Dutch Treat

This modern American cottage in northern European style was built from the ground up on an abandoned “flag” lot in the Arroyo section of Pasadena. The lot, empty since 1947, was transformed from a rocky, multi-level, forgotten space into a magical environment hidden away at the end of a long gravel drive. The difficulty of bringing utilities 250 feet from the street to the house, as well as the uneven terrain of the lot, and three giant 150 year-old Oak trees located in the 12,500 square foot minimum lot posed a daunting challenge for the CBA design team. The cottage takes its inspiration from northern Europe, where Cynthia Bennett lived for 16 years, and features an open kitchen and great room with free access to the front patio and gardens.