The Historic Blinn House
The Blinn House, built in 1906, was designed by Chicago architect, George Washington Maher in the Midwestern Prairie School style.
Consistent with the Prairie School philosophy, Maher designed the interior of the house using harmonious, natural materials – the rich, warm tones of mahogany and oak and embellished it with repetitive patterns of trailing wisteria vines from nature to create the illusion that the house was a natural extension of the environment.
Wisteria vines along the front of the house, growing on the pergolas and trellises are repeated in the leaded glass windows and the glass tile fireplace.
Door
Outdoor Trellises
Outdoor Trellises
Outdoor Trellises
Outdoor Trellises
Outdoor Trellises
Staircase
Outdoor Trellises
Staircase
Fireplace
Light Fixtures
Staircase
Light Fixtures
Light Fixtures
Light Fixtures
Bay Windows
Light Fixtures
Light Fixtures
Leaded Glass Tile Fire Place
Although initially the fireplace mosaic glass design was attributed to Tiffany, it is now believed to be the work of Chicago glass artist Orlando Gianinni, who did similar work for other Maher homes.
The wisteria design motif artfully borders the broken-arch windows and is repeated on the floor to ceiling mosaic of trailing wisteria vines surrounding the fireplace. Tiles in warm gold, green, and brown tones create an illusion of nature that dominates the living room.
Ford Place, Pasadena
In 1905, the Blinns decided to leave Oak Park for the warm climate and stimulating cultural life they had discovered in Pasadena. They purchased a lot in the exclusive Ford Place, one of Pasadena's first subdivisions, and set out to build their dream home and what was to become a historic masterpiece a century later.
Architecture
Wishing to bring a little of their previous home environment with them to California, the Blinns hired popular Chicago architect, George Washington Maher to design their California home in the Midwestern Prairie School Style.