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.
