Houzz Tour: Restored Home on San Francisco’s Famed Alamo Square
A designer revitalizes her 1901 Edwardian, which faces the park known for its row of ‘Painted Ladies’
Before: The original foyer featured dark-stained wood, white walls and a red brick fireplace surround.
Hollenbeck covered the stairs with a new runner featuring a leopard-print pattern.
“The leopard spots are actually not black but a dark blue,” she says. “I tried to work some blue into every room in the house.”
Browse leopard-print rugs on Houzz
“The leopard spots are actually not black but a dark blue,” she says. “I tried to work some blue into every room in the house.”
Browse leopard-print rugs on Houzz
A powder room underneath the staircase provides a colorful surprise for guests. The walls are covered in a custom mural painted by San Francisco artist Victor Reyes, who also happens to be Hollenbeck’s neighbor. “He’s so talented. I just gave him free rein to create whatever he wanted,” the designer says.
The bathroom floors are covered in marble laid in a herringbone pattern to mimic the layout of the home’s original wood floors. The brass mirror above the sink is a vintage piece from the 1970s.
The bathroom floors are covered in marble laid in a herringbone pattern to mimic the layout of the home’s original wood floors. The brass mirror above the sink is a vintage piece from the 1970s.
Throughout the house, Hollenbeck wanted to feature a mix of contemporary and traditional pieces to make the interior feel current without taking away from its historic character. The dining room is a great example of the designer’s intention.
The space features an English table from the 1860s surrounded by modern Milo Baughman chairs covered in ivory leather. A collection of antique brass candleholders sits on the table, while a stunning chandelier designed by Hollenbeck hangs above. The blue-and-white wallpaper is from Kelly Wearstler.
The space features an English table from the 1860s surrounded by modern Milo Baughman chairs covered in ivory leather. A collection of antique brass candleholders sits on the table, while a stunning chandelier designed by Hollenbeck hangs above. The blue-and-white wallpaper is from Kelly Wearstler.
Before: The previous living room featured dark blue walls and a ceramic tile fireplace surround. The windows look out on Alamo Square.
Hollenbeck covered the wall in an off-white paint to create a gallery-like space to display her collection of portraits. The portraits are antiques except for the one at the far left, which was painted by Northern California artist Deborah Oropallo. “Deborah creates these amazing works where she overlays an image of a contemporary woman over a historic male portrait,” Hollenbeck says. “It creates this androgynous quality to the work that I adore.”
A pair of tufted sofas covered in blue velvet and a 1970s mirror with a beveled blue glass frame continue the use of the accent color. The large Lucite coffee table visually keeps the room open and allows for the graphic rug underneath to be a feature.
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A pair of tufted sofas covered in blue velvet and a 1970s mirror with a beveled blue glass frame continue the use of the accent color. The large Lucite coffee table visually keeps the room open and allows for the graphic rug underneath to be a feature.
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The designer replaced the ceramic tile surround with a more traditional wood mantel with intricate detailing.
The brass bar cart to the right of the fireplace is a vintage piece designed by Baughman.
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The brass bar cart to the right of the fireplace is a vintage piece designed by Baughman.
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Before: The previous second-floor stair landing featured loads of dark-stained wood, a traditional crystal chandelier and an original stained-glass window.
The refreshed landing is another great mix of contemporary and traditional style. Hollenbeck designed the pendant chandelier that features 12 glass bulbs suspended from cords of different lengths.
The photograph on the wall of the lion and the tiger was taken by a French artist at the Deyrolle taxidermy and curiosity shop, which opened in Paris in 1831.
A traditional wood bench along the stair railing is covered in a modern knobby white boucle.
The photograph on the wall of the lion and the tiger was taken by a French artist at the Deyrolle taxidermy and curiosity shop, which opened in Paris in 1831.
A traditional wood bench along the stair railing is covered in a modern knobby white boucle.
In the master bedroom, another work from Reyes hangs above the blue mohair-covered bed. Hollenbeck selected the light blue curtains and the orange accent pillows and throw blanket to play off the colors in the painting.
The en suite master bathroom was created out of a former bedroom. For the new bathroom entrance, Hollenbeck added a “blind” door that blends into the wall when closed. “There were already enough doors in the room, one leading to the hallway and another to the walk-in closet,” she says. “I wanted to conceal this one.”
The en suite master bathroom was created out of a former bedroom. For the new bathroom entrance, Hollenbeck added a “blind” door that blends into the wall when closed. “There were already enough doors in the room, one leading to the hallway and another to the walk-in closet,” she says. “I wanted to conceal this one.”
Creating a master bathroom out of a bedroom was the biggest construction project of the renovation, but Hollenbeck believes that it was well worth the effort and expense. “As much as I love my kids, I don’t want to share a bathroom with them.”
Hollenbeck designed the bathroom’s custom floor and wall, creating them out marble in three colors: white, black and green.
The designer also created the double vanity that features a waterfall-edge marble countertop and white lacquered cabinets.
Hollenbeck designed the bathroom’s custom floor and wall, creating them out marble in three colors: white, black and green.
The designer also created the double vanity that features a waterfall-edge marble countertop and white lacquered cabinets.
The fixtures, sconces and mirrors are brass. The deep freestanding tub is in front of a window with views overlooking Alamo Square.
Houzz TV: 71 Dream Bathtub Views
Houzz TV: 71 Dream Bathtub Views
Hollenbeck says that her previous home in Marin Country had a butler’s pantry with walls covered in a bold turquoise hue that her teenage daughter adored, so they re-created the look in her new bedroom. The whimsical space also includes a Lucite hanging chair and a spiky brass chandelier.
After her daughter’s room received its bold turquoise paint, Hollenbeck’s two sons, who share a room, wanted something equally cool for their own space. Their wish was granted with a ceiling covered in a midnight blue wallpaper embedded with glow-in-the-dark stars. “The stars absorb light during the day and then shine at night for a few hours after you turn off the lights,” the designer says. Needless to say, her sons love the effect.
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Houzz TV: A Famed ‘Painted Lady’ Gets a Gorgeous Update
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Holly Hollenbeck with husband Chris, a daughter and two sons
Location: San Francisco
Size: Five bedrooms, four bathrooms
Back when designer Holly Hollenbeck was a student in design school, she took an architectural tour of houses bordering San Francisco’s Alamo Square park, the most famous of which form a row of colorful Victorians known as the “Painted Ladies.” “I immediately fell in love with the neighborhood and imagined how great it would be to live there one day,” Hollenbeck says.
After nearly 15 years residing in Marin County with her family, Hollenbeck realized her dream of living in the Alamo Square neighborhood. “All three of my kids dance at the San Francisco Ballet School, so it made a lot of sense for us to move to the city,” she says. The house they bought, a 1901 Edwardian designed by architect Julius Krafft, needed a fair amount of TLC, but it had the bones and historical charm that initially drew Hollenbeck to the neighborhood years ago.
A grand foyer featuring a massive fireplace greets guests as they walk through the front door. To make the space feel more inviting, Hollenbeck painted the walls a warm shade of coral pink. She also had the home’s original dark-stained wood, including wainscoting, ceiling beams, stairs, doors and trim stripped to its natural oak before applying a light stain. The brick fireplace also received a coat of dark blue paint that’s just a notch lighter than black.
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