Linda's Kitchen
1922 Craftsman · Bungalow Heaven · 260 sqft · 9 weeks
the assignment
A 1922 Craftsman in Pasadena's Bungalow Heaven Landmark District with a galley kitchen sealed off from the rest of the house. Linda wanted morning light, two cooks at the island, and a quiet visual continuity with the dining room she already loved.
Spec sheet —
- Counter
- Honed soapstone, 3cm
- Cabinets
- Custom flat-panel, white oak
- Floor
- Existing douglas-fir, refinished
- Range
- BlueStar 36" gas, ducted hood
- Permits
- Pasadena BLD2024-00412
Challenges
- Load-bearing wall between kitchen and dining room
- Original douglas-fir floor — cannot match a new species
- Bungalow Heaven Landmark District design review on any street-visible change
Solutions
- Engineered LVL beam, flush with ceiling joists — no soffit
- Sourced reclaimed white oak that reads quiet next to the fir
- Kept work entirely behind the front facade so HPC review was administrative, not full hearing
Timeline
9 weeks · 5 milestones · 2024
- Week 1Mar 4
Demo + temporary kitchen in dining room
- Week 2–3Mar 11milestone
Beam install, framing, rough electrical
- Week 4Mar 25
Inspection, drywall, prime
- Week 5–7Apr 1
Cabinets, counters, tile, finish electrical
- Week 8–9Apr 22milestone
Appliances, punch list, final walk
“They left the house cleaner than they found it. Every Friday.”
Pasadena · Kitchen · FAQ
Linda's Kitchen — frequently asked
Where exactly is the Linda's Kitchen kitchen?
1922 Craftsman · Bungalow Heaven, Pasadena. We protect exact addresses for privacy — neighborhood and city are public, the street is shared only with serious clients during reference calls. See more recent California work.
How long did the Linda's Kitchen kitchen take?
9 weeks on-site (about 2 months) plus the design and permit phases that ran in parallel before construction. Reclaimed white-oak island, soapstone counters, structural beam to open to the dining room. The full sequence is on the process page.
What was the biggest challenge on the Linda's Kitchen build?
Load-bearing wall between kitchen and dining room We document them in the field journal so the next owner avoids them.
Can I get a kitchen like Linda's Kitchen built in my California city?
Yes — most of what we did here translates to other Pasadena-area lots and to similar neighborhoods nearby. Cost shifts based on lot conditions, utility runs, and finish choices — plug your numbers into the ADU cost calculator. We'll bid your specific scope, not a generic template.
Can I tour the Linda's Kitchen project in person?
Sometimes — past clients opt in to limited reference visits scheduled 2–4 weeks out. We never visit unannounced. Ask the project manager during your discovery call, or request a visit directly.
What did the Linda's Kitchen owners prioritize during design?
Documented in the project write-up. The full design philosophy lives on the process page; field notes from similar Pasadenabuilds are on the field journal.
How did permitting work for Linda's Kitchen?
Standard Pasadena ministerial pathway. Current clock and fees are on the California permit directory.
What did Linda's Kitchen cost per square foot?
Filed in the project metadata. Statewide ranges sit in the 2026 California cost report; ADU- specific bands in the ADU cost calculator.
Did Linda's Kitchen use unusual materials or methods?
Notes live on the project page. The glossary defines any specialty system mentioned.
Could I get a Linda's Kitchen-style build on a different California lot?
Usually — the design vocabulary transfers. Cost and permit shift with city, slope, and utility runs. Start with a discovery call.
Who would I work with if I commissioned a Linda's Kitchen-style project?
The same studio team. Coverage by region is on the locations index.
Where do I see other completed projects similar to Linda's Kitchen?
The projects index filters by type and city. The topic clusters page groups similar scopes together.
What lessons from Linda's Kitchen apply to first-time ADU owners?
Start early, walk the lot, budget contingency. Full lessons-learned series on the field journal.