Elizabeth Altounian, 75, enjoys a light moment with Toshi Kawabata, of Barr-Ban Wood Works, who did the carpentry for Altounian’s new Kyoto-style traditional Japanese ADU in South Pasadena on Sept. 20, 2024. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS)Elizabeth Altounian’s South Pasadena accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is more than just a living space. It’s a manifestation of beauty, wonder and spirituality, all intertwined.
This 400-square-foot former garage, adorned with traditional Japanese shoji screens, a platform bed with a tatami mat and a covered engawa porch running along the entrance of the house, reflects her childhood in Monterey Park, where she dreamed of living in a traditional Japanese home like many of her friends.
https://www.newstribune.com/news/2025/jan/19/before-and-after-a-california-garage-is-now-a/