Wednesday, May 22, 2013

#pasadena modern tour: tyler house, 1958

As advertised last Saturday, I went on the most AWESOME Modern Home Tour in Pasadena, CA put on by Pasadena Heritage. It's awesomeness kind of caught me off guard. When I think of Pasadena, I think of Green and Green, Bungalow Heaven, and Frank Lloyd Wright. I do not think mid-century modern.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder
Do you get the touch of craftsman and the modern in the address marker street light?
Colors are modern, shapes are really Frank Lloyd Wright.

I was so wrong. The houses were fabulous . . . oh so modern, but with a touch of craftsman. My first architectural love was craftsman (as judging by our misplaced kitchen), so I was all in. Our first home, The Tyler House, is a true blend for sure.

But first, a confession. It is with some reluctance that I have started writing the posts about these six houses. I have dragged my feet because this tour was my first unadulterated photography disaster. Basically, I drove for over an hour to Pasadena, spent five wonderful hours photographing six gorgeous homes, drove an hour back, popped the memory card into the computer to view the fabulous photos and voila! I backed away from the screen in horror. Many of my 567 pictures (yes 567 pictures, nearly 100 per house which is typical), were kind of blurry and out of focus. I grabbed my camera. AHHHHHHHHHHH. The super expensive wide-angle lens, perfect for photographing interiors, was set to manual and not auto-focus. BOO. And disappointing. I will never take 567 photos again without double checking quality and settings every 40 photos. EVER AGAIN.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder
See the kind of blurry sign? Normally my pictures are crisp and clear.
I have had to do some serious post-production work on these pictures to salvage the situation. Looking through these posts, you will notice poor picture quality, weird filters and a lack of close ups of furniture, glass, and art (my personal passion and specialty). Just humor me.

Here we go. Ya get what ya get.

First the house. She's a pretty little girl. Asian inspired for sure. Classic post and beam construction, and big bold fifties outdoor lights. Love those lights.

Tyler House, 1958, Photo by Dennis Hill, Pasadena, CA
Tyler House, 1958, Photo by Dennis Hill

From the Heritage tour brochure:
This house was designed and built by Ted Tyler as his own home, and because of that is highly customized, reflecting a great attention to detail. Constructed on a hillside site called "unbuildable" by other contractors, the house features a dramatic roof-line that folds over its diagonal beams, a light and expansive interior, bands of windows, some floor-to-ceiling, connecting the rooms and exterior spaces. 

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


This home has some truly magnificent bones. The builder and owner of the home, Ted Tyler, was not a professional architect, but clearly loved the modern aesthetic, borrowing fairly heavily from the craftsman influences that abounded in Pasadena.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


 Perfect front entry way.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


Well lit, but extremely private master bedroom.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


Again, the modern light fixtures. The docent mentioned that the imported light fixtures have remain untouched since 1958.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


I just couldn't get enough of the post and beam construction with the deep overhangs.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


The home features many charming little built-in corners and custom touches driven by the owner's considerable skillset and access to resources and materials.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


 Again, check out the light fixtures. And the brutalist chest this TV is sitting on is truly a collectible.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder

The docent mentioned that this is a Scandinavian fireplace. Looks a lot like a Preway, which I covet for our patio.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


The dining set was custom built to expand to a much larger size for entertaining, and to then fold down and tuck under the bar, to clear the floor for dancing. Apparently the Tyler's loved to dance.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


You get this awesome view by being a builder who can construct on an "unbuildable" hill. Take that.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


Out on the patio, you realize how akin this home is to a tree house. Very private.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


The view at night has to be magnificent.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


I told you, I am obsessed with the big white ball lights.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


Another impressive vintage fixture.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


 The family room area with custom shelves over the tops of the built-in sofas. And another fantastic vintage fixture.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


The kitchen is so typical. The appliances are new but the cabinets are totally original.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


Thank heavens no one ever painted these lovely cabinets..

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


 Loved the yellow front door!

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


Large custom room divider separates the hall from the living room and provides much needed storage in this open and airy tree house. The room divider has an awesome collection of mid-century modern glass and pottery on top of it. Super blurry photos. Use your imagination.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


A cool little tiki bar. Much of the home had tiki inspired 50's decor. Cool.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


This AWESOME brutalist china cabinet is filled top to bottom with tiki mugs and glasses. What a fantastic collection!

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


A true example of outdoors in. The entry way patio transitions into the interior hallway.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder


 Here is a real view of the tree house. It is clearly perched cheerily on the side of a hill.

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder

Tyler House, 1958, Pasadena, CA, Ted Tyler Builder

More posts from the Pasadena Heritage Modern tour to come over the next week or so. This tour had a little something for everyone. I promise!

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13 comments:

  1. Always enjoy your blogs and your sense of humor

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    1. Thank you very much. This house was such a treasure.

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  2. That is one amazing house!!! I love everything about it...but I'm especially lusting after those ceilings. It also inspired me to have some cracks repaired on my patio. I have the same kind...river rock embedded in concrete...that I'm pretty sure was original to my house when it was built in 1950. We were about to have it covered over with a deck, but seeing how cool that one looks, I've changed my mind now. I'll be looking for a good concrete guy right away.

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    1. The river rock embedded in the concrete flowing from the exterior walkway into the interior was such a nice effect. It had to be endemic to the time. You really don't see much of that now-a-days.

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  3. I'm with Dana... those ceilings are AMAZING! Love the shot of the bedroom. It's so cozy and private but so much light peeks in through the windows at the top. LOVE IT!
    I have that exact door mat at my front and side doors. It's IKEA! Really great house.... loved the eye candy this morning. :-)

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    1. That is a lovely square Ikea mat! And, thanks!

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  4. Great post! Long time lurker-first time posting a thanks! Looking forward to seeing the other homes from the tour!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by AND commenting. This is a modern safe blog. If you have a passion for modern, your secret is safe here.

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  5. I could write a whole post about your post. I loved that house. Loved everything. My favorite is the fireplace. I want one for my patio. Also loved the big outdoor fixtures. And the library. And the rug in the living room. I could go on forever. SO PERFECT.
    Keep them coming.

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    1. A post about my post! haha. I do love this house and you know I am after that fireplace in a big way for our patio.

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  6. Very nice--love the site on the side of a hill, or is it one of Pasadena's arroyos? Another detail I liked was the outdoor-in pebble floor surface.

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    1. I think this house sits sort of at the top of an arroyo. I drove down under the large bridge by the Rose Bowl area and then drove up a hill. Then climbed up a hill to get to this house.

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  7. Hi Rebecca, Thanks for the amazing house tours! The Tylor house is my favorite, love all the wooden surfaces of the interior and the tiki paired with modernism!

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