Name:Melissa Hon Tsaiand Gary Tsai
Location:South Pasadena, California
Size:3,101 square feet
Years Lived In:1 year, owned

Melissa Hon Tsaiis an interior designer and architect who favors a modern, minimal aesthetic. But when she designed and built her family’s three-bedroom home from the ground up, she had to marry her own modern taste with her neighborhood’s mid-century modern appeal. The result is a sleek, open-concept, two-story home with traditional mid-century lines and tons of natural light.

Melissa shares her home with her husband Gary and three boys (one five-year-old, and three-year-old twins). After reworking her original ultra-modern home design to satisfy the city’s requests to stay in line with the neighborhood’s historic mid-century modern architectural style, she landed on a compromise of both styles. The home’s clever architecture centers around floor-to-ceiling courtyard-facing windows that let in lots of natural light while still giving the family plenty of privacy.

My Style:Modern clean lines and symmetry

Inspiration:Modern and mid-century modern homes in Southern California

Favorite Element:The custom staircase (if I had to pick one, but there are so many)

Biggest Challenge:Design review process with the city /neighbors and just in general building your own house from scratch is a challenge.

What Friends Say:They love it and never seen anything like it here in South Pasadena.

Biggest Embarrassment:TOYS! They’re everywhere. We tried to keep it in a few areas but somehow they make their way into every single room in the house.

Proudest DIY:Dying the Shibori pillowcases in the living room, framing the calligraphy pieces in the dining room, and installing all the built-in shelving in closets and mudroom.

Biggest Indulgence:Radiant-heated concrete floors, five-panel accordion La Cantina door

Best Advice:Whenever you get overstressed about a little detail, step back and think big picture. It’ll all workout.

Dream Sources:Danish Design Store, Heath Ceramics, HD Buttercup, ABC Carpet & Home, Bo Concept.

PAINT & COLORS
Benjamin Moore — Chantilly Lace (every where)
Benjamin Moore — Light Pewter (Guest Room, Laundry Room and 2nd Floor Hall Bathroom)
Benjamin Moore — Owl Gray (Kids Bedroom)
Benjamin Moore — Dolphin (Moving wall/door in Office)

ENTRY/STAIRCASE
Blue Moroccan Jute Boucle Amy Area Rug —World Market
Walnut Desk — Office Depot
Sheepskin Rug —Costco
Poufs — Target
Painting —Carrie Bobo
Fiber Art —Cindy Zell
Ceramic Bells —MQuan Studio
Round Mirror — HomeGoods
Chandelier —Light Up My Home

OFFICE
Desk — World Market
Fjalkinge Shelf —Ikea
Filing Cabinets —Wayfair
Desk Chairs —Wayfair

LIVING ROOM
Maxwell Sectional —Restoration Hardware
Interlocking Geometric Rug —rugusa.com
Chester end table — Target
Kallax Shelf Unit —Ikea

DINING ROOM
Blox Table —CB2
Bernard Chairs —Ikea
Cliff Suspension Light —Lambert & Fils

KITCHEN
Pal Bar Stools —Hem

MASTER BEDROOM
Barcelona Stool —Knoll
Jillian Upholstered Bed —Overstock

KIDS’ BEDROOM
Bunk bed —Rafa Kids
Eames chair —Herman Miller
Stairway bookcase —CB2
Stuva storage bench —Ikea
Block colored Rug —rugsusa.com

BATHROOM
Vanities —Duravit
Fixtures —Ferguson
Tile —Mission Tile West

OUTDOOR
Dining Table and Chairs —Living Spaces
Tarno Table and Chairs —Ikea

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