If the lakeside house in A Deadly Adoption felt oddly wholesome for a movie that was anything but — or if Extant’s quiet, slightly uncanny domestic scenes stuck with you more than the sci-fi spectacle — both were filmed at the same unexpected place: an inviting Craftsman estate sitting directly on Johnston Lake, Pasadena’s only private lake.
It’s the kind of location that reads instantly on screen. Calm water. Towering trees. A house that feels insulated from the outside world.
In A Deadly Adoption, starring Will Ferrell and Kristin Wiig in full Lifetime-movie satire mode, the lakefront backdrop plays it straight: serene, suburban, almost too perfect. In Extant, executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and led by Halle Berry, that same setting becomes something quieter and more unsettling, grounding the show’s futuristic storyline in a very believable, lived-in home.
Off camera, the property is just as compelling — thanks to its architecture, its rare setting, and a homeowner story that stretches back decades. And it’s currently on the market, asking $6,800,000.
Set directly on Johnston Lake, Pasadena’s only private lake
Johnston Lake began as a natural spring-fed pond before being reshaped in 1876, when former Los Angeles mayor Prudent Beaudry dammed San Rafael Creek. By the late 1800s, it had become a public recreational spot for boating, fishing, and picnicking.
That changed in the mid-20th century. In 1953, residents formed the Brookmere Homeowners Association, transforming the area into a gated, private enclave.
Today, just 18 homes surround the lake, each with shared access to the water, rowing, catch-and-release fishing, and lakeside green space beneath a dense canopy of oak, pine, eucalyptus, and sycamore.
A homeowner story rooted in Pasadena — and a century-old photograph
The owners’ connection to Johnston Lake predates the house itself.
One grew up in Pasadena. The other later discovered a 1921 photograph of her grandparents picnicking along the lake’s edge — capturing, unknowingly, the very shoreline where they would eventually build their home.
They purchased their first house near the lake in 1989, hoping to someday create a permanent family home there. When a neighboring lakefront property came up for sale in 1997, they bought it sight unseen.
At the time, the lot held a simple 1960s ranch house — serviceable, but not reflective of either the site or Pasadena’s architectural heritage.
Rebuilding the house around the lake, not away from it
As they toured homes around Pasadena that felt right, the couple noticed a pattern: many of them were designed by Doug Ewing. Once they realized that connection, the choice became obvious.
Ewing visited the property and immediately agreed to take on the project, recognizing the site as one of Pasadena’s most unusual and compelling residential settings. Around 2005, the original structure was removed — save for a single wall — and the house was rebuilt from the ground up.
Completed in 2006, the result is a one-story, 4,539-square-foot Craftsman estate designed to open itself fully to the lake.
An 18-foot beamed great room that does the heavy lifting on screen
The home’s visual anchor — and one of its most recognizable on-screen features — is the great room.
Crowned by 18-foot, hand-hewn beams and anchored by a massive stone fireplace, the space opens through a south-facing wall of glass directly onto the lawn and water.
It’s easy to spot in both A Deadly Adoption and Extant: the kind of room that instantly establishes tone, whether that’s cozy domestic normalcy or something slightly off-kilter beneath the surface.
The lake isn’t treated as scenery here — it’s part of the room.
A kitchen and dining layout built for real life, not just filming days
Just off the great room sits the formal dining space, with the kitchen positioned to handle both everyday use and larger gatherings. A lake-view breakfast area, large walk-in pantry, and extensive cabinetry keep the space practical while maintaining the home’s Arts & Crafts sensibility.
Throughout the house, doors open onto patios and terraces, allowing scenes — and daily life — to flow naturally between indoors and out.
A primary suite designed as a quiet counterbalance
The primary suite occupies a private corner of the house, complete with a fireplace, spa-style bathroom, walk-in closet, and its own lake-facing patio. Three additional en-suite bedrooms and a den with a fireplace round out the main residence, offering flexibility without excess.
A separate guest house adds another layer of privacy, great for visitors, extended family, or off-camera downtime during filming.
Built with Arts & Crafts integrity — and restraint
Doug Ewing’s design leans heavily on natural materials and preservation rather than spectacle. Hand-hewn beams, natural stone, reclaimed wood, and indigenous landscaping define the property, with minimal grading and careful protection of mature trees.
Craftspeople who previously worked on the Gamble House contributed to the build, tying the home directly into Pasadena’s Arts & Crafts lineage while keeping the focus on livability.
A familiar filming location across TV, film, and commercials
Beyond A Deadly Adoption and Extant, the house has appeared in:
- Criminal Minds
- Commercials for Verizon and Home Depot
- Fruit of the Loom ads featuring Joe Namath
- Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew (reunion episode)
A half-acre lakefront compound with its own dock
The property spans roughly half an acre with about 80 feet of lake frontage and a private 30-foot dock. A wide lawn slopes gently to the water, bordered by mature trees that give the entire property a secluded, resort-like feel.
It’s the kind of setting that feels more Big Sur than Pasadena, yet sits just minutes from the Rose Bowl.
The listing details
- Price: $6,800,000
- Address: 1260 La Loma Road, Pasadena
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 5
- Living area: 4,539 square feet
- Lot size: 25,692 square feet
- Year built: 2006
- Stories: 1
More stories
A $22M Pasadena landmark just got a Showcase House glow-up — and it’s absolute perfection
Step back in time inside this 1927-built Old Pasadena treasure
This Pasadena home was built on the grounds of the “8th Wonder of the World”
The post Lakefront house on Pasadena’s only private lake starred in movies like “A Deadly Adoption”, “Extant” appeared first on Fancy Pants Homes.
English