A stunning Doug Ewing–designed Craftsman-style estate that sits on the banks of the only private lake in Pasadena, CA, has just hit the market for $6.8 million.
Built in 2006, the four-bedroom property is part of the exclusive neighborhood of Brookmere. The gated community, which has only 18 residences, sits directly on the side of Johnston Lake, a “hidden, bucolic” body of water that was created in the 1870s by former Los Angeles Mayor Prudent Beaudry.
As legend has it, Beaudry wished to turn a small spring-fed pond on his land into a beautiful lake, so he dug it out, then used the excess dirt to dam up the nearby San Rafael Creek to filter water to his new on-property lake.
After his death, Beaudry’s property was passed from owner to owner, as the land around it was built up with new homes. The lake, meanwhile, was left open to the public until the 1950s, when it was fenced off and Brookmere was transformed into a private—and very affluent—gated community.
“The setting is truly incomparable, and it is one of just five homes that has direct lake access,” says listing agent Nancy Valentine. “There is nothing like it in the whole area or Pasadena. When you look through the doors and see the setting, it’s truly magical and takes your breath away.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, the listed home is currently owned by Chuck and Lisa Stanislawski, who acquired the property for just $700,000 in 1997.
They “demolished all but one wall” of the residence that previously occupied the land to make way for Ewing’s timeless estate, which was completed in 2006.
Tucked away on a half-acre in the south San Rafael enclave, the 4,539-square-foot residence offering 80 feet of lake frontage is surrounded by oak and sycamore trees, which enhance its fairy-tale appeal.
“It’s the kind of house you might buy even if you have no intention of moving—it’s that special,” Valentine adds.
Indeed, the home’s design is so alluring that it was even featured in multiple Hollywood projects, including “A Deadly Adoption,” starring Will Ferrell and Kristin Wiig, and “Extant,” a TV series that was executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and starred Halle Berry.
The legacy compound boasts a primary residence designed for grand-scale entertaining and a separate guesthouse for extended family and friends.
The main home features a lake-facing great room with an 18-foot ceiling and an enormous boulder fireplace.
“The huge boulders were placed individually in a stone-by-stone process to create the fireplace,” she notes. “It was an integral part of the design element connecting the home to nature.”
The sellers commissioned the artisans who restored Pasadena’s iconic Gamble House to craft the home’s exquisite woodwork.
“It’s truly one of one,” Valentine says. “Pasadena is so special and has so much history, and the owners were cognizant of that.
“That’s why they used local architect Doug Ewing, who had a keen understanding of the Arts and Crafts movement merged with a progressive style.”
The one-level, open floor plan boasts a chef’s kitchen with a vaulted ceiling with hand-hewn beams, a spacious breakfast bar, a walk-in pantry, and an island with a stone countertop and prep sink. An eat-in area opens to a covered patio that would be a nice spot for morning coffee.
The dining room is intimate and showcases views of the lake, which attracts ducks, geese, and even an occasional white pelican.
The lavish primary suite has a wood-burning fireplace, sitting area, jetted soaking tub, and French doors to a private patio overlooking the lake.
Three more en suite bedrooms are located in a separate wing, and there is a separate den with a fireplace and access to a front terrace.
There is also a 30-foot boat dock and a guesthouse. A walkway over a bridge leads to a grassy area known as The Meadow, where there is a community pool.
“We had a family with a young child looking at the home, who said they would like to go fishing on the lake with their son,” Valentine says. “We have also had older people wanting to downsize, looking for something very private. The property appeals to all age groups.”