After staying a few days at the smaller (but totally enchanting) place tucked in the hillside garden, we moved down to the larger space (the Loft) located toward the front of the property. Here one could even more fully appreciate the extent of Alain's artistry, evident in everything from the enormous clock that he built himself to the beautiful, mottled concrete floors. The kitchen and dining area are simply magnificent, with a large stainless steel countertop with a punched sink. And as with the other space, his creative talents are particularly evident in the management of the natural light, which bathes the place so magically. In the morning, one could pull back the sail-like shades over the skylights and look straight up at the palm trees while lying in bed. The space was still very quiet and peaceful, with plenty of birds and butterflies, and we were thrilled to meet the famous "Scruffy," who really did fly down at the sound of the bell to grab a peanut from our daughter's hand. Our host gave us some of the best limes that we have ever tasted, and also treated us to a tour of his workshop--a workshop that covers both woodworking and metalworking. A million little details make this place perfectly magical; creative thought seems to have gone into absolutely everything, and one could spend an entire vacation just admiring and learning from the house. The host knows an enormous amount about recycling, restoring, and repurposing. And everything was comfortable, spotless and allergen free, as well as eco-friendly. The detailed but clear instructions (both written and available on the website) are important for an appreciation of just how much loving and creative care has gone into this space, which needs to be respected as a work of art in itself. My family and I fell in love with this space, which is truly special and throughout breathes intelligence and artistry. There is a lovely park across the street, and we often took walks up the hillside by the Arroyo to look at the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance. We hope to return to South Pasadena often, and whenever we do we will try to stay at this wonderful, magical place.