This 1960s ocean-view home is transformed into a modern sanctuary by leveraging sunlight, detailing, natural materials, and a collection of personal treasures.
Details
Details throughout the home, like this backlit bar wrapped in pale lava stone and oak, are intentionally crafted to be discrete while thoughtfully functional.
Japanese Influence
Heavily influenced by Japanese design, our client insisted on incorporating various elements and details that speak to this rich history. Natural materials such as rift white oak, plaster, patterned carpets, and sculptural art capture the changing quality of light.
The art of subtraction
Living areas are visually connected by eliminating doors and walls. The central volume of cabinetry in oak – separating kitchen from living room – opens the home to allow light from windows and skylights to rake across the living area. The primary bedroom door is substituted for a pivoting wall that allows privacy when guests are visiting.
Aging Gracefully
The home boasts an array of aging-friendly features, including a bronze tree branch grab bar at the entry and a cantilevered countertop in the kitchen. Several furniture pieces were customized to adapt to our aging-in-place directive.
About the Project
Transforming this traditional 1960s ranch into a modernized yet low-maintenance home for our mother and son/client and contractor duo was a creative collaboration. Within the confines of this San Francisco home, adorned with natural oak and gray tile surfaces, we have seamlessly integrated design elements that prioritize accessibility and cater to our elderly clients’ unwavering desire to age in place.
Rather than an all-grey house, we accented warm neutrals with pops of vibrant color visible in our client’s wardrobe. For our client, who loves to entertain, it was essential to incorporate a hidden bar stocked with all the necessities into her newly renovated home.
However, our commitment to maximizing functionality and practicality does not come at the expense of style and personality. The open and flowing space harmoniously blends tailored European furnishings with local artisanal pieces fostering a unique and inviting atmosphere. In the heart of the home, the kitchen, we meticulously tailored every detail to suit our client’s needs, from the custom counter height that perfectly accommodates her preferences to the creative display of pots, pans, kitchen utensils, and an extensive collection of cookbooks, adding a touch of personal flair.
This transformative design project demonstrates our dedication to creating homes that cater to the specific needs of our clients while maintaining a distinct sense of individuality.
Featured in Dwell Magazine
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Process
We work to create harmony between the ambience of our furnishings and the architecture, grounding our design in the colors of the site. Our room size living room rug, based on a topographical study of the area, place our clients sunset chair on top of her mountain.
Credits
Interior Design: Bjorn Design
Architect: Gast Architects
Contractor: Aaron Gordon Construction
Photography: Adam Rouse