The Pasadena Master Suite Addition

Quick facts

• Location: Pasadena, California
• Scope: Master suite addition
• Size: 320 square feet
• Timeline: 10 weeks of construction
• Investment: $140,000 – $180,000
• Features: Bedroom, walk-in closet, full bath, vaulted ceiling, French doors to garden

The challenge

The homeowners owned a 1920s Craftsman in the Bungalow Heaven neighborhood. The original primary bedroom was small, with a closet barely deep enough for hangers and no ensuite bath. They wanted a master suite that felt like it had always been part of the house — not a modern appendage. Pasadena's design review and historic context required careful exterior matching.

The design choices

We designed a modest rear addition that extended the bedroom and added a walk-in closet and bath, all while preserving the home's original roofline and proportions.

• Exterior: Wood siding painted to match the existing home, matching window grille patterns, and a low-pitched roof with built-up shingles.
• Bedroom: Vaulted ceiling with exposed beams, wide-plank oak flooring, and French doors opening to the garden.
• Closet: Walk-in closet with custom shelving and drawer storage.
• Bath: Freestanding tub, walk-in shower, double vanity, and heated tile floor. *(Bathroom finishes coordinated with Eaze, our sister brand.)*
• Lighting: Recessed LEDs, wall sconces, and a statement pendant over the tub.
• Windows: Double-hung windows with divided lites to match the original home.

The friction (and the fix)

Pasadena's plan check required additional detail on the roof tie-in and foundation connection to ensure the addition matched the existing structure's structural behavior. We worked with a structural engineer to provide the additional drawings, which added two weeks to permitting but no cost to construction. Because we anticipated design review, the schedule absorbed the delay.

The result

The addition is nearly indistinguishable from the original home from the street. Inside, the suite provides the privacy and amenities the homeowners wanted. The project was featured positively by the neighborhood association and added significant value to the property.

Before and after narrative

Before: A small primary bedroom with inadequate closet space and no ensuite bath in a 1920s Craftsman.

After: A 320-square-foot master suite with a vaulted bedroom, walk-in closet, full bath, and garden access — designed to match the original home.

Begin the conversation

Thinking about a room addition that respects your home's architecture? CaliFirst Remodel will prepare a written feasibility, structural, and budget review.