Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 27, 2011

17

HOMES AND PROPERTY

 Mountain Views News Saturday, August 27, 2011 

One Of A Kind: Featuring unique homes and gardens and the people whoe create them. Story and Photos by Chris Bertrand

URBANE SOPHISTICATION IN MID-CENTURY SOUTH PASADENA HOME!


Elegant yet eminently 
comfortable and livable! 
This home was just listed 
in the Marengo estate area 
of South Pasadena. In a 
neighborhood known 
for its expansive century 
old manor homes, this 
architectural style if 
often hard to find here… 
contemporary, single level 
living with every modern convenience… wrapped 
in Mid Century elegance. 

 When only the finest will do…this home is 
sure to delight the most discerning buyer. The 
owners have carefully reconfigured, refurbished 
and remodeled nearly every system, surface, 
material and component of this 1952 home to 
create a truly turnkey residence. 

Under the careful supervision of highly 
respected Pasadena designer, Ann Fletcher, Mark 
Lockwood Construction, Sierra Custom Kitchens 
and other exemplary local artisans and suppliers 
reconstructed this property from the inside out, 
top to bottom, foundation to rooftop… and soup 
to nuts!

When the owners started the remodel a few years 
back, the home needed lots of TLC, according to 
listing agent, Carol Majors. Inspiration and vision 
has polished this home into a beautiful jewel. 
Walls were moved; rooms were relocated; the 
foundation reinforced to deliver an open great 
room across the back. Every light fixture, cabinet 
door and faucet was carefully planned and place 
for its highest and best use. 

 Nearly every imaginable current technology 
was then seamlessly embedded throughout, 
including a room controlled speaker system, then 
a central control access was created in the laundry 
room to offer easy access for repairs and future 
upgrades.

I always love a red front door. There’s always 
something so welcoming about one. Once inside, 
the formal living room sets the tone for the entire 
home, highlighting its sleek sophistication with 
high quality materials and a subtle coordinated 
color palette complementing the expansive use of 
hardwood flooring. Special art lighting provides 
just the right illumination to show off treasured 
pieces. 

The new great room incorporates casual living 
at its best, with the breathtaking Brookhaven 
maple and cherry kitchen at its center, from 
Sierra Kitchens, which also provided the bath 
cabinetry. Top of the line appliances include a 
Viking six-burner, dual fuel stove with stainless 
steel exhaust, plus a built-in, cabinet front 
Thermador refrigerator-freezer, Fisher& Paykel 
two drawer dishwasher, Subzero beverage chiller 
and Dacor convection/microwave. Exquisite 
CaesarStone Quartz counters in a soft grey-green, 
are complemented by green, Italian glass tile 
backsplashes. 

On one side of the kitchen, a family room invites 
comfortable, casual gathering, while on the other 
side of the kitchen, a fabulous dining room with 
backlit glass front cabinetry provides chic display 
and storage. The entire great room looks out to 
the back yard and two sets of sliding doors open 
to the yard, for easy, California Style, indoor to 
outdoor living and entertaining.

Not one but two bedroom wings provide 
consummate privacy and separation. The main 
bedroom wing includes the master and two other 
bedrooms plus two full baths. The master suite 
includes a dressing and mirrored, triple closet 
area, a generous bedroom with closet, plus a 
large bath with separate tub and walk-in shower. 
An additional door conveniently connects to the 
second bedroom, while the third bedroom offers 
an en suite bath.

With access from both the living and great 
rooms, a second wing, with a generous bedroom 
and bath, is perfect for a private home office, den, 
guest or extended family quarters. Both wings 
offer privacy doors, so sleeping children or family 
members with conflicting schedules remain 
undisturbed by activities in the living spaces.

Downstairs, the deep basement offers a great 
opportunity for the oenophile to create a wine 
cellar.

The home is walking distance to all three 
levels of public schools in the highly rated South 
Pasadena Unified School District. Just blocks to 
neighborhood shopping, restaurants and parks, 
South Pasadena is a vibrant community with easy 
commuting access to the Gold Line train to LA 
and bus lines, as well as the 110 freeway.

In a neighborhood steeped in tradition 
and quality, this home offers extraordinary, 
sophisticated living, yet is consummately and 
eminently comfortable and livable! 

1961 Oak is offered at $1,395,000 by Carol 
Majors of Coldwell Banker, San Marino. The 
home will be open on Sunday, August 28th from 
2-4 p.m. For more information, visit www.
MajorsMarketPlace.com or call 626-399-9665. 

Know of an interesting home, garden or 
person who helps create them that might interest 
our readers? Send the contact information to 
C.Bertrand@MtnViewsNews.com.

 


PRICING UNDER PRESSURE

Deciding on an asking price for your home 
is challenging enough these days, but you 
need specific pricing strategies for particular 
scenarios, especially if you’re under pressure 
to move quickly or your home isn’t selling after 
being on the market for several months. Here are 
suggestions for both situations.

If you’re facing a deadline due to job relocation 
or other reasons, then you need to price 
competitively, even more competitively than 
expected in today’s market. You’ll need to list at 
significantly less than your competition. Think 
15% less. That may seem tough to stomach, but 
it’s better than continuing your monthly loan 
payments or the hassle of trying to find tenants 
to rent your home.

If your home has been listed for some time, but 
not generating interest, you’ll need to lower your 
price. Of the three elements that sell a home - 
price, location, and condition - price is the one 
you’ll have the most control over.

If home values have declined in your 
neighborhood, the price you originally listed at 
a few months ago may now be too high and out 
of line with comparable listings. Now would be 
the time to have your real estate agent prepare a 
new Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and 
reevaluate your pricing strategy. 

If you’ve got to sell, and sell now, price it like 
you mean it.

2125 E Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena $669,000 
Classic one story Spanish home with original architectural details. Clean 
and well maintained, this 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home offers hardwood floors, 
barrel ceiling in living room, copper plumbing and central air.
Marsha 
FieldsColdwellBankerArcadia626.821.1276OPEN SUN 2 - 42125 E Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena $669,000 
Classic one story Spanish home with original architectural details. Clean 
and well maintained, this 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home offers hardwood floors, 
barrel ceiling in living room, copper plumbing and central air.
Marsha 
FieldsColdwellBankerArcadia626.821.1276OPEN SUN 2 - 4OPEN SUN 2 - 4END OF THE LANE 
Life begins at the end of the lane. Nestled against the hillside, this terraced lot provides tree top views from most rooms. 
The original house was a Craftsman Style home. Most of the floors are hardwood. The bathrooms have teak floors. Three 
of the four bedrooms overlook the patio terrace with dining under the umbrella of shade provided by a tree. A few steps 
below is a large, level grass area with room for a pool. Beyond the grass area sits an over-sized garage with ample room 
for a workshop or hobby area. For a pastoral surrounding, and a house with history, do not miss this unique property.
2125 E Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena $669,000 
Classic one story Spanish home with original architectural details. Clean 
and well maintained, this 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home offers hardwood floors, 
barrel ceiling in living room, copper plumbing and central air.
Marsha 
FieldsColdwellBankerArcadia626.821.1276OPEN SUN 2 - 4Marsha FieldsColdwell 
BankerArcadia465 N. Canyon - Monrovia 685,000
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com