So how many posts can one get out of a five day trip to Pasadena? I guess it depends upon how many pictures one takes. Well, this is my last post (I promise) and it is of my daughter’s darling apartment!
I love being a mom to my two adult daughters. I also miss living close enough to see them regularly. So when I do see them I want to tell you all about them . . . how wonderful they are . . . and beautiful and smart and loving . . . and what wonderful things they’ve accomplished with their lives . . . and well no, they aren’t perfect by any means but I love them with all my heart.
Sigh . . . maybe one day we will all live closer together.
When we first moved my youngest daughter Bethany to L.A. to attend school at USC we didn’t know where to look for an apartment and she ended up living fairly close to school in a newer apartment building. After living there for a couple of years Bethany decided to move to the city of Pasadena. The commute is a bit longer but she loves living in Pasadena and she immediately loved this charming older bulding.
It was built in the 1920’s and was one of the very first Tuscan style buildings in Pasadena. When the current owner purchased it she wanted it to have the three elements of a traditional Tuscan garden which are . . .
. . . cypress trees . . .
. . . flowering plants . . .
. . . and citrus trees.
So let’s go on a tour of the inside of this quaint building.
Heading up the stairs to my daughter’s place are windows wide open, letting in a nice breeze from the courtyard outside.
There is a stairway at either end of the hallway with matching windows and light fixtures, and beautiful hardwood floors.
Come in to Bethany’s apartment. It is small but charming and full of personality (Oops . . . please excuse my suitcase on the floor in the corner). Bethany’s apartment has definitely been decorated on a budget, with hand-me-downs, thrift store finds, roadside scores and some great items from Target. We HEART Target!
It is pretty obvious that she is a lover of books and she has done a great job of showcasing her collectibles on her two bookshelves.
So many of her collectibles are things we’ve picked up together while out junking, a favorite thing to do when she comes home for a break from school. This little glove was on the wall of The Second Hand Rose in Olympia, Washington. It was a gift to the store’s owner to reflect the store’s name but when B. admired it the owner told her it was hers! How sweet is that?
Here are some fun pictures she has picked up on trips and while antiquing.
B’s love of science is evident all over the place. . . .
. . . as well as her love of English literature.
You’ll see a few skulls around my girl’s place. I guess all that studying of the head and neck has had some influence on her decorating style.
Hmmm . . . I’m not sure what that style would be called exactly.
Dark Traditional?
This antique iron piece of the dentist pulling a tooth was also an antique store find. We couldn’t pass this up as Bethany will be Doctor B. in a little over a month when she receives her Doctor of Dental Science (DDS) degree!
So proud!
B’s bathroom is so cute with penny tiles on the floor, a pretty pedestal sink and subway tiles in the shower.
I just love the soothing paint colors used in this apartment.
I do believe that is one of my mother’s vintage earrings peeking out from the bathroom skull!
It is all the little touches that give this apartment so much character.
This little dressing table (that belonged to Bethany’s grandma) sits in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room. It is a perfect place to put on makeup in the morning and there is nice view of the mountains outside (hard to see here due to morning fog).
A little gold leaf gave this black frame a great new look!
You can see it is a tiny apartment and she is no minimalist when it comes to decorating, but she has arranged it all quite nicely. I still can’t believe that when we first moved B. to L.A. we ventured out to meet a man who was advertising couches on Craigslist. He was selling them out of a back ally storage unit that was STUFFED with couches in every color! Kinda scary right? After paying the man we drove the hour trip back to B’s apartment (on one of the crazy busy L.A. freeways) with TWO couches tied to the top of her Ford Escape. An adventure to remember!
B. has since added thumb tacks to her dark couches to give them a bit of character.
This is the tiny but cute kitchen.
Finally, these are the mountains that surround Pasadena. In a couple of months B. will be licensed and ready to begin her first paid job as a dentist. She doesn’t know yet if it will be a job that is close enough to continue living in Pasadena but she has sure enjoyed this lovely community, and her sweet apartment.
Thank you for allowing me to talk to you about one of my girls. Now . . . would you like to hear a little about about Joy . . . just kidding. I’ll save her for another post.
Blessings,
VMG206, BeBetsy,TuesdaysAtOurHome,
sue says
April 10, 2014 at 3:06 pmThat is a gorgeous apartment building, and she has done a great job furnishing it. I love Pasadena. I especially love the Norton-Simon museum and the gardens. We eat in the cafe by the pond and it’s good.
Nita@ModVintageLife says
April 10, 2014 at 5:25 pmIf my first apartment had looked like that, I’d never have left it! I love how she has decorated it. Especially the little red dresser for the tv…the thumbtacks added to the navy sofa…the little tiny toy dresser in the bathroom! Love the subway tile. Paint that kitchen white and I’d be living my dream. Just love it all. So jealous of these trip you took…you did so many fabulous things. I’ve enjoyed every post about it.
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
April 11, 2014 at 5:01 amHer apartment is fabulous and congrats to her on her soon degree. You have every reason to be very proud. Hugs, Marty
Patty says
April 11, 2014 at 10:24 amThe apartment is beautiful but what a wonderful idea for the sofa with the thumb tacks. They absolutely make the sofa!
Pat says
April 12, 2014 at 1:07 pmPatti,
I l o v e d touring B’s Apartment, dear friend!!!
Adore all her personal touches, too!!!
The outside would have $old me on the apartment, as well!
. . .and, YES!!! I’d love to hear about Joy!
Fondly,
Pat
Carol Cook says
April 13, 2014 at 8:39 amPasadena is a beautiful area and far safer than living right near USC – although I don’t know where the dental school is.
I love the style of her apartment building. It is so nice that the owner has a desire to keep with the architectural style of the time period.
And congrats to Doctor B.
Carmody says
April 14, 2014 at 4:35 amWhat a great vibe this Apartment gives out. This is one of those places that I would want to spend hours looking around.
Mary Feguson says
April 14, 2014 at 7:57 amBeing a Southern California blogger I know the area well and I also love it up in Pasadena. The apartment is darling and B has really fixed up nicely.
I am a new flogger so I can hardly wait to see all your posts.
Have a wonderful Easter and Spring.
Mary
Diane says
April 14, 2014 at 8:10 amHi lovely lady.
Her pick of a apartment is fabulous love how she put it all together she did a Beautiful job. and congrats to her on her soon degree. You have every reason to be very proud of your daughter..
God Bless.
~ Diane
Susan eclecticshorebird says
April 14, 2014 at 8:32 amGreat tour!
Julia @ It's Always Ruetten says
April 16, 2014 at 8:58 amVery cute apartment! Pasadena is on my top five list of dream places to live one day! It is a gorgeous (expensive) community… and I love it!
Karen says
April 17, 2014 at 8:09 amPatti your daughter’s apartment is so charming!! I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, and I am featuring at my party today. Hopefully everyone else will enjoy as much as I did. I so love the Spanish style of the building, with the beautiful Citrus trees and plants too!
Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com says
April 18, 2014 at 4:08 amWhat a great place she has ! Lovely building and it’s decorated so beautifully. Thank you for sharing this at History & Home this week, take care – Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
ash@sn4g says
April 18, 2014 at 10:02 amWhat a great place to live! Wish my first apartment had looked like that! We decorated with milk crates and a futon!
Thanks for sharing!
Found you on we call it junkin’s linkup!
ash@sn4g
http://shabbynot4gotten.blogspot.com
Tammy says
April 19, 2014 at 6:35 amPatti, Adorable apartment… Pasadena has some great views with the surrounding mountains and some darling housing. My dad lived in Pasadena in the Sierra Madre area…be sure to tell your daughter to check out that area at Christmas time blocks and blocks of Christmas ..Thank you for sharing at One More Time Events
Tammy says
April 19, 2014 at 7:57 amStopping by to Thank you for sharing at One More Time Events and let you know you have been featured this week! Looking forward to see what you have to share this week…Hugs, Tammy
Jann Olson says
April 22, 2014 at 7:40 pmPatti, I say as a mom you have all the bragging rights you’d like. If we don’t love our kids, who will? lol! Her apartment is darling! The skulls and cast iron dentist piece are so perfect for her! Must say that I swooned over that glove myself. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Sarah says
April 30, 2014 at 4:43 pmThis is a very funny and very lovely post. I love your daughters apartment and I love her decorating style! “Dark Traditional” works for me! I’ve never been to your blog before, but I’m sure I’ll be here again many times! I found you through Mod Mix Monday over at Nita’s place, always a fun time too. Thank you for a great time!