Sometimes it’s a celebrity home because a star lived there, and sometimes the house itself is the celebrity. Such is the case with the Pasadena Showcase House of Design 2015, or of any other year, really. This is the Grande Dame of all design home events, and this year’s, an English Tudor with Craftsman influences, does not disappoint.

If the home looks slightly familiar to you, that’s because it was used before, 22 years prior. Designers have re-visited, but not completely re-built, the home which was originally constructed in 1910. With a 9,400 square foot main residence and a 2,600 square foot Carriage House that could serve as a complete independent residence, the clever designers and landscapers had plenty to work with, coming up with all sorts of amazing new ways to inspire and impress.

In the company of my fabulous and intrepid photographer Vanessa Guidon, I was able to tour the home and grounds and meet many of the designers. Their creativity and resourcefulness, as always, overwhelmed us. If you would like to check it out for yourself, and I would highly advise it, you have until May 17. Tickets cost between $35-$45, and can be ordered by mail, online at PasadenaShowcase.org or by calling 714-442-3872. Really, if you only attend one design event a year in Los Angeles, this should be it.

And if you can’t make it out to Pasadena, I’ve shared a few of the highlights of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design 2015 below.

Don’t ask me why, but I’m always most eager to see the kitchen in any design home. Every year there is at least one aspect that of it that I totally love and crave. This year it was the Artisan-made hanging lanterns from Viki Temesvary of Anne Steiner, and the flooring that has the appearance of hardwood, but is actually porcelain tile, providing for excellent durability and easy maintenance. Samantha Williams and Cinthia Lambakis of Ederra Design Studio worked wonders on what was previously a flowery country kitchen.

Oh yes, the the amazing Jenn-Air refrigerator with the black, yes black, interior, is the hottest new thing in appliances right now. I’ve always been a SubZero girl, myself, but this could change my way of thinking. Love the way they staged the fridge.

The first room you see when you enter the main house is an absolute showstopper. There’s an emerald tile fireplace in this grand entry, designed by Ana Maria Martinez-Stumpo of Pacific Hospitality Design. She added touches of fuchsia, Frida Kahlo, leopard print and snakeskin to the room’s Craftsman bones to give it a colorful, updated feel.

The dining room, right off the entryway, had lovely built-in Honduran mahogany cabinetry that was wisely left in place and enhanced by Jerome Thiebault of JTID, Inc. Plaster motifs on the walls were uncovered and restored. Note the interesting, modern chandelier and table that fit right into this historic room.

On the other side of the entry hall is a lavish “Grand Salon,” which Dona Dockendorf, Brenda Jacquez and Cheryl Santoro of Tocco Finale went all out on. Inspired by both France and the Orient, they used the unusual color of tourmaline, accented with sable, gold and cream. Silk, velvet and rock crystal abound. There are two distinct seating areas, making this large room feel quite cozy.

Right off the Grand Salon is another of my favorite rooms in these houses, because the home office is where I can best picture myself spending the most time. This one was elegantly designed by Casey Mason and Ruben Marquez of Jennifer Bevan Interiors, and is known as The Library, but you say potato… If it has a desk in it, I’d work there. Anyway, I love the mix of mid-century modern lighting with Greek key wall panels, and the coordination of blue and neutral tones.

Upstairs, the master bathroom was lovely, although not my preferred style. Antiques everywhere, including a 100 year old fireplace, paid homage to the original style of the house. I did appreciate the art deco rug, however, as well as the clever way they reconfigured the previous bathroom, closets and sun porch to accommodate modern day spacial needs. Joshua Cain, Jeff Goldbold and Jorge Ochoa of Saxony Design Build did the honors.

The Master Suite Bathroom was also interesting, with its blend of old and new design elements. It was formerly the under-used, window-filled sunroom, and now contains a free-standing soaking tub, pedestal sinks, an over-sized shower, stone flooring, handmade wall tiles and an abundance of cabinetry for storage.

Speaking of bathrooms, this powder room off the hallway is really something special. Fayley Patrice of Complete Interior Design accurately describes it as “Vintage 1900s Light/Shadow revisited with New Millennium Artistry.” What more can I say about it? Check out the sink, the mirror, and the lighting.

And of course I love the Writer’s Room, by Robert Frank of Robert Frank Design. How could I not? Frank was inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s oceanside villa, and custom designed the day bed, nestled in between shelving and a window. This could serve as a home office or a guest room–it’s definitely the room I’d pick when staying here.

And last but not least, what Young Man’s Suite would be complete without rock and roll wall art and a side table made out of a paper cutter? Nancy Del Santo and Don Boline of Concept Builders put this room together, with a very clever bed you really have to see to believe. Fabulous use of space!

As always, proceeds from the Pasadena Showcase House of Design benefits the arts in the area, over the years providing the opportunity for more than 350,000 young people to discover, enjoy and study music. The Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts has made a cumulative donation of over $20 million to various non-profit organizations.