My Burger As Art - Big Daddy's in Pasadena

Barry Gray, one of our Senior Partners just emailed us to ask - "are we doing food recommendations for our new blog? I just had the most delicious fire grilled burger at Big Daddy's in Pasadena."  Yes Barry, we are!  

from Barry:
If you dare build a hamburger joint literally next door to a classic In and Out Burger you better be good.....  I had a fire grilled angus beef burger (perfectly cooked to requested MW) with gorgonzola cheese.  Fries and rings are cooked in peanut oil.  They also serve beer and wine including their own brew.   Counter order with indoor and outdoor seating, food took about 15 minutes to arrive at my table but it was crowded and it was grilled to order - worth the wait.   Visit the nearby Pasadena Architectural Salvage they are having a sale all weekend.  Delicious burgers and vintage screen doors as art!

Big Daddy's: 2122 East Foothill Boulevard, Pasadena CA  tel. 626.796.1266  

My Home As Art : : Asher & Jessica : : Santa Monica

Asher and Jessica, co-owners of Weego Home, a home furnishings boutique on Main Street in Santa Monica, know how to live large in a small space.  

What do you love most about your home?  We love the cozy vibe that living in 1000 square feet provides.  Although we had initial reservations about coexisting in a small space, we now appreciate it's charm.  Most items in our home have a multi-functional purpose, which forces us to get creative with how we decorate.   Our space also challenges us to really consider which items are absolutely essential.

What drew you to your home?  We adore the Santa Monica Main street neighborhood, so we were set on finding a fixer in that area.  As soon as we saw this dingy, un-kept California bungalow, just 7 blocks from the beach....we knew this was it!  We looked past the flaws and saw the remarkable character that lay just beneath the surface.   Bringing this dwelling back to life was an incredible project that taught us important lessons about compromise and communication.

What is your favorite thing to do at home?  Entertain, decorate and garden.  Our living room is located at the core of our space, so we wanted to evoke a welcoming, relaxed and playful vibe.  When we are not entertaining indoors; one of the many benefits of living in Southern California, is the unique ability to enjoy outdoor living 90% of the time.  We take full advantage by having multiple living/dining areas in our small wrap around garden.  We also focus on planting drought tolerant succulents, which require little care and offer a unique and modern aesthetic.  The recent addition of tall hanging herb garden keeps the yard smelling delightful too.

When I’m home I feel...?  At ease.  We wanted to create an oasis, comprised of the things we love most.   From the art and photos to the furniture and fixtures- every piece represents an experience in our time line.  The items themselves are not all that valuable, but the memories that they represent help to fill our home with an eclectic warmth.

What makes your home "ART" ?  The main elements that make our home "art" is a compilation of style, decor, and the overall ambiance felt within our space.  As we evolve, our home also reflects that shift- making our space a continuous work-in-progress.  By definition, art is "the expression or application of human creative skill" and our home exudes our creative personality, both individually and as a couple.  Similar to an art exhibit, as guests step onto our property, they too get an in-depth experience of our creative psyche. 


photo credit www.dabblemag.com

My Coop As Art

It's official.  Chickens are trendy.  Who knew?  One of our partners, Geoff Clark, is the proud owner of a flock of 5 hens - Janet, Betty, Marjorie, Audrey & Esme.  Max Nelson, another one of our partners said he showed a Buyer two properties this week that had backyard coops.  And our Partner Ted Clark's Mendocino listing in Altadena has a spectacular organic garden with roaming hens. See, it's official.  It's cool to have chickens. 

So why not give your hens a Home As Art?  

Here are a few stylish options that may inspire you.

From top to bottom:

1. The Nogg  : : handmade in the U.K. 

2. Custom Coop featured in DWELL

3. Chicken Circus : : by STUDIO H (a public high school "design/build" curriculum that sparks rural community development through real-world, creative projects)

4. Reclaimed cedar coop by Moderncoops

South Pasadena Post & Beam - just listed

Marvin O. Berman, Architect and USC grad who worked with Richard Neutra and Victor Gruen, designed a very sophisticated South Pasadena home in 1959. The stunning renovation of this three bedroom, two bath gem mixed the best of the original with timeless upgrades. Vaulted ceilings, walls of glass, clerestory windows, and a block fireplace are some of the original elements that speak great design. Extensive use of wood paneling and grey stained hardwood floors unite the main areas including the remodeled kitchen, family and dining rooms; a "floating" island made of stainless steel and walnut veneer integrates these spaces with a great flow and ease of movement. The bathrooms have been updated with new tile and fixtures. There is also a generous bonus room/office behind the carport which contains the laundry. The indoor / outdoor design includes decks on both the front and back of the house which showcase the peaceful setting with views over the surrounding hillsides and the Colorado Bridge. A small yard and a patio area complete the picture. If you're looking for a killer mid-century modern with style and views, this is the home.

551 Alta Vista Avenue, South Pasadena

for sale $875,000

click HERE for property details

presented by Jennifer Parker-Stanton : : 323.351.3278 : : deasy/penner&partners

The Lederer Residence by Finn Kappe - just listed

First time on the market since completion in 1992. After raising their children successfully in the Huntington Palisades an accomplished, creative couple hired Finn Kappe to help realize their dream house for the next chapter of their lives. The site originally housed a small historical Spanish structure, which was honored by preserving the facade and ornamental tile sections in the interior. The design, however, is modern and constructed mostly of cinder block and glass yet warmly contrasted with dark oak floors, colorful murals and timbered doors. Sited on a private lane, overlooking Rustic/Santa Monica Canyons, the house captures impressive green belt and urban views in all directions. Centering the house is the dramatic, voluminous living room with hearth set into the 2-story glass wall. The kitchen, dining wing, with attached indoor/outdoor areas plus three living quarters with baths reach in opposite directions on two levels. The floor plan offers unusual privacy and flexibility with access to the outdoor gardens and patios from every room. Sand and surf await nearby.


390 Vance Street, Pacific Palisades
for sale $3,150,000
click HERE for property details


presented by Frank Langen & Mike Deasy : : deasy/penner&partners

Bestor Architecture

If you've ever been to Intelligentsia in Silverlake and were delighted by the blue & white moroccan tile floor, you already know Barbara Bestor's work.  Or perhaps you've been to Pitfire Pizza in Culver City and marveled at the two-tiered bright red steel pizza ovens. 

Best known for her private residential work in and around Los Angeles, both her residential and commercial projects are inspired by her motto: "Everyone should experience strange beauty everyday." 

Barry Gray and Crystal Heatherly, two of our Partners at deasy/penner&partners, recently sold a "Modern Farmhouse" in Silverlake designed by Bestor.  The pitched roofline and cement board siding evoke an east coast farmhouse, but simple interior volumes, sustainable materials & industrial materials are classic California modern.

Modern Farmhouse - 2300 Baxter Street, Los Angeles, CA. - SOLD

photos by Jim Simmons

For photographer Dewey Nicks and his family, Bestor designed a casual, kid-friendly beach house. You can see more photos HERE at Martha Stewart Living.

photos by Matthew Hranek

Bestor's "Floating Bungalow" in Venice is a "modernist contemplation on (and reinterpretation of) the working-class bungalows that have long defined the area.  The house appears dreamlike, an abstracted bungalow dipped in white and lifted in the air.."


Read more about the Floating Bungalow at HERE.

photos via Bestor Architecture

Barbara Bestor's, Bohemian Modern: Living in Silverlake can be purchased HERE

Scandinavian Modern in Echo Park with a new price

A modern Scandinavian aesthetic and meticulous eye for detail converge in this exciting new home in Echo Park.  Perfectly sited on a large flat lot with iconic views of the Hollywood Sign and Observatory.  A rare opportunity to live in an intelligently designed, beautifully crafted custom architectural  home.  

2112 Duane Street, Echo Park

3 bed : : 2 baths : : views

for sale $749,000

click HERE for property details

presented by Geoff Clark : : deasy/penner&partners

Idyllic Venice Cottage : : Just Listed

Tucked behind a hedgerow on a quiet one-way street in Venice, sits this pair of restored Craftsman bungalows separated by a lush garden.  The heart and hub of this home is the trellised porch, shaded by bougainvillea, cooled by ocean breezes, and serves as a bridge to the adjacent studio. Meticulously restored by the previous owners with vintage fixtures and details, this light filled home is embraced by a cloak of greenery visible from every window.  Published in O at Home, Western Interiors, and featured on the Venice Garden Tour.  Located just one half block from Abbot Kinney.

click HERE to see more images from O at Home.
property details can be found HERE
visit the property website - www.652crestmoore.com


presented by Ramey Ward : : deasy/penner&partners
photography by Charmaine David

Quintessential Birdstreet Living :: for lease

Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac, this Bird Street home is perched high above the Sunset Strip.  The epitome of Bird Street Living, this sophisticated home has one of the best views in L.A. spanning downtown L.A. to the ocean.  This 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath home is available as a furnished short term lease.  

9016 Hopen Place, Los Angeles, CA

for lease $32,000 / month

3 bed : : 3.5 baths : : pool : : views

presented by Josh Gaunya : : deasy/penner&partners

Contact Josh to schedule a showing : : 310.275.2223

Property details can be found at [etc] LIVING and HERE 

The Millard House :: Frank Lloyd Wright :: new price

Frank Lloyd Wright's Alice Millard House in Pasadena, is internationally recognized as one of the most important works of residential architecture.  Also known as La Miniatura, it is the first residence to utilize Frank Lloyd Wright's textile block building system.  Sited on nearly an acre of gardens within the Prospect Historic District of Pasadena, this home has undergone a multi-year restoration by the current owners.  The residence and studio include 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 kitchens, living room, formal dining room, and semi-detached garages.  The Millard House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


for sale $4,495,000
645 Prospect Crescent, Pasadena


Contact us to schedule a showing - 310.275.1000
Property details can be found HERE


listing courtesy of Crosby Doe Associates
photos by Mayoralphoto

The Studio