B
uying a property without seeing it is risky, especially real estate. In 1997 a California couple did just that when they purchased a Pasadena home next door. Their neighbor wouldn’t let them view the house, so they relied on their three daughters’ accounts from visits and decided to buy.

    The original 1960s ranch was transformed by architect Doug Ewing—known for designing estates for Ralph Lauren and luxury resorts—into an Arts & Crafts‑inspired home. The old structure was almost entirely demolished and rebuilt with hand‑hewn beams, reclaimed wood, and natural stone. The result is a warm clapboard‑sided residence with an open great room featuring 18‑foot ceilings, a river‑stone fireplace, and expansive lake views.

    The property boasts 80 ft of private frontage on Johnston Lake, a 30‑ft dock, multiple patios, and a grassy lawn that slopes to the water, offering rowing and catch‑and‑release fishing. Inside, the great room flows into a formal dining area and a green‑accented kitchen with a breakfast nook overlooking the lake and a generous walk‑in pantry. Four bedrooms each have en‑suite baths; the primary wing includes a corner fireplace and a large bathroom with a soaking tub. A den/office completes the main house, and a separate guesthouse sits on the half‑acre lot.

    The estate has attracted film crews, serving as a location for the Halle Berry series *Extant*, the Will Ferrell/Kristen Wiig thriller *A Deadly Adoption*, and other productions. The owners are now selling the $6.8 million property to relocate closer to family. Listing is handled by independent agent Nancy Valentine.

    [View all photos of the Pasadena property]