PASADENA, Calif., March 24 — Janice Lee of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties recently listed the Merritt Mansion, a Pasadena landmark that was built in 1905. Renovated over the past seven years, the property includes an approximately 17,500 square foot interior, an indoor saltwater pool and approximately 1.8 acres of lush, manicured grounds.
The home is on “Millionaire’s Row” and qualifies for significant tax savings under the Mills Act. The seller restored the home with meticulous attention to detail, preserving the original character, style and materials, many of which are no longer available today.
Features include a grand entrance hall with two sweeping mahogany staircases, gold-plated hardware on many of the doors, a total of five fireplaces, and a spacious main living room with an ornamental plaster ceiling. Volume ceilings with exposed beams, a marble terrace and alabaster hallway light fixtures are a few of the other highlights.
“I’ve had the honor of representing this home twice now. The first time I listed it eight years ago, it was a true fixer,” said Lee, a 41-year veteran of the Pasadena real estate market. “It’s been amazing to witness the transformation. The current owner brought the number of bathrooms up to 11 and restored virtually every major system, including all new electrical and all new copper plumbing, but he was very mindful of the details that make the home so special.”
The kitchen has vintage mosaic tile flooring, quartz counters, a center island and modern high-end appliances. The lower level adds another layer of history, as it hosts an expansive “New England kitchen,” where game was brought back from hunting forays and cooked over a massive fireplace.
“This is one of the more unique features. There’s also an enormous walk-in vault, where it’s rumored that Merritt stored sugar he hoarded during the first World War,” added Lee.
Hulett C. Merritt was a famous industrialist known for shaping Pasadena. A business partner with John D. Rockefeller and a friend of the Huntington family, he was one of the largest stockholders in US Steel.
Merritt chaired the boards of over 120 companies, built a speedway and subsidized the Tournament of Roses. He also purchased the first foreign car on the Pacific coast and organized the Pasadena Automobile Club. The residence he built overlooks the Rose Parade and has often hosted temporary grandstands to view the event. It appeared in the opening scenes of the 1950s television series The Millionaire.
“The cost of building this was around $22,380, which may seem low in today’s dollars, but the average cost back then was around $5,000,” noted Lee, who is one of a select group to earn the prestigious 30-Year Legend Award.
Merritt was also an avid art collector with an extensive collection. He built a separate gallery on the property, which is a classic example of the Beaux Arts style. It has a total of six exterior gates, one of which has been beautifully restored, a reflecting pond and a peaceful sunken garden adjacent to the indoor pool. The sunken garden is a world unto itself, as it is completely secluded by a privacy fence and mature trees.
Located in the heart of Pasadena nearby world-class dining and shopping, the residence also includes a bar area, a sauna and a home theater. A new roof that was created from custom-fabricated tiles that match the originals, a music studio, a home gym, a salon, a home office with a kitchenette, and an additional secret bar area under one of the three staircases are additional highlights.
Janice Lee is a Luxury Properties Director who is known for her work ethic, local market knowledge and attention to detail. Along with her team, Janice has ranked #17 in the small size teams category for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, a network consisting of nearly 40,000 agents worldwide. She leads a multilingual, culturally diverse group of real estate professionals that bring a unique perspective and an unsurpassed level of dedication to every transaction.
