This South Pasadena compound originally served as the carriage house for lumber merchant W E Cooper’s lavish La Willinda estate. It was designed by architect Louis du Puget Millar in 1914 and has recently undergone a modern reinvention with a striking glass-walled addition.

Millar was an Irish architect who emigrated to the United States around 1906, eventually setting up his own practice in Pasadena. He quickly became a prominent and prolific designer, particularly along the Arroyo, where many of his houses were erected up to the interwar period. Millar’s aesthetic was heavily influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and British architectural sensibility, which can be seen in the original part of the home.

The current owners have eschewed pastiche while expanding the dwelling, choosing to draw a ‘distinct line between the 1914 building and recent addition,’ says listing agent Nate Cole of Modern California House, who is marketing the property for $3.188m. The glass addition houses a new gourmet kitchen with walnut cabinetry, along with the living and dining rooms, while the original prewar structure has also been renovated.

Details across the four-bedroom South Pasadena property include European wide-plank oak floors, vintage mid-century lighting, and Italian tiling. Though the plot is small at 0.26 acres, it has been maximised fully. Careful planting and landscaping, including 90-year-old wisteria, offer a leafy park-like setting, with a centrally located swimming pool honing the oasis-like feel.

The house’s systems were also updated as part of the remodel, and a new two-car garage and adjoining guest house were added.

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