Home Tour

If walls could talk, then the sprawling castle— yes, castle—that rests atop a knoll in La Cañada Flintridge would have quite a story to tell. Designed by architect Arthur B. Benton—who took inspiration from the 19th-century Skibo Castle in the Scottish Highlands—the storied property was originally built from 1910–1911 as a summer house for California Lieutenant Gov. Albert J. Wallace and his wife, Alice. Its former nickname, “The Pink Castle,” came from the unmissable shade of bubble-gum pink exterior paint that a later owner insisted on as an act of rebellion against her husband; it’s now painted gray.

Over the next century, the estate passed through many hands and was abandoned numerous times before interior designer Annsley Strong and her husband, George

G.Strong Jr., purchased it in 1992. With a passionate dedication to honoring its history and charm, the couple has carefully preserved, restored, and reconstructed the 10,000-square-foot home over the last 30 years, reinstating its reign as the grande dame of La Cañada.

PREVIOUS SPREAD Left: The wooden front door of the grand entryway is original, as are the rectangular windows straight ahead, which feature German bottle glass. Because the home was deserted a few times in its history, a lot of pieces were stolen or vandalized, and later replaced, like the sidelights seen here.

Top right: The infamous pink façade of the four-story home was painted gray by the previous owners, John and Wendy Anderson. Before they took ownership, Annsley and George would stop by the estate with their four kids on Sunday nights after dinner to peek through the gates when it was still pink. The home sits on a single acre (the Strongs own the surrounding 69), but it was once on a plot of 225 acres with fruit trees and vineyards.

Below right: The pool was added in 1987 by the Andersons, who tapped landscape architect Paul Berry for the build. Today, the Strongs’ goal is to make the property entirely sustainable; most of the water except for the lawn has now gone to drip.

THIS SPREAD Opposite top: Annsley retrofitted the home with unique and rare pieces from auctions, including this antique Trumeau mirror. The German quarter-sawn oak wood paneling is seen throughout the home.

Opposite bottom: In the dining room, checkered Carrara marble floors set the stage for one-of-a-kind pieces that Annsley has collected, including the dining table she purchased with her mother, an avid antiquarian, at an auction in San Francisco. “Once we bought this house it was really more about what went well with what I was doing design-wise and what the space would accommodate,” Annsley says. The secretary on the back wall is from the Los Angeles home of publishing executive Harrison Chandler. Annsley purchased the bu et on the right for $16 (plus $3 for delivery) at Goodwill when she was “a poor student,” and refinished it with her mother. The artwork hanging above is one Annsley painted herself. “Pretty much everything in here comes with a story,” she says.

Top: The plaster-carved ceiling in the living room was there when the Strongs arrived. “Because it is of Scottish heritage, it is replete with references in the carvings— the thistle, the acorn, the rampant lion, knots,” explains Annsley. “That became a jumping-o point for design in order to stay true to the architecture.” The intricate carving—which Annsley had painted green as a nod to the Scottish thistle—watches over more pieces acquired at auction, including the Henredon sofas (reupholstered) and Korean side chests. The planter is from the Copley estate in La Jolla, and the Daniel Kelly painting on the right wall was purchased in Japan, where the expat artist lives and works. According to lore, the house was a secret haunt of a USC fraternity, and the center of the living room is believed to have been set ablaze once during a raging frat party.

Left: After a trip to Montreal during which she took a tour of the Notre-Dame Basilica, Annsley was struck with inspiration and commissioned artist Michael Sullivan to transform the ceiling above the grand staircase into an ode to the church The ribbing was stained to match the quartersawn oak, and the plaster surface was painted with a design based on the basilica’s ethereal blue ceiling, the repeat of the arched windows, and Scottish motifs.

Below left: “That bathroom was a disaster,” says Annsley of the primary,

which was lavender and had piping that ran along the surface of the floor. With the renovation, they incorporated an homage to the green vine in the home’s garden-themed grand window (seen above).

Below: The fireplace in the primary bedroom was covered when the Strongs bought the home. “We didn’t know it was there,” says Annsley. “I was planning to put a fireplace in the room anyway, so we pulled the paneling away, and there it was.” They also uncovered a blocked-o window, which Annsley noticed as she walked the grounds making plans. “I couldn’t figure out where it went to on the inside of the house,” says Annsley. They opened it up, and it now looks into a concealed closet, located behind the yellow chair in the corner. One secret that the Strongs have not yet unearthed is a hidden passageway. “We have found one, but there’s supposed to be another,” she says. “We know where it should be, but we can’t push anything to get it to open.” It’s yet another intriguing part of this magnificent castle’s story. INTERIOR DESIGN Annsley Strong of Strong Studio Designs strongstudiodesigns.com

ARCHITECTURE Arthur B. Benton; Alexander Tan of ML Architecture mlarchitecture.com

CONTRACTOR Joseph M. Dobson

LAUNCHING OCTOBER 2022

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT

JOHN ODELL, CFP®

ARROYO INVESTMENT GROUP/CAPITAL RESEARCH+CONSULTING

PRINCIPAL

ur two firms oversee more than billion in client assets. Arroyo Investment roup manages client portfolios with a minimum of 00,000 while working closely with a client’s trusted group of professional specialists such as accountants, attorneys, and third-party administrators. Capital esearch Consulting designs, implements, and monitors corporate government retirement plans. With so much litigation in the retirement plan arena, employers hire our firm to establish proper processes adhering to the highest industry standards while providing a tremendous employee benefit. Managing wealth re uires prudent mentoring and validation. When seeking a wealth manager, first, find someone who is a CF . nly 0 of financial professionals hold this highly regarded certification. ou can find a CF in your area on the CF website. ext, ensure your wealth manager’s performance numbers are I verified. nly , 00 firms worldwide adhere to I standards, the highest standards in the investment industry. Firms not adhering to I standards cannot assure prospective clients that their historical track record is both complete and fairly presented. A list of I -verified managers can be found on the I website. If your wealth manager is not a CF with a I verified track record, find one that is It makes me proud to see our I -verified investment returns outperform their benchmarks with less risk. In our business, that is nirvana. he best part of my ob is working with a client over a long period of time and watching their life dreams become reality

15 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena 626.844.1441 ArroyoInvestmentGroup.com CapitalResearchandConsulting.com jodell@arroyoinvestmentgroup.com

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PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

BRENT MOELLEKEN, MD, FACS

BRENT MOELLEKEN, MD

PLASTIC SURGEON

Just developed and perfected, Dr. Moelleken now offers the LBAM, a breast augmentation technique using his trademarked LiveFill. Fundamentally different from fat injection or transfer, the LBAM is for subtle augmentation of the breasts in women not wishing to have synthetic breast implants. The LBAM joins many of Dr. Moelleken’s other innovations like Live Fill, Ultrashort Incision Cheek Lift, the 360 Face Lift, the Hybrid Tummy Tuck, and numerous other trademarked procedures for obtaining a more natural appearance ... without the classic signs of surgery. For those patients wishing to have minimally invasive procedures, Cloud Med Spa Beverly Hills is a minimally invasive extension of his surgical practice. In Cloud Med Beverly Hills, Dr. Moelleken’s team has created a unique, comfortable and serene environment for patients. A variety of nonsurgical solutions include stateof-the-art lasers and radio frequency-based technologies, platelet rich plasma (PRP) for face and hair loss, along with an array of treatments for skin rejuvenation, body contouring, and skin resurfacing. Dr. Moelleken’s work has been published in numerous medical journals and has been presented nationally and internationally. He is also very active in charity work through his own About Face Surgical Foundation, as well in other foundations that serve veterans and the LGBTQ community. r. Moelleken has offices in everly Hills and Santa Barbara. He trained at Harvard, Yale, UCSF, and UCLA, where he is an associate clinical professor of surgery in the Division of Plastic Surgery. When not working in his private practice or teaching UCLA plastic surgery residents, you can find r. Moelleken cycling in the mountains or spending time with his wife, kids, and their three dogs.

120 South Spalding Drive, Suite 110, Beverly Hills 310.273.1001 | drbrent.com | @drbrentmoelleken

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ROBERT H. HAMBLETON, DDS LINDSEY H. MACFARLANE, DDS, MS

HAMBLETON & MACFARLANE ORTHODONTICS

Dr. Hambleton is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and is a past president of the Southern California component of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists. Dr. Hambleton has for more than 20 years been an associate clinical professor in graduate orthodontics at the University of Southern California. He is the president of the Dougherty Tanaka Foundation, which helps support USC Orthodontics. Additionally, he is a past USC Graduate Orthodontics Alumnus of the ear. e is also a member of the acific Coast ociety of Orthodontists, the American Association of Orthodontists, the San Gabriel Valley Dental Society, the California Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Dr. Hambleton received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1976. He graduated from the University of Southern California Dental School in 1981 and from the Graduate Orthodontic Department of the University of Southern California in 1986. Dr. Hambleton is married with four grown children. He is also involved in professional, community, and sports related organizations. Dr. MacFarlane is a diplomate of the American Board of rthodontics. he is an affiliate member of the dward . Angle Society of Orthodontists. Dr. MacFarlane, who is Dr. Hambleton’s eldest daughter, was born and raised in Pasadena and graduated from Westridge School. After graduating with her undergraduate degree from Boston College, she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Southern California in 2008. She went on to receive her Master of Science degree in craniofacial biology and a certificate in orthodontics from the University of Southern California in 2011. Dr. MacFarlane is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the acific Coast ociety of rthodontists, the American ental Association, the California Dental Association, and the San Gabriel Valley Dental Society. She and her husband have four boys. They are thrilled to be living in Pasadena, where she is also involved with various organizations within the community.

200 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Suite 201 Pasadena, CA 91101 626.795.0634 | hambletonorthodontics.com

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THE FACE OF FINANCE

DOMINICA HENDERSON, CFP™, BFA®

HAUSSMANN FINANCIAL

Dominica Henderson, CFP™, BFA®, provides personalized advice for today’s complicated economic environment. As a Certified Financial lanner™ , Dominica is bound by ethical standards to provide advice free of conflicts. erving as a fiduciary to you means she must act in your best interests. Dominica will educate you on how to anticipate the challenges of volatile financial markets, interest rate changes, or potential income tax increases. Conducting seminars emphasi ing her knowledge of pension and savings plans for retirement planning, tax reduction strategies, insurance applications, and college funding are offered as part of her broad-based financial advice. My priority is to determine the financial services that best fit my clients’ goals and ob ectives, then define the right set of financial solutions. As a Certified Financial lanner™ and Independent Investment Advisor, she is often approached with various financial scenarios from a wide array of clients and prospective clients. My best advice that I would suggest to new and seasoned investors is to know that generic advice is not necessarily meant for you. In essence, what may generally be true’ may not be true for you, so be certain to have an established relationship with a Certified Financial Planner™ who can tailor your strategy to work towards the goals and values you have in place for your family. ominica says that the best part of her ob is knowing that her work as a trusted Investment Advisor to all her clients shapes their future and the future of their next generation. aussmann Financial is a financial advisory firm that has been serving business owners, professionals, executives, and retirees since 1990. Their advisors hold multiple professional designations and rely on extensive professional experience. Collectively, the team of investment professionals at Haussmann Financial as of une 0 manages 00 million in client assets.

221 East Walnut Street, Suite 135, Pasadena, CA 23201 Lake Center Drive, #300, Lake Forest, CA 800.773.8700 dominica@haussmannfinancial.com | haussmannfinancial.com Podcast: “Haussmann Financial”

Securities offered through Securities America, Inc.; A Registered Broker/Dealer; Member FINRA/SIPC Dominica Henderson, Registered Representative, CA Insurance License #0F46549 Advisory services offered through Haussmann Financial, Inc. a Registered Investment Advisor. Haussmann Financial and the Securities America companies are separate entities.

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EYE REJUVENATION

WARREN C. STOUT, MD

OCULOFACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY

Dr. Stout’s Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery practice is devoted exclusively to the eyes. Over the last 30 years, he has performed more than 15,000 eyelid surgeries. He is an internationally recognized expert on cosmetic and laser surgical techniques. He is the doctor chosen by doctors. He has 30 years of experience caring for men and women of all ages and ethnicities, including a subspecialty in Asian eyes. He gives each patient thoughtful and unhurried attention where procedure options are thoroughly discussed. Through a combination of training, experience, and artistic talent, he delivers a natural appearance tailored to everyone’s overall goals. Dr. Stout completed his Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the University of Miami, which is ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report; his Ophthalmology Residency at USC Doheny Eye Institute; and his Internal Medicine Internship at USC. e is affiliated with untington Memorial Hospital, Keck School of Medicine of USC, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Stout is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Keck School of Medicine of USC, who has also been recognized as a Top Doctor in America by U.S. News & World Report and a Top Doctor in Pasadena, Los Angeles and in Leading Physicians of the World. He is most honored by physicians and happy patients referring their loved ones and friends.

Pasadena Towers 800 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 260 Pasadena 626.449.6494 stoutlaser.com

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THE FACE OF INSURANCE

VICTORIA ALSABERY

VICTORIA ALSABERY INSURANCE AGENCY

PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

aised in outhern California, ictoria has been in the financial services and insurance industry for over years. he graduated with a business administration degree from Mount t Mary’s niversity. As an agency owner for Farmers Insurance in ld own asadena, ictoria’s approach is personali ed, honest and professional to help her clients find the best coverage for their personal and business needs. With her risk management experience, ictoria will help you to understand your insurance options to protect what’s important to you whether it’s for your home, auto, life, business and more. ictoria is passionate about helping her clients and making a positive difference in our community. he en oys running, traveling and volunteering with various non-profit organi ations in asadena. ictoria is a member of the ational atina usiness Women Association, the Assistance eague, and the Chamber of Commerce of asadena. he lives in Altadena with her husband, twins oah and Charlotte, and their chocolate labrador, ucy.

88 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Suite 107, Pasadena 626.683.4979 | valsabery@farmersagent.com | agents.farmers.com/ca/pasadena/victoria-alsabery

THE FACE OF REAL ESTATE

PAMELA HILLINGS TEGTMEYER

REAL ESTATE AGENT

amela is known for her outstanding client care, excellent communication skills, superb networking, knowledge of real estate in the an abriel alley and follow through to help her clients achieve their goals. er professional manner and successful sales records are why people have wanted to work with her for nearly two decades. he also gives back to the community which has always been a top priority including past president of the unior eague of asadena, member of American Women for International nderstanding and as an eti uette expert taught manners to children in need in the community to build their self-confidence. In 0 amela received the prestigious International terling ociety award for the top of Coldwell anker ealty agents worldwide she has closed 00 of all transactions. est advice go the extra mile

388 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena 626.833.3868 Pamela.Tegtmeyer@cbrealty.com | pamelahillings.com

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THE FACE OF BEAUTY

JENNIFER BOQUECOSA

HARMONY NAIL & THREADING SALON

OWNER

ennifer has been in the nail industry for nearly three decades. er first shop was Contempo in Hastings Ranch, where she quickly made lasting friendships with her clients. After selling that business in 2006, she opened Harmony in Old Pasadena, which soon grew to a second location in DTLA. Now the expansion continues with Nailtique in Sierra Madre, which is slated for later this year. Despite competition in the industry, the housing crash of 2008, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the one thing that has endured is the amazing relationships she’s developed with her clients. These are people from different backgrounds who struggle with adversity and celebrate victories just like the rest of us. This is what makes each client so special and so relatable … and it’s the basis of Harmony’s success.

54 South Pasadena Avenue, Pasadena 626.578.1807

THE FACE OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

COLLEEN CAREY

LEE & ASSOCIATES

FOUNDING PRINCIPAL

Colleen Carey is a founding principal of Lee & Associates-Pasadena, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm. ee provides brokerage services for all commercial disciplines including office, retail, multi-family, industrial, and investment services. Colleen speciali es in office, retail and land—sales and leasing. Colleen has been a member of the Pasadena Community since 1984 when she was transferred from the Bay Area by General Reinsurance Corporation. he managed the C A office until she left in to refocus her energies on an industry that would accommodate her entrepreneurial spirit and allow her to spend more time with her children. She co-founded the Lee Pasadena Corporation in 2018—20 years after she entered commercial real estate. Colleen has served on many nonprofit boards and is currently president elect for both The University Club of Pasadena Board of Governors and the Playhouse Village Association Board. She has two grown daughters.

626.240.2782 ccarey@lee-associates.com