While living in seven countries over the years with her husband and two sons, architect Selma Cisic developed a passion for rare 18th- and 19th-century furnishings, amassing a collection of antiques and modern classics for her home in Buenos Aires. But when the family moved to Pasadena, California, some of those prized possessions were shipped to a sunlit warehouse-cum-storefront in the heart of Old Town. “We didn’t have room for everything, so we decided to open a shop right away,” says Selma. Adesso (“right now” in Italian), an import shop humming with fresh shipments arriving every few months, was born.

Photographs: Karyn R. Millet
Text: Darra Baker