We liked the guest house. It was newly renovated and did feel like parts of it were brand new, while at the same time had the charm of an older structure. I loved the wood paneling. The kitchen is useful for cooking, although could have been better equipped with a few more cooking utensils. The bed was comfortable, and the heater worked well, but it did make a lot of noise at times. Luckily there was a thermostat to adjust it.
The setting of the guest house was great! The backyard is beautiful, with a huge lawn, lots of trees, and a pool. It was nice to be in the guest house with the door open. You even get your own garage just down a path. It has a washer/dryer too.
We didn't spend much time in East Pasadena. Everything we needed was nearby. Whole Foods is close and they have a cool bar/restaurant inside called Shuffle Bar with great food, cheap drinks, and shuffle board. Old Town Pasadena is about 15 minutes away by car. Copa Vida and Amara are great coffee shops right across from each other on Raymond. Try the Croque Madame at Copa Vida and the spicy chocolate Americano with empanadas at Amara. Also, Union is a really good modern Italian restaurant that uses seasonal and local ingredients.
Overall, I recommend Sabrina's place for one or two people looking for a quiet and convenient studio.