From Ashes to Oasis: Designers Rebuild Lives and Landscapes at Pasadena Showcase House

When flames tore through the hills of Altadena on January 7, consuming homes and memories in an instant, exterior designer Gary Sewell and his partner Courtney Bonifacini, lost everything.

Now, as they navigate the complexities of rebuilding their lives, they have found solace in creating something new—a tranquil, Zen-inspired garden for the prestigious Pasadena Showcase House, a 5.5-acre Monterey Colonial estate.

“This is more than just a project for us,” Sewell said, standing on the grounds of the estate where their vision will take shape. “It’s a reflection of our journey.”

Sewell, a veteran in outdoor design with more than 40 years of experience, has long been a fixture in the Showcase House circuit. He spent much of the late ‘80s and ‘90s designing pools and outdoor spaces for the event.

But this year is different. It marks the first project for the new company, GardZen Studio, which the two co-founded.

The two met not over blueprints and landscapes, but through Courtney’s son, a motocross enthusiast. Sewell, an avid racer himself, took the teenager under his wing, and through their time at the track, a relationship blossomed.

Courtney, who worked for the Pasadena Unified School District, had no formal background in design, but she had a lifelong appreciation for outdoor spaces. She grew up in Altadena, in a home her mother chose specifically for its lush greenery. Her backyard was a personal sanctuary—an oasis of trees, a pool, and a garden.

Then the Eaton Fire changed everything.

“We lost both homes,” Sewell said.

Courtney nodded. “We had three articles of clothing, a purse, and my MacBook. I lost my car. We had our two dogs—and one leash.”

In the wake of the fire, the couple found themselves relying on the kindness of friends and family. Within days, a relative gifted them a motorhome, offering them a temporary roof over their heads. Soon after, they moved into a home in Azusa provided by Courtney’s stepbrother’s in-laws.

“There’s been a lot of love, a lot of support,” Courtney said, her voice thick with emotion.

Despite their upheaval, the couple never considered walking away from the Pasadena Showcase House project. If anything, it became a source of motivation.

“For me, it’s what I look forward to,” Courtney said.

Sewell agreed. “Even though we’re overwhelmed, it’s nice to stay busy. Just being able to come here and be creative—it’s our happy place.”

The 2025 Showcase House is a rare gem in Pasadena’s architectural landscape and was once owned by one of the most successful television writers/producers in Hollywood history.

The Pasadena Showcase House of Design is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious home design showcases, with proceeds supporting Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts. The nonprofit has contributed more than $23 million to music and arts programs in Southern California, including funding for music therapy, school arts programs, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Gary and Courtney’s vision for this year’s Showcase House is, naturally, very personal. The design, inspired by Zen gardens, is intended to be a place of serenity and reflection.

The outdoor space will feature gravel, water elements, sculptural pieces, and carefully placed greenery. A moon gate—traditionally a circular opening in a Chinese garden—will serve as a focal point, its mirror reflecting the surrounding landscape and the gentle ripple of water.

“It’s all about balance,” Sewell said, gesturing toward the planned layout. “Light, water, stone, and space. A place where people can come and just breathe.”

The design is more than aesthetic—it is symbolic. Among the carefully curated elements, two objects will hold special significance: a Buddha head and a resilient sago palm, both of which survived the fire.

“Everything in my house burned down—a hundred percent, a thousand percent,” Courtney said. “But somehow, this Buddha’s head remained. She’s beautiful, she’s strong, she’s resilient. And that, to me, represents our community.”

The sago palm, once planted in front of Sewell’s home, will now take its place in the Showcase House garden, a living testament to survival and regrowth.

“These elements are coming from my house that burned down,” Sewell said. “It’s going to be nice.”

As they pour their energy into the Showcase House, Sewell and Courtney are also preparing to rebuild their own homes—two separate properties that will need to be designed, approved, and constructed from the ground up.

“There’s a lot going on,” Sewell admitted. “There’s not enough time in the day.”

In the meantime, the kindness of strangers and friends has kept them afloat. Teachers from Courtney’s former school showed up at her temporary home with clothes. A longtime friend, facing his own battle with cancer, donated furniture from his Marina del Rey apartment.

“The love has been incredible,” Courtney said. “It’s what’s gotten us through.”

In moments of reflection, they acknowledge the irony: as they search for peace in their own lives, they are building a space designed for exactly that.

Despite the challenges ahead, Sewell and Courtney remain focused on creating beauty from the raw elements of nature.

“Any space we encounter, we can transform into someone’s dream,” Sewell said.

For now, that dream is the Showcase House garden—a space of quiet strength, reflection, and renewal.

As they put the final touches on their design over the next few months, the couple knows that when the public walks through their creation, they won’t just be seeing a redesigned garden. For Gary and Courtney, it’s not just about rebuilding landscapes. It’s about rebuilding a life.

More information about GardZen Studio is available at www.gardzenstudio.com. More information about the Pasadena Showcase House of Design is available at www.pasadenashowcase.org.