Sam & Alfreda Maloof Foundation

Biking here was challenging since the last 2 miles was quite steep. But glad I was able to check out this place for it's woodwork, architecture and gardens. We did not book a tour ($27) but the rest of the grounds is free and open to the public. THey are not open on Sundays. Overall, cool place to check out in the area.

As a woodworker I've been familiar with Sam Maloof and his work for a few years, and have driven by the exit leading to his home and shop many times wishing I could find the time to visit. This time, knowing I would be passing through on a Saturday after Thanksgiving I made a reservation and we took the tour of the home. This is a hidden gem representing the work of the lifetimes of two artists, Sam and Frieda Maloof. Sam is known for his furniture, especially the sinuous curves of his rocking chairs. The home displays other work he created over the years, included the home which was built addition by addition over 50 plus years. The furniture is beautiful and represents Maloof's unique style, a visual language in a way. My wife was also impressed (not bored) and is telling some friends about it. The gardens and adjacent gallery are also worth a visit, but the main house is well worth the reservation and fee. Check it out.

We've been coming here since it opened and have had many wonderful conversations with Sam back in the day. Saturday we attended the Mexican Folk Art show and bought some exquisite work. We also stopped by for another (7th) visit to the Larry White Equilibrium exhibit. This show is spectacular beyond description. A well know fixture at Maloof and a dedicated employee / partner of Sam's, Larry is an extremely accomplished artist in his own right. While working with Sam for 40+ years, Larry somehow was able to continue to produce his own work simultaneously. The results are absolutely stunning. A frequent comment overheard, "Is all this art the work of one man?" Larry works in wood, printmaking, metal (several large sculptures are permanent installations on the grounds of the Maloof foundation), painting, drawing, and jewelry. The only downside is that for some unexplainable reason, the Maloof foundation has decided not to make a catalog of this amazing show. Epic fail!

Went to see the Maloof home yesterday, and it pains me to give it three stars because the home was outstanding, but our docent was just awful. I will leave her name out, but she has platinum hair and was very sweet, but she must have said "um" about 5,000 times during our tour. She would also talk with her back to us, so I couldn't hear her. It was excruciating. She wasn't knowledgeable about the home either. I asked her three questions and she didn't know the answer to any of them. She sounded like she was trying to fake her way through the tour. I kept wondering if it was her first day. She REALLY needs to learn about the home and practice before she continues.

Wow, this place is the best. Book a tour NOW!!! I discovered the Maloof museum and gardens on Yelp and thought I'd go check it out in Ranco. I have to admit I didn't know who Sam Maloof was. But after reading about his life and legacy, I was sold. I thought I'd go check out the gardens only. Then I found out there was a tour. I was skeptical about the tour that would last 1.5 hours but booked it on a whim. I'm SO glad I did! For a small fee ($15 adults, $10 students), you get to tour the original Sam Maloof residence and have a knowledgeable docent talk to you about everything Sam Maloof. Our guide Lauren was very pleasant and helpful. The original house was moved to the present location due to the construction of highway 210. Maloof's house is a master piece. It took him 40 years to build and he crafted each room and most of the wood piece in his house. I was so amazed by his talent and extraordinary artistic ability and craftsmanship. He seemed to have a down to earth personality also which I admire. I enjoyed touring each room. My favorite is probably the tree house that's his wife Alfreda's reading nook and the tower which is the tallest room in the house. The kitchen and the swirl staircase were equally impressive. I absolutely loved his "singing bricks" floor design. It was so creative and super cool. You gotta experience it first hand! Oh, you also get to sit in one of his famous chairs at the end of the tour and that sure made me feel like a million bucks. The chair, despite being wood, felt so comfy like no other. No wonder president Carter wanted Sam to make him a rocker! After the tour, I walked around the garden which was very pretty and peaceful. What a wonderful afternoon well spent! In sum, this place is the best hidden gem in Rancho and surrounding area. Pay a visit and book your tour NOW!!

I had visited Sam Maloof before the whole complex of buildings was moved from where the 210 freeway cuts through. He had said at that time every stick and rock had to be moved by Cal Trans because the 210 was cutting through it. So here we are many years later.The visit today was free except for the house tour which was $5 but it ended at 3.00 pm and I missed it. Anyway the garden, gallery and gift shop was very pleasant and they had a lot of sculptures on display in the garden for today only. There many events occurring throughout the year so check back on their web site and plan your trip accordingly.

If you're looking for a garden or safe place away from the city to gather your thoughts and look at interesting art outdoors, this is it! Sam & Alfreda's compound is open to the public Thursdays and Saturdays. I was here on Saturday and found out about it through my sister over breakfast at Kickback Jack's and decided to take a drive to the top of Carnelian. We walked up to the visitor's center and asked to get a tour of Sam's digs and they said no. It was booked. OK fine! We were able to tour the 3 acres (approx.) of gardens and checkout the Sam museum which was cool. THE SAM MALOOF MUSEUM: It's arranged in chronological order from Sam's upbringing to his last work which was a chaise that he designed and created with an apprentice at 90 years old. Right now they have president Carter's rocking chair on loan from the Smithsonian (don't quote me on that but I know it's on loan from somewhere). I never knew the guy but I could definitely feel the essence of his hard work ethic and creative designs. I'd compare him to the Frank Gherry of furniture and design. The most impressive piece was the hutch with the baby cradle in it. Why hasn't Ikea copied and mass produced something like this?! If they made a bigger gap between the cradle and the drawers it could be a diaper changing station as well. So functional and cute! THE WIDOW'S RESIDENCE: I asked if the wife was still alive and the docent said, "The widow lives in a separate residence on the property." The widow huh? Her name is Beverly by the way and her house is right behind the main house and from the outside it looks super cool and I want to live in it! I kind of felt like TMZ taking photos of her awesome house from the outside perimeter (her front door has a cool sculpture of a lady hanging from it. Almost like a trapeze artist?) and I saw her take out the trash and wanted to run up to her and ask, "Bev, Bev! What are your thoughts on the new Yeezy Spring Collection?!" or "Bev! Bev! What do you think of Trump as the front runner for the republican party?!" Not sure if she's approachable but it's SUPER nice of her to open her home, gardens and art exhibits to the public like this.THE GARDENS: Who owns acres in California anymore? The Maloof's! These gardens have an array of foliage, plants, fruit trees, etc. with art sculptures/exhibits mixed in! I loved it! Last week I visited the Peace and Meditation Gardens in Los Angeles and that was nothing compared to here. These are gardens! The meditation gardens in Los Angeles overlooked a smoggy , population overloaded, intrusive neighborhood while the Maloof gardens are at the foothills of the mountain with nothing around it but peace and quiet and the sounds of nature. Definitely the number one thinking spot in Rancho Cucamonga/Alta Loma. I'm definitely returning to tour the house for $15.

I didn't know Rancho C had a historic home open to the public. Excellent architecture with use of the wood home. I always appreciate the details of the home.There is a gallery onsite and a small gift shop. The gallery is spacious and has a mix of furnishings and wall art. The garden isn't too large so one may stroll around.

Sam was an expert Master Woodworker Craftsman. The family house is now a museum and is filled with many pieces of his furniture as well as original paintings and pottery. President Jimmy Carter was a recipient of one of his rocking chairs, Sam was an innovator and an incredible designer. His workmanship is just exquisite, every piece is a one of a kind masterpiece. Even if you are not a fan of furniture, this house will really fill your mind with his innovative ideas in design.

My husband and I visited this facility last week. It's a beautiful place, but the tour guide was terrible. She stumbled throughout the entire tour. She would forget what she was saying and gave only bits and parts of the history of this museum. After paying our money to get the history of this facility, we were quite disappointed.