A modern family home for four in the quaint neighborhood of Sunnyside creates a bright yet serene interior atmosphere with majestic views of San Francisco's hills and skyline. A prominently cool palette of watery blues and reflective surfaces, inspired by the client’s love of water and years of competitive synchronized swimming, creates a light-filled and calming atmosphere throughout.
The signature slat stairway connects all three floors, adds beautiful architectural interest, and creates an airiness at the heart of the home to make the compact space feel open and connected with a bright skylight above. In the entry, a Bower Studios Mirror projects a warm element of reflection, capturing the image of a striking piece of artwork by Mária Švarbová.
Custom millwork in the living room introduces an intelligent use of space to display the client's collection of family treasures, artistic objects, and books, while also keeping everyday essentials organized. A custom built-in sofa by Jovinas offers ample space for lounging and enjoying quality time with family and friends while a large bookcase houses our client’s growing collection of books. The prismatic coffee table from Gary Hutton Design adds vibrant color and reflection to tie the space together in a fun and unexpected way.
With a mix of modern functionality and subtle glamour, the kitchen ties together several design elements in one bright and stunning space. The blue tile backsplash by Heath, reminiscent of water, creates a cool, reflective backdrop, while the bronze hood and shelf bring in a warm shimmering dimension as the kitchen's primary focal point.
A large island with a walnut base and quartzite countertops provides plenty of room for cooking family meals and entertaining guests. The marble’s bold veining picks up on the blue backsplash for an artistic touch. A bold black light fixture ties into the ebonized black walnut counter stools from Sawkille while its opal glass globes add yet another reflective surface to tie the space together.
A custom dining table designed and crafted by Mobler Co. sits alongside a built-in bench and white oak chairs to provide ample seating for leisurely meals and dinner parties. The upholstered cushion and cozy throw pillows in varying shades of blue continue the water-inspired theme while offering a cool contrast to the warmth of the oak wood.
Above the table, 'To the Times When it Rains Champagne Again' by Chris Ehlers fills the space with color and texture and gives a nod to the local California Coast.
An alcove office provides a cozy nook for quick work breaks throughout the day. Holland & Sherry linen roman shades depicting The Luberon in Provence bring a charming sense of the outdoors in, while a small 'Vallejo Street, S.F.' art piece by Debbie O’Brien mimics the rolling hills of the shades’ Luberon pattern and the home’s surrounding hillside neighborhood.
Across the way, a small powder room sits tucked behind the slat stairway. Watery blue wainscoting wraps around the lower half of the walls to meet the vanity in the same color, giving an almost floating effect to the white counters. Osborne & Little wallpaper adds texture beneath a pair of prints featuring the client in her previous synchronized swimming competitions.
Natural light fills the stairway from the skylight above adding a warmth that highlights the detailing of the oak steps and slats. 'Placid' and 'Quiet Surroundings' pieces by Taryn Curiel provide visual interest with their texture and cool, monotone grey design while keeping the focus on the profile of the stairs.
A playful red sconce by Richard Brilliant Willing provides a fun sculptural moment and surprising pop of color to bright, white walls.
A statement, polar-bear themed wallpaper from Eskayel serves as the focal point of the youngest daughter’s room. The James Malone roman shade from De Sousa Hughes layers a more geometric pattern in complementary pink and gold colors. Bedding in varying patterns, textures, and shades of lavender, coral, and soft pinks relate to the distinct palette of the room’s statement wallpaper to create a warm, playful space.
White paneled walls create a subtly textured canvas for the eldest daughter’s room where a grey, fabric bed frame provides a neutral base for playful bedding and throw pillows including a black and white gingham coverlet and colorful stripes and florals. The vintage walnut vanity with brass hardware and an ochre table lamp elevate the space with their warmer tones and distinct shapes and curves.
A fun geometric tile in varying shades of pink adds an energetic pop of warmth to the girls' bathroom. Oversized, round cabinet pulls add more visual interest to the vanity while a playful yet simple set of black and white prints from Dave Warnke’s CB Page collection keep the focus on the tile. A smaller, neutral Fireclay tile lines the walls for a modern look that maintains a sense of soft and reflective dimension.
The primary bedroom palette mimics the foggy San Francisco skies with muted blues, greys, and yellows. A velvet covered bed frame adds a soft yet sculptural element to the space while custom drapery by Dawson Workroom features a classic, check patterned fabric from Osborne & Little. The natural string of the rope pendant light from Bone Simple Design adds texture.
Custom millwork lines the edge of the room, providing ample space for organized storage that maximizes floor space and keeps it clear of clutter.
Statement tile from Smink Studios’ Eclipse collection lines the shower wall for a modern, playful design while tile and slabs from Da Vinci Marble add texture to the shower floor and walls. An oak vanity adds warmth and classic white marble countertops keep the space feeling bright and modern. Oversized knobs add a playful touch to the vanity and relate to the home’s use of rounded curves and overall mid-century feel.
An abstract wallpaper by Kate Zaremba company provides a complex yet playful backdrop that gives a unique sense of texture to the family room. A built in bench with a charcoal hued cushion aligns with the dark grey chairs from Blu Dot while colorful throw pillows in shades of teal and ochre add fun pops of color.
The soft, cloud-like sofa and patterned rug in a medley of greys are reminiscent of foggy San Francisco skies, while Jennifer Damas’ 'Believing From Afar' adds an airy brightness inspired by the San Francisco skies seen from the adjacent patio.
In the downstairs office, built-in millwork offers plenty of space for a styled book collection of avid readers, while natural light flows through the window making the compact space feel bright, warm, and welcoming.
ARCHITECT
GB Construction
CONTRACTOR
PHOTOGRAPHER
Heidi Schwarz
STYLIST