Historic home and garden tours are popular community fund-raisers – and one of the oldest and most prestigious is the annual Pasadena Showcase House, which attracted more than 40,000 visitors over a four-week period.  Featuring imaginative “make-overs” by 26 talented designers, the 2010 Showcase was held at the stately Old Pasadena Cravens Estate and included a major kitchen remodel that incorporated “green technology” with energy-saving Nora Lighting fixtures.

Working with Modern Lighting, a Temple City, CA, showroom, Nora Executive Vice President Jilla Farzan coordinated the Nora contribution, which included energy-efficient CFL recessed down lights, adjustable elbow down lights and Nora’s new linear LED TapeLight, which was discreetly installed in kitchen cabinets to create dramatic displays. “The Pasadena Showcase House raises funds for a number of very worthwhile endeavors, including the American Red Cross, the L.A. Philharmonic and music education programs,” said Farzan.  “We were delighted to be a part of this very high-profile community project.”

The French-style Cravens Estate was originally built in 1930 for John and Mildred Myers Cravens, heir to Liggette and Myers Tobacco (later the American Tobacco Company).  Designed by architect Lewis Hobart, the mansion had more than 19,000 square feet and 50 rooms. In 1962 the Estate was donated to the San Gabriel Pomona Valley chapter of the American Red Cross. The original kitchen was converted into a conference room and an oversized “butler’s pantry” became the newly-renovated kitchen, which was revitalized for the Showcase project by Cynthia Bennett & Associates of South Pasadena. “Since we were able to salvage and ‘repurpose’ as much of the original materials as possible, this inspired us to use only eco-friendly new materials” said designer Bennett.

Along with updated lighting, the kitchen project included counter tops in both concrete and Ice Stone, which is 100% recycled glass; cabinetry made with FSC-certified wood; energy-efficient appliances; low or no VOC paints and wood stains; sustainable copper metal accents; and water-saving faucets. Many original components were salvageable, including stripped and cleaned pantry cabinets, tiled flooring and hardware. In addition to recessed fixtures and tape lights, Nora offers one of the industry’s most comprehensive lines of interior lighting products for commercial, retail, hospitality, healthcare, educational and residential installations.

The company is celebrating its 20th year in business and is known for customer service and quality fixtures with a range of price points. Nora LIghting is a pioneer in LED product development, offering recessed, under cabinet, accent, track, Mini Rail, Nora Rail, pendants and emergency lighting with LED sources. Along with LED fixtures, Nora also manufactures incandescent, fluorescent and HID sources in track and rail systems, recessed lighting, multiple lighting systems, under cabinet and an expanding series of accent lights. Nora products can be seen in professional electrical distributorships and lighting showrooms nationwide. For more information about Nora products, visit the website at : www.noralighting.com or call 800.686.6672.