SCVH Home Tour: Bacins dedicated to preserving the genius of Strohs

“Betty’s Oak,” a legendary tree shadowing one of most unique homes and gardens in The Oaks, has many stories to share about the former residents of the modern California Ranch home, designed with subtle Craftsman and Oriental influences. Designed by the late architect John Stroh – an acclaimed artist, as was his late wife Betty – the home and its lush gardens will be open to the public for the May 1 Homes & Gardens Tour of Santa Paula/Art Walk in The Oaks. The Hospice of Santa Clara Valley/Home Support Group tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The former Stroh home, located on Say Road in The Oaks, is now owned by Linda Banner-Bacin and Mark Bacin, who have carefully preserved many of the Stroh’s original touches. Stroh designed this home with the environment in mind: the Bacins noted that Stroh’s original blueprints showed the prevailing wind and the path of the sun and moon.A translucent window in the living room provides a spectacular display during the rise of the full moon, noted Linda Bacin. The Bacins have painstakingly maintained the spirit and vision of the Stroh’s home, completed in 1953.Although the home has new tamarind hardwood floors, Linda Bacin said the palette of the new interior paint is culled from “nature, everything you’d see naturally…” and the gardens – although again original – flourish under the care of Linda, a certified Master Gardener and Rosarian.John Stroh generously used natural river rock – he was after all affectionately known as The Rock-Cutter - from the nearby creek, and rich woods (Stroh was also a master carpenter and carver) throughout the property and home, but it was Betty who kept a careful eye on the oak tree.Betty first prepared the young 15-foot tall oak – found on the property of her husband’s partner Roy Wilson Sr. - for crane transport in a six-foot square box. With great assistance from Max Rudolph, more than 50 years ago, Betty planted the oak tree that still regally hovers over the courtyard that opens to much of the home that waited to be built to accommodate Betty’s tree.Linda Bacin believes that “John and Betty were geniuses,” and Mark Bacin said they purchased the property in 2001 after a three-year quest looking for the perfect home. “It was a work in progress for the Strohs for 40 years,” he added.The spacious living room has a pebble-bottomed pond – designed so the waters can never overrun – next to the fireplace where Betty raised orchids near the soft lights from the huge windows that open with a touch of sliding Shoji doors. The large coffee table is made of teak taken from a ship, a natural for Mark Bacin, executive director of the Oxnard Maritime Museum. Much of the art reflects sailing ships and ocean waters.Throughout the home are built-in bookcases and cabinets created by John Stroh, and many artworks collected by the Bacins, who favor area artists including the works by John and Betty. John Stroh’s father built the ornately carved bed in the guest room, and a Jack and Jill bath - with starburst patterns in the tile - connects to the office. At the end of the hall is a wall-covering ceramic work by Betty Stroh encased in John’s woodwork.The master bedroom is painted a light avocado – remember, all the colors reflect those of nature – and the furniture is influenced by the Orient; a windowed ledge above the bed holds perfume bottles that catch the sunlight filtered through tall bamboo outside. A private patio outside the master bedroom meanders to the main back courtyard and pool, the area defined by the low rock walls created by John Stroh. In an area shaded by Betty’s Oak is a massive tile table with a rock pedestal, also John’s work.Linda Bacin has added about 300 rose bushes and a variety of succulents that populate many pots. A trumpet vine planted by Betty and close to 10 varieties of fern – the work of Betty and later Linda (used for flower arranging by both) – share space with whimsical decorations. A climbing Altismo rose leans to hear the soft music of a gigantic windchime.Also featured on the May 1st tour is Marlene and Robert Crozier’s contemporary California Craftsman on West Telegraph Road that offers a look at country living amid acres of lemons and avocados.