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Fresh Update for a Victorian-Era San Francisco Beauty
A respectful renovation preserves historic details while updating the home for modern family life
This couple purchased a three-story San Francisco Victorian they loved, but they needed to give it some updates for modern life. They found architect Craig O’Connell on Houzz and hired him to help the house function for their family of four. “I love it when we have a chance to blend old and new,” he says. “We kept all of the original architectural details like the trim and stained-glass windows, but modernized the look with elements such as light fixtures,” he says.
The entry is a mix of old and new that foreshadows what’s to come in the rest of the house. Original Victorian-era millwork and a traditional rug provide the old, while a modern table, pendant light and wallpaper add something fresh and different. “The hallway is completely personal and shows off their style,” O’Connell says. “And we were so happy that we could keep the original front door and other architectural details intact.”
Before: The bones of this classic living room were also beautiful and intact. The quintessential bay window with stained-glass details, the original millwork and the fireplace were left untouched during the renovations.
After: The new chandelier’s amber globe shades play off the stained glass, and the fixture nods to the more modern style that awaits toward the back of the house. But the integrity of the original architecture remains fully intact.
Before: The back of the house showed marks of other recent renovations. This photo was taken from the existing kitchen. Because they were renovating the lower level as part of the project, the family room area was no longer needed. O’Connell moved the kitchen to take over this entire area.
After: Now the space serves as a roomy eat-in kitchen complete with a built-in booth for the family. The cabinet in the corner serves as a spot for the kids to stash their art supplies and games.
The existing mix of contemporary sliding doors and traditional molding was incongruous. So O’Connell went for something more industrial, replacing the old sliders with a beautiful set of custom steel-framed bifold doors that open up the kitchen to the backyard. The new deck and stairs were also a part of the remodel.
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The existing mix of contemporary sliding doors and traditional molding was incongruous. So O’Connell went for something more industrial, replacing the old sliders with a beautiful set of custom steel-framed bifold doors that open up the kitchen to the backyard. The new deck and stairs were also a part of the remodel.
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Here is the booth fully outfitted with comfortable cushions. They painted the existing exposed-brick wall white to freshen it up to fit the more modern kitchen space. Behind the booth are stairs that lead to the lower level. Once hidden behind a door, they were opened up as part of the project.
The lower-level renovations included adding an office, playroom and bathroom on that level. The skylight over the table was existing, but a large new one over the stairs transformed that space into a light well that brings lots of natural light into the space.
The lower-level renovations included adding an office, playroom and bathroom on that level. The skylight over the table was existing, but a large new one over the stairs transformed that space into a light well that brings lots of natural light into the space.
Before: There wasn’t a lot of space to work on the kitchen countertops — a lack of smart storage meant the counters were full of small appliances, utensils, cutting boards and more.
After: Directly across from the cabinet by the back doors is its twin. This serves as their pantry cabinet. And it helped them clear up the countertop clutter — there are outlets and space for small appliances inside.
The kitchen’s material palette was inspired by the architect’s own kitchen. “They had seen photos of my kitchen, which has plywood cabinets and concrete counters, and they loved it,” he says. “And they knew they wanted open shelving from the get-go.” The rest of the cabinetry and open shelves are exposed plywood in shop grade maple with a clear-coat matte finish and accented with routed hand pulls.
The perimeter countertops are concrete, the island counter is walnut. The mix of materials and finishes adds depth and warmth to the room.
Blue cabinet paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
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The kitchen’s material palette was inspired by the architect’s own kitchen. “They had seen photos of my kitchen, which has plywood cabinets and concrete counters, and they loved it,” he says. “And they knew they wanted open shelving from the get-go.” The rest of the cabinetry and open shelves are exposed plywood in shop grade maple with a clear-coat matte finish and accented with routed hand pulls.
The perimeter countertops are concrete, the island counter is walnut. The mix of materials and finishes adds depth and warmth to the room.
Blue cabinet paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
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A 12-foot-long kitchen island serves as the family’s main hub. The kids sit here and do homework and eat some of their meals here. The blue hexagonal tile on the island is from California company Heath Ceramics. And they picked up on the hexagonal shape with a smaller hex tile on the backsplash. The modern pendant lights have clay shades.
While a lot of the kitchen has a modern look, the new architectural details pay homage to the Victorian-era home. For example, when O’Connell expanded the opening between the kitchen and dining room with a new arched opening, he trimmed it out in molding that matched the rest of the original moldings used throughout the house.
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While a lot of the kitchen has a modern look, the new architectural details pay homage to the Victorian-era home. For example, when O’Connell expanded the opening between the kitchen and dining room with a new arched opening, he trimmed it out in molding that matched the rest of the original moldings used throughout the house.
Browse modern pendant lights in the Houzz shop
“While the concrete sink is modern, we gave it an apron front to nod to the home’s history,” O’Connell says.
With the new staircase opened up to the main level, O’Connell took advantage of its skylight. Here he created a cozy reading nook on the main level overlooking the stairs.
The three-paneled skylight has a steel frame. “The WireGlass on the skylight has an industrial pattern,” he says. “It adds so much more natural light in the house.”
The three-paneled skylight has a steel frame. “The WireGlass on the skylight has an industrial pattern,” he says. “It adds so much more natural light in the house.”
The nook’s bench does double duty as a cabinet, a good spot to tuck books and blankets away.
Across from the bench is this lively powder room. The bold abstract wallpaper shows off the homeowner’s fearless style. Vintage industrial style inspired the funky little sink, light fixture and mirror frame.
The office and playroom area downstairs includes this mini kitchen that the family has set up as a bar. The cabinetry is warm walnut and the vertical orientation of the tile adds a fresh modern touch.
A new full bath was also part of the lower-level renovation. The lower level is set up to be an ADU, or adaptable dwelling unit, O’Connell says. “But these homeowners are using it for family and friends.”
One of the main goals of the renovation was expanding from one shared hall bathroom upstairs to a hall bath and a master. With some creative reconfiguring, O’Connell turned the existing hall bath into the master and made room for a new hall bath for the kids next to it by playing with the layout. This included moving some closet walls.
One of the “nice curveballs” the homeowner threw into the project was this unique black-and-white tile composition on the bathroom floor. It adds a modern and artistic touch, while subway tile on the wall fits in with the period architecture. Gray grout on the walls adds a vintage industrial element.
One of the “nice curveballs” the homeowner threw into the project was this unique black-and-white tile composition on the bathroom floor. It adds a modern and artistic touch, while subway tile on the wall fits in with the period architecture. Gray grout on the walls adds a vintage industrial element.
Brass faucets play off the warmth of the custom walnut vanity. Mounting them on the wall saved space. The large mirror reflects the light and makes the space feel larger.
The new hall bath now serves as the bathroom shared by the children. A Julia Rothman Hygge & West shower curtain softens the more industrial touches, such as the wall-mounted sink, mirror and subway tile with gray grout.
The couple’s two kids got some special touches added to their bedrooms, including cozy lofts above their closets.
“It was really fun to work with these clients because they like to add the types of details I like. They’d say, ‘I want a bench to sit here or some more light there,’” O’Connell says. The result is a home full of their personal style that works well for the way they function as a family.
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“It was really fun to work with these clients because they like to add the types of details I like. They’d say, ‘I want a bench to sit here or some more light there,’” O’Connell says. The result is a home full of their personal style that works well for the way they function as a family.
More on Houzz
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Shop for your home
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 3,400 square feet (316 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Architect: Craig O’Connell
“One of the homeowners is very artistic and creative — she does floral design on the side, loves unique details, and resale value did not play a part in the decisions. She threw some really nice curveballs in here,” O’Connell says. The resulting style is an eclectic mix of Victorian-era architectural features mixed with vintage industrial-inspired elements and bold artistic gestures.
“My job is to strike a balance between a client’s aesthetic, their functional needs and the architecture. It was a good fusion here,” he says.
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