This South Pasadena Craftsman Bungalow Shows Off a Passion for Collecting

Kristen Pumphrey’s main decorating maxim reveals a healthy skepticism towards rules. “Every room has to have one weird thing so it doesn’t get too serious,” she says, adjusting an illuminated smiley face orb that sits in a corner of the Southern California home that she shares with her husband, Thomas Neuberger, their five-year-old daughter, Poppy, and dog, Roxy. The 1908 Craftsman-style bungalow is nestled in a community known for its architectural heritage and where being faithful to the Arts and Crafts tradition can be a form of gospel.

Yes, rooms are painted in period-appropriate colors and retain their original details, but Kristen and Thomas, who founded and operate the home scent goods brand P.F. Candle Co., don’t let historical purity get in the way of self-expression. “This would never be what I would think of as my style,” Kristen says, pointing to some of “the more old-fashioned stuff.” But when it came time to upgrading elements of their home, Kristen and Thomas deftly navigated choosing materials, furniture, and accessories that equally “feel correct for the house” and their own ’70s-leaning aesthetic.

Thankfully, they had some inspirational kismet shortly before the onset of the pandemic. The couple made a pilgrimage to the Eames House in the Pacific Palisades, which Kristen expected to be a monument to minimalism and sleek design. But in reality, she found the landmark of modernism fun, cluttered, and interesting—the visit was surprisingly empowering. “I’m a collector. That’s how my mom is, that’s how my grandma was,” Kristen says. “I love going to people’s houses and looking at their weird little vignettes.”

Much like the Eames House functioned as a living design lab, Kristen and Thomas use their house as a DIY and professional testing ground, too. These rooms served as the photo studio for their book, At Home with Fragrance: Creating Modern Scents for Your Space. Kristen creates content for the brand’s social media channels (especially popular on TikTok are beeswax candle rolling videos thanks to the ASMR appeal), taking advantage of corners when the light is most soothing, or when rainbows emanate from her collections of prisms and mini disco balls.

To solve the familiar conundrum of what to do about the living room television located near—but not above—the fireplace, Kristen and Thomas splurged on a wood-framed monitor that can be programmed with rotating images. It’s a higher tech option than the tapestry the Eameses used to disguise their hulking set, and the device blends in with paintings and a crewel needlework piece made by Kristen’s grandmothers, and two prints depicting the Griffith Observatory by L.A. artist Chris Turnham. They clad the area surrounding the fireplace with historically compatible tiles from local source Mission Tile West.

The opposite side of the living room that spans the entire width of the house—this layout made spatial planning a challenge—is set up for conversation and analog game playing. Banks of operable casement windows help with the interior airflow, an important factor for optimizing scents, and provide ample natural light for houseplants. Kristen views these as long-term bouquets. “I don’t want more than I can take care of and I feel disappointed in myself when they die,” she says.

The kitchen, which had been expanded by the previous owners in 2003, was the last room to be updated, with polished black marble countertop and backsplash surfaces that contrast with the green cabinetry. Instead of gutting the room, existing built-ins were repurposed and quietly transformed with new hardware and moldings that cap the cabinets with a more streamlined profile. Thomas notes they wound up with the slick black apron sink by luck. For the salon wall full of personal art, photos, and vintage cat plates, Kristen left nothing to chance and created a scheme in Photoshop before a single nail was hammered.

Upstairs, their daughter’s bedroom was a mother-daughter design collaboration. “I wanted it to be a magical fairyland,” Kristen says. “This is probably the last time I’ll get more of a say.” The Thistle and Fox mushroom landscape wallpaper and avocado green accent walls successfully hit peak childhood cottagecore goals. Accessories like a mushroom lamp Kristen found in a local shop in South Pasadena, a garland she made herself, and a cross-stitched village vignette—another oldie but goodie by Kristen’s grandmother—complete the vibe.

Kristen and Thomas’s bedroom is tucked underneath the wide, horizontal dormer of what was originally an attic, offering a dreamy view of the San Gabriel Mountains. The refreshed en suite bathroom contains a double sink with a marble-top vanity that “reminded me of a composition notebook,” Kristen says. The claw-foot tub that was already in place now stands on a new penny tile floor. As in the kitchen, their approach to this space reflects a belief in balancing creativity with reducing waste. Figuring out what to ditch largely came down to considering what was not functional, what would need to be replaced soon, and what was very dated, according to Kristen.

“You definitely have to want to live in an older house,” Kristen says. Nonetheless, the pride they take in their home is palpable. Kristen recalls how back when she was new to L.A. she would take long walks, hoping to catch glimpses into her neighbors’ interiors. “I always leave one of my windows open,” she says. “I’m paying it back.”