Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Architecture Wednesday: Altadena Craftsman Compound

First off, while this house is located in Altadena, a check through local websites doesn’t show that it was lost in the recent wildfires in California …

This  Craftsman compound—a main, original home, and two ADU’s on the back of the property—presents a multitude of possibilities to live, work, create, invest, and host. Framed by two majestic California live oaks on a rare 75-foot-wide, 12,000 square foot lot it offers three unique homes, each one reimagined with the utmost attention to detail, including white oak floors, custom red oak cabinetry, custom millwork details throughout, and a cohesive color story inspired by the main residence’s distinct Arts & Crafts motif wallpaper from Bradbury & Bradbury.

The primary residence employs an atmospheric color palette, rich materials, and a variety of unexpected textures ranging from the original red brick to breccia antica marble. There is original woodwork throughout, a fireplace in the living room, a rustic, though modernized, kitchen, along with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Out back there are two guest cottages that feature vaulted ceilings, an open plan living room and kitchen area, one bathroom, and a large bedroom with office space; these cottages can be used as rental income for tenants, guests, office space, art space, studio space, or whatever one my fantasize; and out behind each guest house is a covered patio and firepit area.

It’s perfect to live in and rent out the back houses to help with the mortgage  … or, in light of what’s happened in Altadena, offer the spaces up to those who did lose their homes.

As always, click to emBIGGERate ...

25 comments:

  1. I like them. I would replace some of the beloved wallpaper and lighten the walls a little in the main house. I would replace the open shelves in the kitchen with some upper cabinets. I could live in one of the backyard sheds.

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    1. I love the moody greens and the wallpapered ceiling in that main house. I'd take that one and rent out the other two.

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  2. That wallpaper on the ceiling would *have* to go, and it's bit dark. But I could live in that. If it survived I sure hope the owners have donated those backyard places to some displaced folks.

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    1. I love the wallpaper ceilings, and also the dark moody greens. A Google search seems to suggest the house survived but I don't know how reliable that is, and helping displaced families would have been good.

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  3. This one I liked, but again I have to wonder if this one survived.

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    1. For all I read, it did, but who knows about the accuracy of those lists.

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  4. Cleora Borealis10:30 AM

    🤔 I agree with "Travel" that the main house needs lightening, but adding cabinets in the kitchen might add to the heaviness of the place so I would probably leave the shelves alone. It doesn't really matter though because I'll be renting out the big house and the guest unit right behind it. Me and Hubby and a coupla cats will be just fine in the small unit off in the corner. Don't come knocking; I plan to be a very quiet landlord who is very hard to find!! 😁

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    1. I want that main house just as it is, furnishings and all!

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  5. Anonymous11:35 AM

    the dog's mother
    Hope it stays safe.
    xoxo :-)

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    1. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
      xoxo

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  6. I love this. I enjoy the flow of the rooms. The first thing that stands out to me is the green interior. I would like to see other interior colors for the Craftsmen period. How about Bungalow House Blue, Studio Blue Green, or Rembrandt Ruby... Wallpaper on the ceiling, who knew. I would place nice Craftsman-type cabinets in the kitchen to replace the open shelving. I would like to see more of the grounds of the compound. Looks like pea gravel. I would want to create a lush environment so that one feels that in they are in they are away from others. I could live in one of the cottages and rent out the rest.

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    1. I love the main house from top to bottoms, colors and papers.

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  7. Oh my God Bob you crack me up. I love that you start out with the statement the house was not affected by the fires! I was cackling.

    Now I think I'll take a hard pass on the house. Reminds me of an NBC comedy show set. I can see Sandy Duncan playing the mother.

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    1. The last time I featured an Altadena house, all anyone talked about were the fires, so this time I found the website that lists places that were saved and it looks like this one was cleared.
      Oh dear, now I'll never get Sandy Duncan out of my house????

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    2. Oh yes, I remember that. It seemed every comment was about the fire and not the house, and every comment back from you had me roaring. You had me in stiches that day!

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    3. I was just: "Look at the house, people!!!"

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  8. It's very pretty.
    I love the layout and the colors. It's a pity that so many beautiful, one of a kind houses were lost in those fires, though...

    XOXO

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    1. True, so I hope this one did survive.
      xoxo

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  9. Bob, you can buy the big house and rent one of those little ones to me. I love the style of all of them! (I can't pay much tho. ;)

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    1. I would take the main house, i love all of it.
      Perhaps we can come to a deal for rent??? If I win the Lotto!

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  10. That dining room is simply amazing. I see by comments it isn't universally liked but I think it is unique and interesting.

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    1. I really like it; I love the color and the papered ceiling!!!

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  11. It pleases my eyes, except for the wallpaper on the ceiling, which I think makes it look claustrophobic. I had to Google w/d in the CLs. Had w/d been in a laundry, I would have understood straight away.

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    1. I love a good wallpapered ceiling!

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  12. Like the others, I do not like the wallpapered ceiling, apart from that this is a very nice place. What is this w/d that Andrew speaks of?

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