2027 Pasadena Showcase House of Design: The Historic Winchell Estate in San Marino
The 2027 Pasadena Showcase House of Design returns to San Marino, California, featuring the historic Winchell Estate from April 18 through May 23, 2027.
In this post, Jason Bergman, often considered the best real estate agent in San Marino explores the Winchell’s Estate's history, its celebrated architects, the 62 year Showcase House tradition, previous Showcase properties, and the San Marino real estate market.
For the first time since 2009, the Pasadena Showcase House of Design will return to San Marino, opening the gates of a private five acre estate that has remained largely unseen by the public for approximately 50 years.
Designed in 1940 by architect Roland E. Coate, the Winchell Estate is a 16,000 square foot Colonial Revival residence with four guest cottages, extraordinary gardens, and a history connected to some of Southern California's most influential families.
The 2027 event will bring together interior designers, landscape architects, historic preservation enthusiasts, and visitors from throughout Southern California to experience one of San Marino's most significant private properties.
The Winchell Estate: A Historic San Marino Landmark
The Winchell Estate is an exceptional example of the grand residential architecture that established San Marino as one of Southern California's most prestigious communities.
Completed in 1940, the residence reflects the Colonial Revival tradition, emphasizing architectural symmetry, formal entertaining spaces, carefully proportioned rooms, and a strong relationship between the house and its surrounding landscape.
Among the home's notable architectural features are a grand entrance foyer with an imported European castle staircase, a wood paneled library, a sunlit solarium, a private screening room, a residential elevator, and an approximately 1,100 square foot entertainment room and bar.
Four guest cottages complement the main residence, creating an estate designed for entertaining, extended visits, and privacy.
The grounds extend across approximately five acres, with formal gardens, sweeping lawns, mature oak trees, a sculpture garden, and a swimming pool.
What distinguishes this property is not simply its size. The estate brings together architecture, landscape design, and a history of private ownership that spans generations.
The History of the Winchell Estate and Its Owners
The land associated with the Winchell Estate traces its history to Henry Huntington's original San Marino Ranch, part of the extensive holdings that influenced the development of San Marino.
Henry E. Huntington, the railroad and real estate entrepreneur whose legacy includes The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, played an important role in shaping the community's residential character.
During the early twentieth century, San Marino attracted prominent business leaders and families who commissioned substantial residences on large parcels of land.
The Winchell Estate emerged from this period of residential development.
Among its distinguished former owners were Ralph M. Parsons, the engineering and construction executive, and his wife Kathryn Crawford, a former actress who later became an accomplished interior designer.
Parsons established an internationally recognized engineering enterprise, while Crawford's interest in design reflected the artistic and architectural culture associated with Southern California's grand estates.
The Winchell family subsequently maintained the property for approximately five decades, preserving its privacy and architectural character.
The estate's selection for the 2027 Pasadena Showcase House of Design offers a rare opportunity to experience a property that has remained outside the public eye for much of its history.
Roland E. Coate and the Architecture of San Marino
Architect Roland E. Coate was among the influential residential architects working in Southern California during the early and middle twentieth century.
His career included distinguished residences in Pasadena, San Marino, Beverly Hills, and other established Los Angeles communities.
Coate worked across several architectural traditions, including Spanish Colonial Revival and Colonial Revival, adapting historical design principles to Southern California's climate and residential lifestyles.
The Winchell Estate illustrates the formal elegance of Colonial Revival architecture, particularly in its grand interior spaces and its relationship to the surrounding gardens.
For owners and buyers of historic properties, the architect's identity can be an important part of a home's story. Original plans, architectural details, craftsmanship, and the relationship between the residence and its site all contribute to understanding a property's significance.
Florence Yoch and Lucile Council: The Landscape Architects Behind the Gardens
The original gardens of the Winchell Estate were designed by Florence Yoch and Lucile Council, two important figures in Southern California landscape architecture.
Yoch developed a distinguished career designing residential gardens and landscapes, while her professional partnership with Council produced gardens known for their sophisticated planting arrangements and architectural relationships.
Their work reflected the idea that a home's grounds should function as an extension of its architecture.
At the Winchell Estate, formal terraces, expansive lawns, mature trees, and garden spaces help create a progression from the residence to the surrounding landscape.
This relationship between architecture and garden design is particularly important in San Marino, where mature landscaping and estate grounds are defining characteristics of many historic properties.
The 2027 Showcase House will introduce new landscape design interpretations while drawing attention to the estate's original design heritage.
The History of the Pasadena Showcase House of Design: 1948 to 2027
The Pasadena Showcase House of Design has become one of Southern California's most recognized architectural and philanthropic traditions.
Its origins date to 1948, when the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee was established to support music and arts programs.
The organization originally consisted of approximately 60 members who shared an interest in supporting the performing arts and expanding access to music education.
In 1965, the organization introduced its first Pasadena Showcase House of Design in San Marino.
The concept was straightforward but ambitious: invite professional designers to transform a distinguished residence, open the completed property to the public, and direct proceeds toward music and arts education.
The first Showcase House opened March 21, 1965, and ran for 15 days.
Admission was just $1.50, which included complimentary coffee and cookies. Afternoon tea was also part of the early visitor experience.
Fifteen interior designers participated in that inaugural event.
Over the following decades, the Pasadena Showcase House of Design developed into one of the nation's longest running and most successful home and garden tours.
The organization expanded its fundraising activities, introduced more elaborate design installations, and developed a growing tradition of selecting architecturally significant properties throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
In 1995, the event's shopping component expanded under the name Marketplace. In 2007, it became known as the Shops at Showcase.
In 2000, the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee formally adopted the name Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts.
Today, the volunteer organization has grown to more than 240 members, with annual Showcase events featuring dozens of interior and landscape designers.
The 2027 Winchell Estate will mark the 62nd Pasadena Showcase House of Design.
How Pasadena Showcase House Supports Music and Arts Education
Although the annual house tour attracts considerable attention for its architecture and interior design, the organization's primary mission remains supporting music and arts education.
Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts has contributed more than $28 million to music and arts programs throughout its history.
Its philanthropic initiatives include the Music Mobile program, which introduces elementary school students to orchestral instruments and musical concepts.
The organization also supports youth concerts, instrumental competitions, scholarships, grants to nonprofit arts organizations, and programs connected with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
The Showcase House has become a distinctive fundraising model because it combines community involvement, historic architecture, interior design, and public participation.
Visitors who purchase tickets are not simply attending a home tour. Their admission helps fund programs that introduce younger generations to music and the performing arts.
Where Have Pasadena Showcase Houses Been Located?
Despite its name, the Pasadena Showcase House of Design has never been limited to properties within Pasadena city limits.
Since the inaugural event in 1965, Showcase Houses have appeared throughout Pasadena, San Marino, La Cañada Flintridge, South Pasadena, Arcadia, and Altadena.
Pasadena has hosted the largest number of Showcase Houses, including notable events in 2017, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
San Marino hosted the first Showcase House in 1965 and subsequently welcomed the event in 1967, 1972, 1982, 1986, 1992, 1999, 2005, and 2009.
The 2027 Winchell Estate marks the return of the event to San Marino after an 18 year interval between its 2009 and 2027 editions.
The variety of locations reflects the architectural history of the San Gabriel Valley, where Craftsman, Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, and other residential styles developed during different periods of Southern California's growth.
The Previous 10 Pasadena Showcase Houses of Design
The ten most recent Showcase House selections before 2027 illustrate the architectural variety of the event.
The retrospective below identifies each property's documented name and location. Exact street addresses are not included where they could not be independently verified from reliable public records; Showcase organizers have historically limited publication of private residential addresses.
2026: Baldwin Oaks Estate, Arcadia
The 61st Pasadena Showcase House of Design featured the Baldwin Oaks Estate in Arcadia.
Built in 1907, the Shingle style residence was associated with Clara Baldwin Stocker, daughter of Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin, whose landholdings and investments played a significant role in Arcadia's development.
The estate's architecture, historic associations, and grounds made it an important example of the city's early residential history.
2025: Bauer Estate & Gardens, Pasadena
The 60th Showcase House featured Bauer Estate & Gardens, a 1928 Monterey Colonial residence designed by Reginald D. Johnson.
The estate was originally constructed for Harry Bauer, an executive of Southern California Edison, and his wife Alice.
Its extensive gardens were designed by pioneering landscape architect Katherine Bashford.
The approximately five acre property represented an important example of Pasadena's grand estate architecture.
2024: Potter Daniels Manor, Pasadena
The 2024 Showcase House featured Potter Daniels Manor on North Grand Avenue in Pasadena.
Originally constructed in 1902, the residence was substantially transformed in 1922 into an English Tudor Revival estate.
The home has a remarkable history involving several prominent owners, including Susanna Bransford Emery-Holmes, who became known as California's Silver Queen.
The property previously served as a Showcase House in 1975 and 1996.
2023: Stewart House, Pasadena
The 2023 Showcase House returned to Stewart House, a 1933 Colonial residence designed by the Pasadena architectural partnership Marston & Maybury.
Situated on approximately two acres, the residence contains more than 11,000 square feet of living space.
The property had previously hosted the Pasadena Showcase House of Design in 1983.
2022: Oaklawn Manor, South Pasadena
The 2022 event featured Oaklawn Manor, a 1905 English Tudor mansion in South Pasadena's historic Oaklawn neighborhood.
The estate is associated with the architectural heritage of the Oaklawn subdivision, developed during the Arts and Crafts movement and connected to the work of Charles and Henry Greene.
Its historic interiors included stained glass windows, substantial fireplaces, and distinctive period craftsmanship.
2020: Locke House, Arcadia
The 2020 Showcase House selection was the Locke House, a 1937 Federal Country style residence in Arcadia designed by Gerard R. Colcord.
Located in the Santa Anita Oaks neighborhood, the property was originally built for the Edmund Locke family.
The planned public tour was disrupted by the COVID 19 pandemic, making this an unusual chapter in Showcase House history.
2019: Boddy House, La Cañada Flintridge
The 2019 event featured the historic Boddy House at Descanso Gardens.
Designed by architect James E. Dolena for newspaper publisher E. Manchester Boddy, the Hollywood Regency residence dates to the late 1930s.
Unlike many private Showcase properties, the Boddy House is located within the publicly accessible Descanso Gardens property.
Address: 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011.
2018: The Overlook, Altadena
The 2018 Showcase House featured The Overlook, a Mediterranean inspired estate constructed in 1915.
The residence was commissioned by Ruth Hargrove and Mary Emma Baker and later expanded with Italian influenced architectural details.
The event brought renewed attention to Altadena's significant collection of early twentieth century residential architecture.
2017: Samuel S. Hinds Estate, Pasadena
The 2017 Showcase House featured a 1916 English Tudor residence associated with Samuel S. Hinds, an attorney and actor who was involved with the Pasadena Playhouse.
Hinds later appeared in numerous Hollywood films, including It's a Wonderful Life.
The property has also been associated with film and television productions, reflecting Pasadena's long connection to Southern California's entertainment industry.
2016: Dryborough Estate, La Cañada Flintridge
The 2016 Showcase House featured the Dryborough Estate, a substantial Mission Revival residence dating to 1918.
The property was described in contemporary coverage as being associated with architect Myron Hunt, although that attribution was not definitively established.
Its extensive interior spaces and California architectural character provided the setting for a major designer transformation.
Readers interested in the organization's architectural history can explore its official Showcase House archive, which includes previous programs and transformation videos.
San Marino Real Estate Market Report: ZIP Code 91108
October 2026 Market Snapshot
The 2027 Pasadena Showcase House of Design provides an opportunity to examine the residential real estate market surrounding the Winchell Estate.
San Marino's 91108 ZIP code is among the higher priced residential markets in the San Gabriel Valley, with a substantial collection of historic estates, architect designed homes, and established residential neighborhoods.
According to October 2026 housing market data published by Realtor.com, the median listing price in ZIP code 91108 was $3,557,500, while the median sold price was $3,180,000.
The median listing price represented a decrease of approximately 8.1 percent compared with the previous year, while the median sold price was approximately 20.6 percent higher year over year.
There were 43 active listings in the ZIP code, and properties spent a median of 57 days on the market.
The median asking price per square foot was approximately $1,061.
Homes sold for approximately 101 percent of asking price on average during October 2026, although individual outcomes varied considerably by property.
These figures suggest a market in which appropriately priced homes can attract strong interest, while buyers remain selective about condition, architecture, lot size, and overall value.
San Marino's inventory also includes a wide range of property types, from smaller traditional residences to significant estates with extensive grounds.
A five acre architectural property such as the Winchell Estate occupies a very different segment of the market than a typical single family home in the same ZIP code.
For that reason, ZIP code median prices should not be used to estimate the value of an exceptional historic estate.
A more meaningful valuation would examine comparable properties with similar land area, architectural significance, location, improvements, condition, and preservation considerations.
For buyers and sellers, understanding these distinctions is especially important in communities where individual properties can vary substantially in size and historical significance.
Why San Marino Continues to Attract Historic Home Buyers
San Marino's residential identity developed around substantial properties, landscaped streets, and architectural traditions established during the early twentieth century.
The community is known for its proximity to The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, as well as its collection of distinguished residences.
Colonial Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival, Mediterranean, Tudor Revival, and traditional estate architecture are found throughout the city.
Many of these homes were designed by established architects and built with craftsmanship and materials that remain desirable today.
The city's large residential lots, mature landscaping, and established neighborhoods contribute to its distinctive character.
Properties such as the Winchell Estate illustrate why architectural provenance, original design, and landscape history can be significant considerations when evaluating San Marino real estate.
2027 Pasadena Showcase House Dates, Tickets and Visitor Information
The 62nd Pasadena Showcase House of Design will open Sunday, April 18, 2027, and continue through Sunday, May 23, 2027.
Public house tours are scheduled Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Showcase House will be closed for public tours on Mondays.
The Golden Ticket is currently priced at $75 and provides flexible admission during public tour hours.
An Insider Package priced at $225 includes Golden Ticket admission and access to the January 8, 2027 Empty House Party.
Additional timed admission options are expected to become available in early 2027, including regular admission, prime time admission, and designated Friday afternoon admission.
The event will also feature the Shops at Showcase, dining opportunities, special events, and opportunities to explore the estate grounds.
Visitors can purchase tickets and review the latest event information through the official Pasadena Showcase House ticket website.
Where to Park for the 2027 Pasadena Showcase House: Shuttle Information
The 2027 Pasadena Showcase House of Design will provide complimentary offsite parking and shuttle transportation to the Winchell Estate in San Marino.
As of November 2026, the official parking and shuttle departure location has not been announced.
All visitors, including those arriving by rideshare services, must use the designated Showcase House shuttles to reach the property.
Parking is not permitted in the surrounding residential neighborhoods, and guests cannot be dropped off directly in front of the estate.
Organizers recommend arriving at the designated parking location at least 45 minutes before the scheduled house tour.
The parking address, shuttle location, and transportation instructions will be published on the official Pasadena Showcase House parking and visitor information page when available.
Visitors should consult that page before attending rather than traveling directly to the Winchell Estate.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2027 Pasadena Showcase House
Where is the 2027 Pasadena Showcase House of Design?
The 2027 Pasadena Showcase House of Design will be held at the Winchell Estate in San Marino, California, within ZIP code 91108.
When does the 2027 Pasadena Showcase House open?
The event opens April 18, 2027, and runs through May 23, 2027.
Who designed the Winchell Estate?
Architect Roland E. Coate designed the residence in 1940. Landscape architects Florence Yoch and Lucile Council designed its original gardens.
How big is the 2027 Pasadena Showcase House?
The main residence contains approximately 16,000 square feet and is situated on five acres with four additional guest cottages.
How much are tickets for the 2027 Showcase House?
Current published options include a $75 Golden Ticket and a $225 Insider Package. Timed admission tickets are scheduled to become available in early 2027, with prices ranging from $38 to $60.
Where do visitors park for the 2027 Pasadena Showcase House?
Visitors must use the official offsite parking and shuttle service. The parking location has not yet been announced and will be posted on the Showcase House website.
When was the first Pasadena Showcase House of Design?
The first Showcase House was held in San Marino in 1965. The organization behind the event was established in 1948.
What is the purpose of the Pasadena Showcase House?
The event raises funds for music and arts education, including youth concerts, instrumental competitions, music education programs, and grants supporting nonprofit arts organizations.
What is the median home price in San Marino, CA 91108?
In October 2026, the median sold price was approximately $3.18 million, while the median listing price was approximately $3.56 million.
Is the Pasadena Showcase House always in Pasadena?
No. Previous Showcase Houses have been located in Pasadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Altadena, and Arcadia.
Buying and Selling Historic Homes in Pasadena and San Marino
The Pasadena Showcase House of Design celebrates an architectural heritage that continues to shape the residential real estate markets of Pasadena, San Marino, and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley.
For buyers, understanding the history of a residence, its architect, original design, and subsequent renovations can provide important context when evaluating a property.
For sellers, those same characteristics can help distinguish a home in the marketplace and inform how it should be presented to prospective buyers.
Jason Bergman is a real estate advisor with The Agency, representing buyers and sellers throughout Pasadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, and greater Los Angeles.
His work includes historic residences, architectural properties, and estate homes, with an emphasis on identifying the characteristics that make each property distinctive.
For additional information about buying or selling a home in Pasadena or San Marino, contact Jason Bergman at 626-394-0900 or j.bergman@theagencyre.com.
The market gives us context, but the house tells us what to do.
