Pac Heights

Located within a historic high-rise in Pacific Heights, this apartment renovation balances modern interventions within a traditional setting.

Each apartment within this building occupies an entire floor, yielding 360-degree iconic views of San Francisco that include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Sutro Tower. Given the existing historic double hung, pivot, and bay windows, we knew we wanted to employ a traditional sensibility for the trim and doors throughout the project, and then use simplicity to bring in the beautiful setting. Introducing minimally detailed cabinetry, custom steel doors, simple stone slabs, and modern light fixtures, highlighted the more traditional elements. The trim and walls are consistently painted white, gently revealing the intricate moulding profiles with natural light and shadow. This design strategy places less visual emphasis on the architecture in order to prominently display the artwork and view.

Great care was given to the details. The project builder, Dowbuilt, crafted the millwork package in their Seattle shop and tapped local San Francisco talent for the custom steel profiles and stone slab elements. The crown molding in the living room and dining room were carved by Paul McCarthy, an artisan in Nantucket. Oak floors were installed in a Hungarian Point pattern, bringing a more subtle and refined design to a conventional herringbone floor.

The resulting bespoke design properly pays respect to this historical San Francisco building while employing minimal touches to put the view and artwork on display.