Designers at Home: Craftsman Bungalow & Antiques, 1700s to Mid-Century with Julia Chasman
If you’ve ever wondered how a designer really lives, you’ll love this week’s “Designers at Home” episode. I visited Julia Chasman in her Pasadena Craftsman, and her home is a masterclass in warmth, humor, and fearless pattern mixing. We talk about her buffalo-check chair from the Pasadena Showcase, the story behind her antique Steinway, and why a little imperfection—and a wink of whimsy—makes a room come alive.
Julia’s space feels like Slow Style in motion: personal, soulful, and full of stories. Tune in if you need a dose of creative inspiration and want to remember why decorating your home should always bring you joy.
Watch this episode on YouTube HERE
KEY TAKEAWAYS
For my very first “Designers at Home” visit, I had the absolute pleasure of stepping into designer Julia Chasman’s home in Pasadena, a cozy, light-filled Craftsman that feels equal parts history, humor, and heart. Sitting across from Julia, surrounded by color and pattern, I was reminded why I love visiting real homes: there’s nothing quite like seeing design lived in.
A Craftsman With a Soul
Julia’s home is a rare early Craftsman, likely from around 1920. Almost all of its original details remain—wavy glass windows, leaded pocket doors, and even the bathroom’s original tile. These elements ground the house in its past, giving every modern piece that wonderful tension between old and new that makes a home feel alive.
The Living Room: Pattern Play and Personality
We began in the living room, where Julia’s mix of textures and stories sets the tone. Her beloved antique Steinway, a family heirloom, sits gracefully by the fireplace—the heart of the space. The sofa, an old piece she reimagined with custom upholstery, bouillon fringe, and a mix of vintage pillows, perfectly captures her layered approach.
A buffalo-check chair from her Pasadena Showcase House room anchors one corner, topped with a pillow made from a Balinese hand-dyed textile by Madeline Weinrib. Across the room, a kantha quilt—double-sided and stitched in India—adds warmth and movement. The rug, from the Pierce & Ward x West Elm collection, grounds it all with a clever checkerboard pattern that echoes the chair’s bold checks. “The trick with pattern mixing,” Julia says, “is to mix up the scales.”
She’s right—and her living room proves it.
The Dining Room: Old Meets New
Through those original pocket doors, the dining room opens like a surprise. Julia pairs a modern Parsons table with classic Craftsman chairs, a combination that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Above, a dramatic light fixture hovers like a sculpture, casting that perfect “pool of light” she loves for dining.
On the wall, an Ellsworth Kelly–inspired painting sits comfortably beside a vintage oil portrait, and on the sideboard—a humble IKEA Kallax turned chic buffet—rest two vintage cocktail lamps dressed in Brunschwig & Fils “Les Touches” fabric. It’s high-low magic in action.
And then there’s the moment every designer knows: when something odd lands in your lap and you can’t decide if it’s hideous or genius. For Julia, it was a set of ornate lamps from a friend. “Are these the ugliest lamps you’ve ever seen,” she asked me, “or could they be incredibly cool?” With her idea of topping them with red-and-white striped shades, I vote *cool*.
The Office: Creative Chaos Meets Charm
Julia’s office is both workspace and treasure chest, a place where ideas live out loud. The centerpiece? A 1950s Italian tole chandelier she rescued and paired with a gingham shade “just because.” Nearby, a pine hutch hides swatches, vintage blankets, and purses, while a restored 1951 Savignac poster—once her father’s—adds a graphic punch.
It’s an honest room, full of personality and process. Julia calls it her “studio-laboratory,” and it feels exactly that: alive, evolving, and unapologetically hers.
Why This Home Feels Like Slow Style
Julia’s Pasadena home embodies what Slow Style is all about—spaces that grow with us, tell our stories, and make room for both beauty and humor. Every detail, from the leaping (or not leaping!) zebra pillows to her love of vintage lamps, reflects a designer who decorates for life, not perfection.
So if you want to see design that’s personal, layered, and full of heart, tune in to this episode of Slow Style Home. Julia’s warmth, wit, and fearless creativity might just inspire you to rearrange a room—or embrace that “ugly” lamp you secretly love.
Until Next Time!
-Zandra