Located in Los Angeles County, South Pasadena is known for its stunning homes, small businesses, and at its educational opportunities. The community takes great pride in having been consistently named as among the best places to live in California. The town provides residents with lots of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. It is sometimes referred to as the “City of Trees” given that its parks span more than a hundred acres and countless trees line its streets, giving it a picturesque feel.
This list is a showcase of some of Pasadena’s most beautiful homes and the architects behind them. These 15 architects were chosen based on their extensive backgrounds, skills, and experiences. Several of them offer their own unique services; others showcase a knack for some of the area’s most popular home styles.
Nott & Associates
1508 Mission St., South Pasadena, CA 91030
With over 400 projects completed in the San Gabriel Valley, Nott & Associates uses an excellent design-build approach that allows it to keep its entire process in-house. The firm provides a complete and comprehensive range of architecture, construction, and interior design services and specializes in custom residential home remodeling. Some of its best projects can be found in areas like South Pasadena, Pasadena, San Marino, Altadena, and La Canada. Nott & Associates showcase expertise in numerous architectural vernaculars and home styles including Craftsman, Colonial, Spanish colonial, Californian bungalow, and modern themes. The firm is also noted for its great post and beam structures. All these great services have allowed it to be featured in publications like Pasadena Living and Arroyo Magazine. Its best work can be seen in the project below.
Originally completed in 1903, this home challenged the firm with its extensive restoration and updates. The firm had to provide accurate historic detailing. The firm’s team opted for a wood-shingled roof, great wood siding, and several decorative support posts.
PECK Architecture Structural Civil
25 S El Molino Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101
CM Peck specializes in architecture, civil engineering, and structural engineering. The firm is led by Chris Peck, the firm’s founder, who has expanded its project range to include commercial, multi-family, and mixed-use projects. The firm has secured partnerships with some of the best architects and designers across the Los Angeles Area and beyond. Prior to his establishment of the firm, Peck first gained experience in high-rise structures with a firm in New York and London, in addition to civil engineering and architectural design with a company in Los Angeles. Under his leadership, CM Peck has been distinguished with numerous awards including the 2019 Westside Urban Forum Design Award and the 2017 Pasadena Heritage Award for Historic Preservation. The firm has been published in magazines like Architectural Digest and the Los Angeles Times Magazine. As a result, the firm has secured a presence across Southern California and maintains affiliations with organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the US Green Building Council.
The project above was completed in 2017. It spans over 18,000 square feet and included a feasibility study, structural engineering, and the overall design. The home was transformed from a Santa Fe Pueblo Style into a dramatic modern masterpiece. Some of its best features are its indoor-outdoor spaces that provide stunning views of the nearby area. The firm also provided several lounges, a vanishing edge pool, and spas.
Cynthia Bennett & Associates, Inc.
501 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Drawing inspiration from nearly four decades of industry experience, Cynthia Bennett & Associates has delivered hundreds of stellar projects to countless families in the San Gabriel Valley. Some of its best homes can be found in the communities of South Pasadena, Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, San Marino, Glendale, and Alhambra. The firm is a team—a team of talented interior designers and architects, and each member brings multiple years of experience to the firm. It also has several of its own project managers with extensive general contractor license and construction experience. And they are all supported by a great administrative staff.
The firm has been in business since 1981 and assists its clients with everything from inception to completion. The firm also works closely with homeowners in terms of working on small details such as handling permits and material selection. The company has had the honor of being featured in various publications. Some of these noteworthy magazines include Traditional Home, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Accents, Twenty Beautiful Homes, Home, Design/Build Business, and Kitchen & Bath News.
The project above showcases a transitional theme. Completed in Toluca Lake, the owner of this 1940’s Georgian style home preferred an infusion of a variety of designs, hence the firm’s choice of transitional architecture. Inside, some impressive features include a traditional library, a Zen-inspired guest bathroom and bath, and its own gym. The firm also worked on its home office.
Susan Masterman Architects
1233 Garfield Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Susan Masterman Architects is a full-service firm that specializes in residential projects, interiors, gardens, and boutique commercial spaces. It is best known for its exquisite custom homes and expertise in traditional architecture. At its helm is Susan Masterman, the company’s principal architect. She grew up in Massachusetts and personally oversees each and every project that the company takes on. Aside from residential architecture, she is also well-versed and experienced in terms of planning and preservation. She founded the firm in 1997. Under her steady leadership, the company has had the opportunity to be published in various publications like PATCH and Los Angeles Times. The company’s expertise can best be seen in the project featured below.
The company collaborated with Tommy Chambers, Inc. for this project’s interiors and with Thomas Lake Builders for its construction. The company was hired to perform an extensive renovation of the home, originally designed by a renowned architect. Its team worked on a new rear addition and the entire update. The home primarily features a timeless Spanish Colonial theme, along with several arches that connect several of its spaces.
Hartman Baldwin
300 S Raymond Ave. #18, Pasadena, CA 91105
HartmanBaldwin employs a design-build approach and specializes in historic restorations, home additions, and custom homes and extends its services throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County. Given its expertise in historic renovations, the firm is often the leading choice for projects that require a deep understanding of specific architectural styles. The firm has constructed and renovated some of the most beautiful homes around Southern California’s most historically significant areas. In 2018, it was named the 15th best remodeling company out of 550 firms ranked nationwide by Remodeling Magazine. Comprised of an award-winning team of architects, Certified Interior Designers, project managers, artisans, and craftsmen, the firm consistently demonstrates a flair for a wide array of designs, including contemporary, Tudor, English, Mediterranean, and traditionally-inspired architecture.
The extensive home remodel above was first crafted in 1929. It spans 3,560 square feet and challenged the firm with its entire update and the construction of its new pool house complete with a bathroom and sauna. The interiors included a major overhaul; its sunroom showcases mahogany doors and windows that open up to a great yard.
James V. Coane & Associates
30 North Raymond Ave. Suite #611, Pasadena, CA 91103
James V. Coane + Associates, Architects specializes in custom residences and residential estates as well as expansions and historic renovations. On occasion, the firm also takes on apartment interiors, multi-family residential, retail, and corporate interior projects. The firm has completed projects throughout California and abroad and has consistently been recognized by the Pasadena Weekly. Many of its projects have been featured in magazines such as Architectural Digest, LA Architect, and the Los Angeles Times. And many of these projects have been used as film locations for movies and television shows. The firm’s work has often been recognized for its excellent command and appreciation of modern and historical themes. The firm has also been noted for its fine attention to detail and intimate interior and exterior details.
The project above best embodies the company’s talent and expertise. It sits on a large flat rectangular lot in one of Pasadena’s most historically significant streets. The project challenged its team with the historic restoration of the project’s classic Italian Revival architecture. Some of the home’s most distinctive features include a pool, a large cabana building, a new garage, and an all-new basement. The original house displays wonderful arches, smooth stucco, precast concrete, wrought iron, and classic clay tile hipped roofs.
Tyler + Kelly Architecture
80 South Lake Ave. Suite #500, Pasadena, CA 91101
Founded in 1988, Tyler+Kelly Architecture, Inc. has provided a full range of creative architectural, interior, and landscape design solutions to public and private sector businesses and institutions throughout Southern California. The firm is known for creating contextual architectural solutions that balance the unique confluences of the urban setting, aesthetic preferences, market opportunities, and jurisdictional constraints. For decades, Tyler+Kelly Architecture has produced engaging architecture and designs that have withstood the test of time. Its portfolio spans over 300 built projects throughout the Southern California area and beyond. The firm is led by principals Rob Tyler, AIA and Jon Kelly, AIA, LEED AP.
Decadent finishes and attention to detail accentuate this one-story renovation in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains. The firm opted for arched openings and exposed joinery to bring the Spanish style character indoors. Along with a renovation of all finishes and fixtures, 1,500 square feet was added, including a new master suite, kitchen, and sunroom.
Harvest Architecture
1026 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Harvest Architecture honors the past and pulls it forward. Since 2002, this South Pasadena architectural firm has worked with discerning clients and contractors who share its commitment to historic structures and modern living.
Harvest Architecture specializes in every phase of the residential design process. With an organic and fundamental approach, it sees that each element and each person is integral to the whole. By listening carefully and deeply to its clients, it can translate their desires and lifestyles into beautifully crafted homes. Aside from its stellar new homes, the firm has also taken on several accessory dwelling units.
To the Harvest team, the architectural process is an adventure. It does architecture for real life and is not afraid to include bold ideas when it makes sense to its clients. For example, a kid’s room may include a hideout or secret passageway. Its team of professionals embraces surprise and inspires imaginative choices. It combines giving the client what they want and bringing to them what they need. In this way and others, the firm achieves sustainability and livability. This strategy also yields an unexpected benefit: the home clients dreamed of but never realized was possible.
Giisamex Architecture Inc.
220 Monterey Rd., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Headquartered in South Pasadena, Giisamex Architecture extends its services throughout Pasadena and its neighboring communities. It is a proud member of the AIA and provides a complete range of design and development services. It typically takes on medium-scale projects and remodels and, on occasion, commercial spaces. Composed of a team of talented and experienced professionals, Giisamex has provided architectural and structural drafting plans for high-end residential single and multi family projects, flipped homes, and garage conversions. The firm’s portfolio depicts an extensive array of designs, ranging from some of the most traditional themes to the latest modern architecture.
The firm is led by Miguel Alvarado, its Chief Operating Officer and a licensed Architect from Mexico City now based in Los Angeles. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Anahuac University and a certified degree in Construction Management and Supervision from the Polytechnic of Madrid. He first gained experience working for over ten years in Mexico City before moving to LA and establishing the firm. His vast experience is still reflected in the company’s work today.
Swift Lee Office
543A S Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105
Headquartered in Pasadena, Swift Lee Office employs a collaborative and multidisciplinary design approach and offers a full range of services. That range includes new construction designed specifically for net-zero energy, tenant improvements, home additions, and master planning, on top of its residential work. The firm also works with its own custom furniture and several other finishes, making its projects all the more personalized. The firm has been in the industry since 2000 and was founded by Gloria Lee and Nathan Swift. The two met while they were studying at Harvard Graduate School of Design and eventually started the firm in an artist’s complex somewhere in downtown Los Angeles. The firm’s portfolio depicts a gallery of innovative and challenging spaces in an extensive range of markets. The firm has been widely recognized with a variety of awards from the AIA and several other award-giving bodies.
The project above is an excellent embodiment of the company’s expertise. It is a two-story addition attached to an existing two-story structure that was first built in 1949. The ground floor houses a laundry room and crawlspace. Its second story, on the other hand, contains the stellar master suite and bathroom.
J Lou Architects
26 E Colorado Blvd. Suite#1, Pasadena, CA 91105
J Lou Architects operates out of its office in Pasadena and takes great pride in the multitude of awards it has won over the years. The firm provides a great range of architecture, construction management, and development services. It is composed of a talented staff of professionals who each brings years of experience to the firm’s projects. Together, they have worked on a long list of project types, regardless of size or scale. Aside from its single-family homes, some of its noteworthy projects include community buildings, historic preservation and restoration, multi-family residential architecture, mixed-use commercial development, and affordable housing work. It has been in service in 2005 and has also had its work featured in a multitude of publications. These include The Los Angeles Times and the Pasadena Star News. The firm’s accolades include several Gold Nugget distinctions.
The project showcased above was completed in Hollywood. It is a single-family residence that sits on a steep slope. It provides its owners with breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Its most notable features are the private exterior courts.
Jim Fenske Architecture
111 Peterson Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Jim Fenske Architecture is headquartered in South Pasadena and provides its clients with a great range of services. It is led by its founder and namesake Jim Fenske, an architect and contractor. He often incorporates various green building and design practices into the firm’s work. He is a Berkeley native and holds a degree from the University of California Berkeley. Under his leadership, the company employs a design-build approach and it has been in business since 1997. The firm has also worked on several historic home renovations and remodels. In addition to these, the company is known to infuse low carbon materials and recycled products into its spaces.
The project above is framed by a craftsman theme. It features a nondescript wooden front porch, wood-paneled exteriors, and various custom finishes. The firm also infused various green methods when working on this particular project.
Space Light Structure Design (SLSD)
1414 Fair Oaks Ave. Suite #3, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Founded in 1994, Space Light Structure Design extends its services throughout Southern California. It specializes in residential, commercial, high density housing and mixed use projects. The firm is particularly well-known for its outstanding architecture, extensive planning, and stunning interiors. The company first started out as a small firm with only two people and has now grown to a staff of 15 people. The firm’s team works closely with clients throughout the entire process and have secured solid relationships with some of the area’s best subcontractors and professionals. The firm also works on predesign, space planning, schematic design, and construction documentation.
Spanning over 3,000 square feet, the project above was completed in Monterey Park. It features flat angular roofs and a recurring theme of straight lines. Its team also used a clean palette and various minimalist finishes.
TAMstudio Architects
107 South Fair Oaks Ave. Suite #213, Pasadena, CA 91105
TAMstudio Architects is best known for its talent for modern and contemporary architecture. It often incorporates straight lines and minimalist touches into its projects and has also been recognized for its use of great materials. At its helm are its principals Anthony Tam and Chung Chan. Tam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from UC Berkeley and draws inspiration from nearly three decades of experience in the industry. He has worked on not only residential projects but also numerous civic, commercial, institutional, hospitality, and entertainment spaces. In addition to this, it has taken on projects outside of the US in countries like Germany, Australia, Chile, Kuwait and Japan. Chan, on the other hand, was awarded his Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver. He has taken on projects across the US and Asia and showcases talent and expertise for a large body of architectural vernaculars.
The company’s talent is best showcased in the photo above. The firm opted for a box-like theme and large glass windows to bring in a rich amount of ambient light. It also worked on stucco finishes, its own pool, and custom finishes.
George Architecture
845 Mission St., South Pasadena, CA 91030
Established in 2004, George Architecture offers a full range of design services for a variety of markets. It specializes in historic preservations, and its traditional architecture and design expertise is widely respected. The firm uses stylistic problem-solving tenets and bases its processes on the AIA’s standard contracts and contract deliverables that involve schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding and negotiation, and construction administration. The firm draws inspiration from the work and craft of notable figures such as Wallace Neff, Myron Hunt, and Charles and Henry Greene. The firm is familiar with numerous architectural themes, everything from craftsman to Mediterranean-style homes. But perhaps George Architecture is best known for its contemporary designs with Japanese modernist principles.
Showcased above is the company’s Younghouse project, an extensive remodel and addition. The firm updated its former ranch style into this entirely new space reminiscent of Swiss chalets. The company’s team worked on excellent indoor-outdoor areas, two guest bedrooms and a shared bath, and great outdoor spaces.
