The Getty Villa – Pacific Palisades, CA
July 10, 2025Going Greene (and Greene)
The Gamble House – Pasadena, CA
Visited: July 2, 2025
Located about a mile north of the famed Wrigley Mansion in Pasadena, California, and just off of Orange Grove Avenue’s former Millionaire’s Row, sits the “crown jewel” of homes designed by famed architect brothers, Charles and Henry Greene.
Built atop a grassy knoll (no would-be assassins here, though), the home was commissioned by David and Mary Gamble of Cincinnati in 1908, which is why today it is known as The Gamble House. David Berry Gamble was a second generation member of the Procter & Gamble Company in Cincinnati. He retired from active work in 1895.
In order to escape the harsh midwest winters, the Gambles traveled to balmy Southern California for winter. In 1907, they decided to build a permanent home in Pasadena. In June of that year, they purchased a lot on Westmoreland Place, passing up the more fashionable address of South Orange Grove, known at that time as Millionaires’ Row.
It just so happened that the famed M.I.T. trained architects, Charles and Henry Greene, were designing the house next door to that property, and impressed with the other Greene & Greene homes in the neighborhood, the Gambles met with the brothers and agreed on a commission. The Greene brothers chalet-look of the exteriors had some people dubbing the area “Little Switzerland.”
David and Mary resided in the house until their deaths in 1923 and 1929. Mary’s sister, Julia, lived in the house until her death in 1943. David and Mary’s son, Cecil, and his wife also lived in the house beginning in 1946 and briefly considered selling it. When prospective buyers spoke of painting the interior teak and mahogany woodwork white, Cecil and his wife (thankfully) had second thoughts.
The Gambles realized the artistic importance of the home, and it remained in the Gamble family until 1966, when it was deeded to the city of Pasadena in a joint agreement with the University of Southern California School of Architecture. The Greene brothers also designed the furniture, and the house has been preserved with many of its original furnishings.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the Greenes’ style of Craftsman architecture went out of favor. In the 1950s, thanks in part to the editor of House Beautiful magazine, Elizabeth Gordon, the house, along with other arts and crafts homes, were put back on the architectural map.
Tracy and I took one of the many guided tours to check out the house. In prior visits, photos could not be taken inside the Gamble House, but they are now permitted (no flash, of course).
The Tree of Life design on the leaded art-glass entry pays homage to the principal material used in the construction of the house. The door is one of many things in the house that have a Japanese influence, and reflects the timber architecture of Japan.
When someone says, “Pay attention to the details,” they could be talking about the Greene Brothers, whose detail work, both outside and inside, is second to none.
Both the Gambles, who traveled to Japan in 1908, and the Greene brothers were enamored of Japanese art which was very popular in the early 20th century in Los Angeles. It’s cool to see the door design from the inside aglow with the daylight streaming through.
Hanging in front of that great detail work of the Greene brothers in the entry hall is a flying crane, which the Gambles brought from their home in Cincinnati.
The stork with a rose in its mouth was part of the Gamble family crest (the family had a crest because David’s cousin had been named a baron in England in the late 1800s). This light fixture illuminates the entry hall.
Most of the furniture and gorgeous light fixtures were designed by the Greenes. As a matter of fact, it took them longer to design and build the furniture (two years) than it took to construct the house (one year). Yes, one year.
The living room is the largest of the rooms in the Gamble House. The light fixture above the room is a Greene and Greene masterpiece.
Once again I was attracted to the lamp in this room. I must have been a moth in a previous life. Many of the light fixtures in this house really are decorative pieces of art.
We were told that this was an Inglenook fireplace, which I thought was where they might have some wine. Instead, as I learned later from my new friend AI and old buddy Wikipedia: “An inglenook fireplace is a cozy recess built around a fireplace, often featuring built-in seating and a large, open hearth. Originating from the Scottish word ‘ingle’ (domestic fire), inglenooks were a feature of old, traditional homes, offering a warm gathering space and a sense of history. Inglenooks were prominent features of shingle style architecture and characteristic of Arts and Crafts architecture, but began to disappear with the advent of central heating. Greene & Greene employed the feature in various homes.”
We headed to the beautiful dining room.
Our guide told us that later in the afternoon, the light that shines through the art glass of those gorgeous windows makes for a spectacular sight.
Just like a party at our house, everyone then congregated in the kitchen. 
Greene and Greene designed the beautiful maple cabinets.
The Greene Brothers always looked toward the future, so this house was ultra modern for its time, including electric lighting and central heating. The stove is actually from another Greene and Greene house. Cruise a nearby street and you can see more of their homes (from the outside).
This room directly off the kitchen is where the staff dined.
And if someone in the house pushed a button in their room, the Annunciator would light up in the kitchen, and the staff would know which room needed assistance. To be honest, I was confused as to which of these devices was the Annunciator, but it make sense since I failed mechanical reasoning on every aptitude test I ever took.
The cascading staircase had more right angles than I ever saw in my high school Geometry class. 
It was beautiful to look at, but it took a careful step and a firm grip on the intricately-crafted handrail.
As you ascend the staircase there is another stork light, but also take a look at the opening into the bedroom that allowed cross-ventilation of the house with fresh air when the bedroom windows were opened.
The Greene and Greene touch on these lighting fixtures is renowned, so much so that if you want to purchase a replica online, prices for these types of fixtures are expensive.
The first upstairs bedroom we visited, and more cool lamps.
Then we entered the bedroom of David and Mary’s son, Clarence 
… complete with a fireplace and a couple of swords (or sabres … I wasn’t much of a swashbuckler).
Every kid needs a snail shell lamp …
… and a cool light like this one, that looked to me like a futuristic figure I see in many Hieronymus Bosch paintings. I might have reached lamp overload by now.
Clarence’s older brother, Sidney, became a respected photographer and is known for his photographs from his treks to Peking and North China.
Mary and David’s bedroom was the largest, but still, like the other bedrooms, furnishings were quite sparse.
The “Rob and Laura Petrie beds” had detailed craftsmanship on the end. As did the ceiling fixture made from semi-precious stones.
The Inglenook fireplace included a daybed …
… and a folding screen that for some reason nobody on the tour asked about.
Love this light fixture, too.
The final bedroom on the second floor belonged to Mary’s sister, “Aunt Julia.”
She lived here until her death in 1943. Hmm, is that the Annunciator … or not?
We stepped out on Aunt Julia’s sleeping porch for the look around the garden.
Exterior porches are found off three of the second-floor bedrooms and were used for sleeping or entertaining, while the main terrace is private and beyond the rear facade of the residence. It was said Mary Gamble was quite fond of snoozing on the sleeping porch.
This porch even has a view of the Rose Bowl.
The room on the third floor was intended to be a billiards room, but since nobody in the Gamble family played billiards, it was used as an all-purpose room. Our guide said since they were Presbyterians, the Gambles didn’t drink, smoke or, wait for it, gamble. Obviously, my Presbyterian parents never got that no drinking memo when they hosted many a party when I was growing up.
Finally back on the main floor we visited David’s small private study.
You can walk around the grounds for free anytime, as we do every so often, to look at this magnificent house from every angle.
The main terrace has a patterned brick paving with planting areas, a large pond and garden walls made with distinctive clinker blocks and boulders. Paths are made with large stones from the nearby Arroyo Seco.
The koi pond is a favorite area for people admiring the grounds.
Oh, and if you feel like you’ve stepped Back To The Future reading this, there’s a good reason. The exterior of the Gamble House was used as Doc Brown’s mansion in the movie.
After it burned down (thankfully only in the movie), Doc Brown lived in his garage, which is actually the Gamble’s Carriage House, and now a book store.
Inside the book store we took a look at an old gas pump. The Gambles originally had an electric car (take that Elon), but when they got a gas-powered car the Gamble’s installed their own pump. So many things here fuel your imagination.
Touring the Gamble House is a wonderful experience. The Greene Brothers’ attention to detail is nothing short of marvelous, and this is arguably the greatest home designed during the Arts and Craft movement.
You can even see some of the Greenes’ furniture pieces on display at the nearby Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens.
The Gamble House is the only Greene and Greene home in the world where people are allowed inside to see the Greenes’ tremendous workmanship. These one-hour tours are led by docents and are a terrific way to gain more appreciation for this home, which was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
Not to worry … they’ll leave the light on for you!
Gamble House
4 Westmoreland Place
Pasadena, CA 91103
626.793.3334
Tours: Tuesday & Thursday – Sunday (Reservations highly suggested)
Docent Led Home Tour:
Adult: $20 Students & Seniors: $17 Child (13 – 18) $15 Under 12: Free
Gardens & Gables Tour:
Adult: $20 Students & Seniors: $17 Child (13 – 18) $15 Under 12: Free
Behind The Velvet Ropes Tour (check website for days)
Adult: $60
Parking: Free (Street)
Gamble House
