Located in the heart of Pasadena’s enchanting Oak Knoll District, 1138 Hillcrest Avenue combines the timeless European elegance of manicured gardens and mansard roofs with a dramatic modern sensibility. The three-bedroom, five-bath residence is set on a flat lot measuring nearly 20,000 square feet.

This single level contemporary home, built in 1960, surrounds you in clean-lined elegance at every turn. The entry is framed by ornate ironwork gates. The foyer immediately leads into a dramatic rotunda, where guests are greeted by a spectacular curved wall of glass framing the verdant rear landscape with its aquamarine pool and mountain views. Recessed lighting gleams off rich hardwood floors throughout the home, while multiple 10-foot French doors connect the indoors to the outdoors. The living room and library both feature fireplaces and all of the public rooms -the living room, the library and the dining room- boast 11-foot soaring ceilings. 

Just off of the well-appointed kitchen, a wide gallery hall which functions as an ideal art showcase, passes French doors to the garden on its way to the master suite. Here, more French doors open to a large covered patio just steps from the pool. This private retreat features dual bathrooms, a workout area and attached study.

The Oak Knoll district has been one of Pasadena’s most prestigious residential enclaves since its founding at the turn of the last century. Quite possibly the city’s most exquisite neighborhood, it was built on the site of a sheep ranch owned by railroad baron Henry Huntington, whose nearby estate would later become the City of San Marino. Early Oak Knoll residents included members of Huntington’s family and the head of Standard Oil, who moved there from his mansion on Orange Grove. Its large lots are filled with homes by many of Southern California’s most distinguished architects, including Greene and Greene, Wallace Neff, Paul R. Williams and Marston and Van Pelt. Set on flat terrain shaded by century-old oaks, Oak Knoll’s wide, winding streets are ideal for bike rides and strolls to the historic nearby Langham Huntington Hotel, Huntington Library and Gardens and serene Lacy Park.