1159 Chester Avenue

Idyllic cottage in Bungalow Heaven offers poolside Provencal lifestyle in Pasadena. This magical 1921-built home offers high-end designer updates as well as down to earth, eclectic charm. Sited just above street level behind a gently curving front wall, this stucco cottage is rich with character details inside and out. A gabled roofline with carved bargeboard and rafter tails complements the recessed arched front door, complete with a speakeasy grille. Inside, luminous hardwood floors welcome visitors into the living room, with handsome original built-in benches framing the decorative original Bachelder tiled fireplace. Enjoy garden views and unique built-in entryway cabinets flanking the front door. A formal dining room with beadboard paneling, built-in corner cabinets and picture rail molding is quintessential arts & crafts style with a twist: a basket pendant light lends a playful contemporary element - a motif repeated throughout. The adjacent gallery space offers possibilities, perhaps a reading room or office? Artful touches continue in the kitchen, where marble countertops, gorgeous deVOL brass fixtures and apron sink elevate the cozy breakfast nook with special hardware and original built-in storage. Open white oak shelving, a deVOL pendant light and upscale Bosch and Fisher & Paykel appliances update this early 20th century kitchen to a modern chef's standards. Slow down with a cuppa, gazing out at the sparkling pool and hummingbirds making the rounds. Three sunny bedrooms and two lovely baths give high-end boutique hotel vibes, with french doors leading to the patio and pool, custom tilework and wallpaper in organic tones, a clawfoot tub and top of the line Waterworks fixtures. The backyard is just as special as the interiors with a happy aqua blue pool, al fresco dining spots, and Wisteria-shaded patio and outdoor fireplace -- this variety of charm can't be manufactured or recreated -- it's the sort thats been honed over a century by a series of stewards who preserved character and enhanced the space with their own artistry. To that end, the two car garage offers space as a studio or potential ADU, with a sunny patio area ready for use as a workshop, grilling station or raised bed gardening. This property, located in one of Pasadena's favorite historic districts, enjoys proximity to all the things. As if it could get any better, the home has been awarded Mills Act status, likely resulting in reduced property taxes for its new owner.