Craftsman Reimagined
Selected views.
A complete design language, resolved before the build.
A Pasadena residence with strong massing and a dated envelope wanted a full re-vision - outside and in. The brief: respect the architectural heritage of the neighborhood, modernize the interior language, and resolve the entire program before demo.
We designed both the new exterior and a complete interior remodel in a single coordinated 3D model. The owners walked the redesigned home in VR - exterior elevations, front entry sequence, main living, kitchen, hearth, dining, bedrooms - and signed off in 5 weeks.
Exterior, in conversation with the street
The new exterior keeps the home in scale with its neighbors - Pasadena reads as Pasadena. We refreshed massing details, simplified trim, and introduced a calmer materials palette. The house looks like it has always been there, just better.
Interior contemporary, exterior contextual
Inside, we changed the language - open the plan around hearth and kitchen, modernize finishes, layer in better lighting. The interior reads contemporary and uncluttered without ever fighting the architecture above it.
One coordinated model, two design problems
Because we modeled the exterior and interior as a single 3D project, every interior decision was tested against what the exterior was doing - and vice versa. Window placement, ceiling height, sightlines from the entry. The result is a home that reads coherent from the curb to the kitchen.
Remodeling a Craftsman in Pasadena
Pasadena rewards owners who establish historic status before they write a brief. Many of the city’s Craftsman houses sit in landmark or historic districts, where additions are expected to go where they cannot be seen from the street and restoration details are specified rather than improvised. The hillside areas are a separate problem with their own standards. Designing a remodel like this one starts with what the house is protected as, then decides what can change inside and behind it. See our Pasadena page for the local constraints, and nearby work in San Marino, including our Mediterranean estate remodel in Pasadena.
More on remodeling period homes: Spanish, Mediterranean and Craftsman remodels and whole-home remodel design.
Want a home resolved like this - every angle, before the first wall?
We design remodels like Craftsman Reimagined every quarter. Scope, timeline, and an honest read on whether your project fits in 4–8 weeks of design.
Craftsman Reimagined · questions.
What was the design scope of the Craftsman Reimagined project?
The Craftsman Reimagined in Pasadena, California was a full remodel project where Vividly Built handled the complete design end-to-end. Full exterior re-envelope and elevations, Whole-home interior remodel, Kitchen, dining, hearth, main living redesign, Bedroom suites and millwork, Photoreal renderings - interior and exterior, and final FF&E specification - all resolved in a photoreal 3D digital twin before construction.
How long did it take to design the Craftsman Reimagined?
The full design package - every room, every finish, every fixture - was resolved and signed off in 5 weeks. The owners reviewed the entire home in photoreal renderings and a full-scale VR walkthrough before construction began. Zero change orders during the build.
What does Vividly Built mean by "resolved in 3D before the build"?
Every design decision for the Craftsman Reimagined - wall positions, ceiling heights, lighting circuits, stone slabs, fabric, fixtures, furniture - was placed and reviewed inside a photoreal digital twin of the home. The owners walked the entire residence in VR and signed off on every angle before any trade arrived on site. That visualization-first workflow is why our projects ship on time and under change-order pressure.
Do you take on similar full remodel projects in other neighborhoods?
Yes. Vividly Built designs luxury residential projects across Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, the Hollywood Hills, Pasadena, Westlake Village, San Diego, and the broader Southern California region - plus select projects in Dallas and Austin. Full home remodels are a core part of what we do.
Can I remodel a historic Craftsman in Pasadena?
Yes, but the first step is establishing its status. Houses in landmark or historic districts face design review that generally expects additions to be subordinate and out of street view, and original details to be restored rather than replaced. Our Pasadena page covers what that means in practice.
How much does a full home remodel cost in Pasadena?
At a Los Angeles baseline, a cosmetic refresh runs about $150–$350 per square foot, a full whole-home renovation $350–$700, and a down-to-studs remodel with structural work or an addition $600–$1,100+. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the highest cost per square foot. Historic detailing can add to that; the cost calculator applies the Los Angeles-area index.