2014 marked the Showcase House’s 50th anniversary. Our task was to redesign the original poolside changing rooms, which were dark, musty and filled with dust and cobwebs from years of sitting unused and neglected. The interior and exterior batten and board paneling was severely damaged by water and pests. And both changing rooms, which each measured about 75 square feet, were a cramped conglomeration of a 24” wide shower, tiny water closet with small pedestal sink and a changing room with concrete flooring and wall pegs to hold towels and clothing.

Our goal in taking on the project was to transform these dark and neglected spaces into bright functional spaces that had a consistency with the architectural style of the 1915 home. Being outdoor changing rooms, we did not want to over design the spaces. Although both rooms were small in size, careful attention was given to the smallest of details, making both spaces very special. In keeping with the architectural style of the main house, tall white wainscoting was installed in each space complimented with crisp white walls in one changing room and putty-colored walls in the other. Both spaces featured a beadboard ceiling with a simple crown molding.

We wanted to highlight the indoor-outdoor connection while redesigning the floor plans to open up the rooms and make them feel as spacious as possible. We reconfigured the spaces to allow for a larger vanity area in each changing room. Rather than having a shower and WC in each space, we installed a generously-sized WC in one of the changing rooms and an oversized shower in the other. The floors featured a Walker Zanger tile mosaic from their Shift Collection, which we thought was an excellent choice in that it was slip-resistant, provided an excellent indoor-outdoor connection, and, most importantly, felt great on bare feet as guests used the changing rooms.