 
Fortitude and Inspiration: A tale of a home renovation in South Pasadena
By Robin McMacken, latimes.com Special Sections freelance writer
• Click
here for slideshow gallery of the Riddle/Ledner house •
“Don’t do it,” said Kyle Riddle with a laugh when
asked to offer advice for homeowners. “I
would recommend that anyone buying a two-story house have a structural
engineer inspect the property--as well as a traditional house
inspection,” he
said. “Had we known up front
that our foundation and structure were seriously compromised,
we would have never bought the house in the first place.”
Kyle Riddle and wife Catherine Ledner’s South Pasadena
home, a 2,700-square-foot, two-story bungalow home reflects
the turn-of-the-century transition from Victorian architecture
to the Craftsman style so well-known in Pasadena.
Yet what makes the 1890s home undoubtedly unusual is that it
underwent a massive transformation a couple of years ago, making
it an intriguing blend of old and modern construction.
When Riddle and Ledner purchased the home in July 2000, they
were eager to renovate their new residence.
Ledner said things went alarmingly awry, however, when they realized
the home was not as structurally sound as they had believed.
The old-home blues were heightened by the fact that an update
in the 1950s had been less than desirable.
With a passionate commitment to live in the South Pasadena area
and true grit, the couple decided to roll up their sleeves and
restore--virtually rebuild--the home from the ground up. Ledner
said the only features that remained after the makeover—and
you might as well preface that with “extreme”—were
the foundation and the fireplace.
The tale has a happy ending, however, thanks to Riddle and Ledner’s
fortitude and vision. They called upon architect Don Nott of
Nott & Associates, South Pasadena, to bring back the home
to its original splendor—and then some.
Riddle and Ledner were intent on having structural safety, comfort,
functionality and beauty. “We wanted to create a modern
living environment within the framework of a traditional South
Pasadena home,” Riddle said.
Attention to restoration details
The family, including 16-year-old son Winston, moved into a
second home that Riddle and his wife owned in Alhambra, about
five minutes south, during the construction. They moved back
into the South Pasadena home in October 2003.
Ledner, a photographer who has shot for such publications as
W, Travel & Leisure, New York Times Magazine, Harper's Bazaar
and Newsweek, has worked from home in order to be closer to her
son.
During the home’s restoration, working from home also
allowed Ledner to supervise the construction of the home.
“We hired a general contractor for the project, but in
reality, Catherine was the contractor,” Riddle said. “She
was at the site almost daily, and if she wasn't there I would
be. Her office in the converted garage continued to function
normally while the house was being built, so she was able to
oversee the entire job, answer questions for the builders and
make snap decisions.”
Attention to details, an overall sense of openness and natural
light keep the flow alluringly seamless in the house. The many
windows are left uncovered since the large lot and foliage outside
provide privacy. The first-floor traffic pattern is circular
around the staircase to the upstairs, so there is never a feeling
of being boxed in.
Oak floors throughout the home, save for the tile in the bathrooms,
add cozy elegance that is inviting--certainly encouraging guests
to nestle into a chair and read one of the many art books the
couple has in their home. Persian, Middle Eastern and IKEA rugs
add rich color and global appeal.
The kitchen, with abundant natural
light and cabinets, alone would make Martha Stewart marvel.
“We wanted the kitchen to be spacious and integrated into
the rest of the downstairs living area,” said Riddle, the
appointed chef of the household. “With the stove in the
center island, it is easy to entertain and prepare meals at the
same time. The large island also allowed us space to add a prep
sink and second oven.”
The spaciousness of the home has been a godsend, especially
now, since Ledner’s parents, Albert and Judy Ledner, were
evacuated from their home in New Orleans after the horrific devastation
of hurricane Katrina and are now living with the family as they
rebuild their lives.
Personal style matches home’s history
Although Riddle gave input, “Catherine was our interior
designer,” he said. “She, with a little of my help,
chose everything: the doors, hardware, lighting fixtures, trims,
flooring, marble, antique built-ins. etc. She was hands-on from
start to finish on the project.”
Ledner’s sense of style was right on with the home’s
background. Her keen sense of design was instinctive, since she
studied film at New York University and then photography at the
Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
With a sharp eye for old and noble things, Ledner elegantly
incorporated such historic touches as stained-glass windows on
the second level.
“I found the stained-glass pieces first at a salvage-restoration
store in the city of Orange, and they are from England in the
late 1800s,” Ledner said. One window graces the door
to the master bathroom, and the other is found at the landing
halfway up the stairway to the second floor.
Another carefully chosen accent, the chandelier in the first-floor
bathroom, seems to be achingly priceless--considering current
events. The lovely crystal chandelier is from New Orleans, where
Ledner grew up, and it pristinely imparts a warm glow in the
room with chocolate-brown and cream patterned wallpaper that
looks like it was plucked from a William Morris portfolio. Fitting,
of course, because the 19th-cenutry British designer’s
work can be seen at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and
Botanical Gardens in Pasadena.
The tiny bathroom is teeming with imaginative uses of vintage
pieces. “The vanity in the powder room was an idea I got
from my friend, Beth Katz, to use an old Afghan caravan trunk
to hold the sink,” Ledner said.
For all the inside drama, the outside of the home is just as
commanding. The landscaping is casually handsome—think
organic and highly attuned with the natural environment. There
is generous room for the couple’s vegetable gardens, an
inviting pool, and, of course, the family’s beloved pets,
including dogs Dodger and Herbie, cats and rabbits.
If you can envision a Beatrix Potter illustration, then you
have an accurate picture of Riddle and Ledner’s rambling
outdoor space.
“We love the indoor/outdoor living that our backyard and
porch provide us,” Riddle said. “The yard allows
us to grow a variety of flowers, plants bulbs as well as providing
us with ample room for growing vegetables, which is a passionate
hobby for us both. The yard also provides a great playground
for our dogs and cats, and we have a large rabbit run for our
four bunnies”.
All told, Riddle and Ledner invested about
$400,000 in their massive home renovation.
Riddle, a native of the San Gabriel Valley who co-owns and operates
Amy Michelson, an upscale bridal gown manufacturer, is quite
pleased with the results, and the hard labor provided a special
bonding time for the family. He is especially appreciative of
his wife’s dedication to the project.
“It was definitely a team effort, but it was Catherine's
drive and vision that saw the job through; she was onsite 80%
of the time,” he added.
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