When Remodeling in San Francisco, Every Inch Counts
Just because San Francisco homes are not always awarded the luxury of ample square footage, that doesn’t mean they can’t offer a luxurious lifestyle. Thoughtful design and custom solutions are all it takes for a small space to meet the needs of fine contemporary living.
High Functioning Design in a Traditional Home
We helped one homeowner use efficient design and custom craftsmanship to make the most of every inch in her Washington Street home. In collaboration with architect Robert Frear and interior designer Tim Kennedy, we renovated 100% of the 2,950 square foot home to provide everything a modern professional woman could ever want: an ergonomic kitchen, outdoor reading nook, formal dining room, hang dry linen cabinet, master suite with two walk-in closets and more. Keep reading to find out how we transformed this concise two-story home into a curated living space for one.
White & Black Marble Kitchen: A French-Inspired Culinary Masterpiece
The original kitchen was too small for a gourmet cook and served poorly as the heart of the home. We removed an obtrusive wall dividing the formal kitchen from the butler’s pantry and bumped the dining room wall over by two feet, allowing for a spacious layout that is both ergonomic and efficient.
Because this homeowner loves to cook, we installed all the appliances, lighting and storage she needs to prepare a quick dinner or an entire feast to share. Built-in dish drawers are perfect for small loads during the workweek while a full-sized dishwasher can handle all the clean up of hosting a dinner party.
The deluxe CornuFé range is complemented by our custom manufactured range hood to create the perfect marriage of French-style baking and cooking tools. Its black finish catches the Grigio Carnico marble island, while the rest of the kitchen is light and airy with natural anigre wood cabinets and white marble counter tops and back splash.
Formal Meets Informal: The Living Room, Dining Room & Family Room
From the kitchen, one can move directly into the living room, dining room or family room depending on the desired mood. The family room is comfortable and inviting with its entertainment center and casual decor. Quick meals can be enjoyed in the kitchen breakfast nook or formal dinners in the traditional dining room, painted ochre with a richness of decor.
The living room showcases a complexity of tradition and formality with custom built-in cabinetry and carved stone fireplace. We take special pride in the craftsmanship of the mahogany wall cabinet featuring dual pull-out liquor cabinets, one of which is topped with a pull-out mahogany cutting board for preparing quick cocktails.
“The client’s tastes are eclectic so the individual rooms each have a unique character,” explains architect Robert Frear. “The rooms are unified through the use of similar architectural detailing and a warm color palette.”
We love how the living room, dining room and family room work together to create a cohesive living area while providing distinct functions. Within arm’s length of the center of the home, one can enjoy all the elements of a high/low existence to satisfy desires of the moment.
Outdoor Spaces for Dining, Entertaining & Relaxing
Just as the interior is neatly divided into spaces that serve a very specific purpose, the small urban backyard designed by Strata Landscape Architecture is also multifunctional. Two sets of tri-fold doors give access from the interior to the exterior: one from the kitchen to a furnished ipe deck, and one from the living room to a masonry patio.
The blue stone patio is perfect for entertaining with its open layout and inviting curved bluestone bench. Adjacent to the kitchen, built-in planted beds are home to a seasonal herb garden that adds light foliage.
A few steps below, a cozy reading area is surrounded by plants and a small water feature. Though simple and modest in size, this built landscape creates a rich sense of garden. The wood deck and bluestone patio come together in a nice package for entertaining or enjoying some private afternoon sun.
A Final Touch: Calacatta Marble Master Bathroom
Carrying the kitchen’s white marble into the master bath, we installed Calacatta marble on the vanity, floor and shower. The Waterworks sink base adds a classic element while pearl matte glass tile is cool and refreshing.
Because the bathroom looks on to another home, we installed frosted french windows for extra privacy.
Robert Frear sums it up: “Although the house is relatively modest in size, the gracious quality of the spaces and the flow from one room to another gives it the feel of a classic San Francisco home.”
When remodeling in San Francisco, efficient storage is a high priority. Stay tuned for an entire post walking you through the custom cabinetry and craftsman details of this home.
