Raising Four Kids in a Cole Valley Arts & Crafts Home
When we came on the scene of this San Francisco home remodel, the couple wanted to make their arts and crafts home more family-friendly for four growing kids. Most importantly, they wanted a larger family room and all the kids’ bedrooms on the same floor as the master suite. We worked with Bill Hansell of Hansell Design and Gretchen Murdock of MODtage design to transform all three stories with ample space for this family to eat, play and enjoy the beautiful city view together.
Family First: A Unique San Francisco Home Remodel
With panoramic windows and custom folding doors opening right onto the back deck, this dining room brings the outdoors in. MODtage design worked with the homeowners to create a six foot dining table that expands to ten feet for large family gatherings.
“These homeowners are all about family,” reflects Gretchen Murdock of MODtage design. “They are truly loving and enjoy each others company. They enjoy entertaining with their extended relatives as well as close friends’ families, large and small. They have a love of books, art and music and have busy lives geared towards the family’s activities.”
The combination of natural light and white oak flooring makes for a bright, welcoming family room. With the family’s book club in mind, MODtage design created a seating arrangement that encourages conversation.
We helped this husband and wife celebrate their love of books with comfy reading nooks and a plentitude of built-in shelving.
The yellow and blue breakfast nook features sturdy bench covers for kid-proof meals. As Gretchen puts it, “Durability is always of concern with young children. We made kid-friendly areas durable, playful and colorful while also providing a balance of more sophisticated adult spaces.”
Fun Bedrooms for Four Kids
To keep the parents and kids together on the top story, we designed a south end addition including a fifth bedroom and third bathroom. Now the kids are close to mom and dad without infringing on their master suite and spa bathroom.
All four kids had the chance to pick their own room color. Simple shelving units and bright textiles give the two boys and two girls everything they need.
The kids’ bathroom is fun and sturdy thanks to the Heath ceramic tile, Silestone quartz countertop and white oak cabinets.
“We had a lot of fun with color, pattern and beautifully handcrafted materials,” explains Gretchen. “Blue was a reoccurring favorite color. It’s a color of tranquility and calm. In a house filled with four active kids, it seemed fitting to bring calmness to some of the areas.”
When it comes to San Francisco home remodels, every square foot matters. We built and finished an attic to maximize the living space (complete with creative access via monk’s stairs).
Japanese Style Spa Bathroom
Our favorite part of this house is the spa master bathroom with highly custom finishes, shelving and casework. The vanity and toilet room are paneled in unique Port Orford Cedar with a beautiful fine grain and strong fresh scent. The wood paneling creates a Japanese spa-like experience before entering the steam room complete with double showerheads and enclosed bathtub. Together, these premium details create a luxurious and instantly accessible R&R experience, all with a city view.
The limestone countertop, sleek light scones and expansive skylight add an elegant feel to this light-filled master bathroom.
“The Master Bathroom is my favorite room in the home,” reflects Gretchen. “It’s a zen space that calms you the moment you walk in. The cedar gives off a beautiful aroma and the hand-crafted tiles are warm and soft to the touch. It feels like you are in a spa.”
Blue and grey Heath ceramic tiles bring color and texture to this retreat-like shower room. “We worked hard to carry the lines in the space from cedar walls to the face of the vanity and tiled wall areas,” Gretchen notes. “We had an expert tile installer and an incredible Jeff King & Company crew working closely to make the space just right. The attention to detail helps polish this spa-like bath and create an oasis for the whole family.”
Remodel Addition with Playroom and Home Theater
As part of this San Francisco home remodel, we moved the garage up to street level and dug out a bottom story family room, laundry room and powder bath. The bottom floor now has an expansive rec room where all six family members can play games and watch movies on the drop-down projector screen. The large plush couch and floor-to-ceiling custom shelving puts everyone’s favorite books, DVDs and toys all within arm’s reach.
Entertainment systems are a key theme in every San Francisco home remodel, and this project is no exception. The family can casually switch on the TV or drop the projector screen and blackout drapes for a fully immersive home theater experience.
“The custom modular sofa in the Play Room was specifically designed so everyone could pile onto the sofa and enjoy movies or sporting events,” shares Gretchen. “We worked through a mock-up to test kid-destruction and ergonomics, it passed! As it turns out, the sofa has become a great big bed for large slumber parties.”
The new powder bathroom offers additional cabinet storage and a European style ceramic trough sink.
Three Story Deck with Hot Tub
Thanks to our new extension to the back deck, it now spans 3 stories and almost 700 square feet. We built stairs leading down to the stainless steel hot tub and garden below.
The new south addition added 920 square feet to the house, and our custom crafted brick walkway connects the front and backyards in style.
With a substantial addition, new spa master bath and craftsmen details throughout, this San Francisco home remodel now meets all the needs of a large family. Thank you to the homeowners, Hansell Design and MODtage design for a wonderful collaboration!