What to do with a not-so-grand kitchen in a very grand home? I helped my clients do just that. After returning to San Francisco and an exhaustive search for a new home, my clients found a beautiful residence in Forest Hill. Unfortunately, the kitchen was in desperate need of an update. A poorly placed bathroom addition constrained the original kitchen and stopped the flow to the rest of the house and a door to the dining room was only useful if you still had a butler. To open the kitchen footprint and provide access to the living room with its expansive Golden Gate Bridge views, the first step was to move the powder room. A pocket door here and a shifted opening there allows my clients to interact with guests and take in the views. With the new plan in place, a gorgeous “Princess White” quartzite stone slab set the palette for the reconfigured kitchen; handcrafted tiles added depth; and custom cabinetry was designed to house the top-of-the-line Thermador appliances the clients had chosen. A Thomas O’Brien pendant added sparkle and a perfectly-sized crystal chandelier crowned the custom banquet and table from Big Daddy’s antiques. After entertaining family for the first time, my clients were excited to be showing off their new space and told me they are now cherishing new memories, something I was thrilled to hear and to have helped create.

Anyone who knows the San Francisco real estate market knows that you need to jump when the right opportunity comes along.  And jump my clients did, at a spacious, light-filled flat in a prime Castro Village location.  The only drawback?  It was going to require a complete gut, including the removal of walls added during a previous, unfortunate remodel. With almost 1400 square feet of raw space to work with, the sky can be the limit.  The reality, of course, is tempered by budget.  By strategically thinking about what could be saved, we were able to limit the structural work required with such a large reconfiguration, and by keeping those costs in check were able to get the amenities and finishes the clients desired including three bedrooms, an en suite master bath, and a large, unobstructed living space that’s perfect for entertaining. Built in 1886, we let the building set the tone for the design elements, maintaining Victorian details while providing all of the upgrades that are expected in a modern home.   In the kitchen, traditionally detailed custom cabinetry in strong colors, boldly textured tile, and unexpected lighting fixtures are balanced with understated finishes to create spaces perfectly suited to the clients’ eclectic tastes and honoring the building’s history. From the architectural design to construction, the process went flawlessly.  You’d never know that this space required the work that went into it, and surely well worth it.

This project started as a typical 1930’s San Francisco single-family residence, with two small bedrooms, original canary yellow tile in the bathroom, and a 1970s era kitchen that had seen better days.  Now in its place stands a handsome two-unit building comprised of more than 5000 square feet. Color choices on this project ensured that the space was warm and inviting while still being sleek and contemporary.  Custom walnut cabinetry is installed throughout the home, complemented in the living room with teal and orange accents in pillows and ripplefold drapery.  In the master suite, a cooler palette of blues and beiges with silver accents is reflected in the custom headboard and artwork.  The kitchen includes everything you’d expect and more: a high-BTU gas cooktop, double ovens, an extra prep sink, and a walk in pantry, which feels almost opulent by San Francisco standards.  

When someone wants to remodel the home of his childhood with his wife, it’s important to listen carefully.  They wanted to maintain the home’s traditional feel while opening up the spaces.  We creating a super functional, yet classic kitchen with all the storage they needed.  And the now open kitchen and dining room incorporate an adjacent sun room, creating a large space perfect for family and entertaining. The second floor, with three bedrooms and only one bath, was similarly chopped up with an awkward lavatory and disjointed closets. We were able to reconfigure the series of small spaces and capture a few feet from an oversized bedroom to create a proper master suite and second full bath for the growing family. Crisp, clean tile and skylights brighten the space but retain the period charm of the home. The clients, with new baby, have moved back in and love their new family- and parent-friendly new space.