The property:
Guest Suite Annex in a charming, upscale South Pasadena neighborhood 8.5 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
400 sq ft upstairs studio that can comfortably accommodate 4 people.
Your Property: Bright and sunny upstairs studio with private outside entrance. Sleeps 2 on trundle beds in main room with space for 2 more on full size futon. Small kitchen and outside balcony space.
Location: We are in a quiet walking neighborhood just a few blocks from South Pasadena restaurants and Garfield Park, yet we have easy access to freeways. Downtown LA is just 8.5 miles away, beaches are 24 miles away.
Our family lives in main house and runs an in-home day care. I am often home during the day and am happy to help you make your stay more comfortable. Just let us know if you need to borrow anything like an iron, kitchen supplies, etc. Age-appropriate toys can be provided for little ones as well.
Note that the day care has babies in the main house below you and toddlers across the yard in the garage building. Both groups may be playing in the backyard visible from your studio during week days.
Kitchen and Amenities
The kitchen is suitable for snacks and light meals but is not fully equipped for big dinners. There is a microwave, toaster (not a full oven) , electric tea kettle, Keurig machine, a plug-in countertop stove top, sink and mini fridge. If you are missing anything, we can bring you supplies from our kitchen.
We have speedy wifi but no cable or TV.
You have access to a shared washer dryer above the garage across the yard.
Bed configuration:
The couch by day is a single bed on top with a single roll out bed underneath. Both are equipped with high quality mattresses. There is also a small bonus room with a lower-than-normal ceiling with a futon (less comfortable). We have a small pack-n-play crib we can set up for you if desired.
Parking:
For the safety of the children, there is no car use of the driveway. During the day, you are allowed to park on the street. Please leave the parking spot directly in front of our house free for the daycare families. At night, South Pasadena does not allow parking on the street for more than 30 minutes from 2 am to 6 am without a permit. You can easily get a parking permit from the kiosk at the police department down the street for just $2 per day. The location is half a mile away at 1422 Mission Street. The kiosk area to buy the tickets is open 24/7. You can only get 1, 2, or 3 days at a time, so you will have to revisit the Police Department if you are staying longer. You can learn more about the overnight street parking permit by googling South Pasadena Parking Permit. If you know what car you’ll be using, you can print your parking pass ahead of time to display on your dashboard.
Transportation:
While Los Angeles doesn’t have a superb public transit system, we are near the Metro A line. It’s a 17 minute walk (0.7 miles/1.1km) to the Metro A line directly down Mission Street past the cute shops and restaurants. It’s a pleasant, flat walk. This can take you to Union Station (the main railway station) and throughout the area. Most people who don’t have a car use ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lift. They are very prevalent in the area and a convenient way to get around.
Insider tips:
We love living in South Pasadena. We are just a 10-minute walk to downtown “South Pas” and a 5-minute drive to downtown Pasadena. We live in a great walking town, with interesting houses, green space, and restaurants. It is not crowded, has easy-to-find parking, yet there is always something going on. The supermarkets are just a few blocks away and a fabulous park is just down the street. You can drive to downtown LA in 12-25 minutes and 30-50 minutes to various beaches, then come back to a peaceful, yet vibrant, neighborhood. We can give you ideas of where to eat or shop nearby.
Other details to note: As there are children around, no smoking of any kind is allowed on the property. Thank you.
Our 1910 craftsman styled home is typical of the historic area. Our guests seem to enjoy the peaceful neighborhood and its proximity to restaurants, shops and parks. While the guest suite annex is unrenovated and on the older side, people seem to love the cheerful and airy feel it has and appreciate the space they have to spread out a bit.
Additional space: Note that we have two separate units on our property: Guest Suite Annex and Sunny Side Up
Both are on the second floor, one above the house (Guest Suite Annex) and the other above the detached garage building (Sunny Side Up). They are both best suited for 2 people, but can accommodate 4 if you prioritize saving money over ample space. Both have access to laundry facilities in the hall just outside Sunny Side Up.
Choose Guest Suite Annex for an open studio floor plan, a dining table and a recliner chair, plus a small balcony.
Choose Sunny Side Up for brand new everything, a modern compact space, separate bedroom with queen bed and a tv for streaming.
Of course, you can rent both if you have a larger group of 4-8 people or switch from one to the other based on availability during your vacation.
Guest access: Guest Suite Annex is above our main house, up the outside staircase. You’ll be the only one using that space. There is a private deck outside the annex for you to enjoy your morning coffee.
Interaction with the guests: I will be downstairs the majority of the day tending to the children. You can shoot me a quick question or update me on your check-in or check-out time. If you need anything, I'll help as soon as I can.
Other details to note: As there are children around, no smoking of any kind is allowed on the property. Thank you.
For fun and to get a better sense of the space, check out this video that two musicians from Spain made in the annex:
https://youtu.be/OCrSij53_Rg