Nestled in a thicket of Live Oaks on a 1 ½ acre lot, this home for a professor's family is a study in the balance between nature and built form. In our initial discussions with the homeowners, they expressed both a love of modern architecture and an appreciation of the natural environment. These same ideas frequently inspire, but often result in a jarring contrast between building and environment. Our intention is to create a harmonious composition between the new home and its surroundings. Much of the design effort was to balance these priorities and maintain equilibrium.
Photography: Paul Dyer
A suburban ranch-house is transformed into an elegant home well suited to its park-like setting while accommodating a large family. A new two-story living space is created to provide a gracious gathering place for this close-knit family. The new addition and what was existing, create a variety of exterior living spaces. Natural wood finishes, trim and casework are used throughout the home, referencing a craftsman heritage meaningful to the family. A warm environment connects to the garden and grounds seen through every window.
Photography: Paul Dyer
Behind the façade of this stately San Francisco Victorian is a diverse and engaging environment. Providing this family home with a full range of fun and sophisticated spaces; from a new basement ‘speakeasy’ with an expansive wine cave and hidden theater, to an elegant office library complete with a chevron tiled wet-bar, to a fully renovated attic space with playrooms and a backlit skylight over the grand stair. This home has something for everyone.
This modern house is designed to accommodate elegant and functional family living. Generous social areas are connected directly to the spacious open kitchen while two home offices and private rooms are distributed throughout the 5000sf home. This centrally organized plan minimizes hallways, and maximizes light.
Living, family and dining spaces are flexible and embrace the view and fireplace. The west windows and sliding doors lead to an expansive balcony that is the width of the entire house, offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
Staging and Interior Decoration: Ilaria Barion, Barion Design
Photography: Paul Dyer
This San Francisco Edwardian stayed true to its character while being reimagined as a fresh and modern family home. An additive approach was used to emphasize what the historical home had to offer, bringing in light and spaciousness through new dormers, windows, skylights and custom cabinetry. A seamless addition expanded the third floor for a new master suite and new upper decks that connect to the newly designed rear yard.
This project was featured in Luxe Magazine 2019.
Interior designer: John K. Anderson Design
Landscape designer: Katharine Webster Landscape Design
This weekend retreat is situated on a beautiful two acre site that had been left vacant since the Inverness Ridge fire of 1995. The design of the house and property features the spectacular views of Tomales Bay on the interior, while on the exterior the house is sited to border and define an outdoor open courtyard. A natural palette of materials keeps the house grounded in the Northern California landscape.
Photography: Paul Dyer
This welcoming home provides space for a growing family with two young boys, while reflecting the clients’ appreciation for elegance, tranquility and sustainability.
The standalone 5000-square-foot, three-story home provides panoramic views to the east, south and west sides of San Francisco and beyond.
Behind the serene white, grey and natural wood surfaces are a plethora of sustainable elements, including hydronic radiant heating, solar energy, and energy efficient fixtures. Reclaimed wood and eco-conscious materials are used wherever possible. Outside, greywater is repurposed for garden irrigation.
A classic San Francisco Edwardian refreshed from decades of neglect and ad hoc additions. This family home was fully renovated to provide an environment that is both elegant and kid-friendly.
Photography: Paul Dyer
Addition and renovation to a quaint bay side cottage result in updated living and creating a second story master suite to capture the water views and promote tranquility.
Photography: Paul Dyer
The renovation of this house built in 1916 by renowned architect Albert Farr is about modernizing it for today’s living without diluting the character of the original building. Much attention is given to material and color selection to blend the original details with the new. A new spacious master bedroom suite and a new kitchen with direct access to a sunny backyard take center stage in the newly renovated house. An artistic palette of finish materials modernizes the elegant house while adding personal touches that reflect the new owners’ personality.
Photography: Shelley Eades
This project is a complete renovation and addition to a historic house atop Russian Hill. We introduced modern functionality and a light-filled contemporary aesthetic to the interior by removing existing walls where possible and building a new transparent stair of glass and floating wood treads to connect all floors. A top floor is added to the house for a new master suite with den and roof deck which offers panoramic views of the city.
Photography: Open Home Photography and David Duncan Livingston
The renovation of this house on a large sloping lot reinvigorates it for a young family. The design solution provides more family-oriented spaces by opening up the kitchen, converting a dormered attic & bedroom into a homework-play area and converting the existing garage into a family room with expansive French doors that open to a redesigned yard. A new “outdoor living room” is accentuated by a sheltered porch on the rear side of the new carriage house-garage and an elevated sun deck with an outdoor fireplace.
Photography: David Duncan Livingston
This 1940s cabin was raised 10 feet to elevate the living spaces of the house from heavy winter season snow. The added lower level accommodates a heated garage, a generous mud room for ski equipment, a laundry room, and a new entry foyer and stair that leads up to the newly renovated living room. Large insulated windows are added to capture views of Serene Lake and augment natural light. The compact 1466 square-foot interior on two floors is simple yet elegantly finished.
Photography: Emily Huang
The renovation of this 1950s single floor ranch-style house added a new second floor and a new lower level. Daylight is introduced to the house through two new shafts of windows and skylights in the new living areas. The new composition of space and finish materials enhance the modern aesthetic of the original house.
Photography: David Duncan Livingston
The renovation of this house on the national historic registry is about finessing the design and the construction details to blend the old with the new. The careful insertion of new stairs at the rear and the widening of the bedroom hall add light and spatial expansion to the original narrow feel of the house. An inspired palette of finish materials updates the majestic grand house while adding artistic flair to reflect the owners’ personality.
Photography: David Duncan Livingston
This project is the renovation of a house built in 1924, new gardens and grounds, and the addition of a two-car carriage house. Our clients enjoy the views this house offers of the Pacific Ocean but also wanted warm and useable outdoor spaces.
The design solution is a new outdoor living room created by placing the new carriage house and garden wall at the front property line. The kitchen and dining room have direct access to the outdoor living room, which features a grand fireplace for cool evening gatherings. A library with mahogany bookcases and wood framed skylights is made from an old storage attic.
Photography: Cesar Rubio
