Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Modern With a View to Being Warm and Cozy
Color and texture create an inviting home that opens up to panoramic views of San Francisco
Newlyweds Tom Lau and Lisa Olson were excited to purchase their first home together, a four-level modern house in San Francisco’s Noe Valley neighborhood. While the couple love the clean lines and beautiful views outside, they also wanted their contemporary home to feel warm and inviting. Enter designers Jill McCoy and Lauren Hosmer, who incorporated some of the couple’s favorite collectibles and furniture pieces, added new finds and used a balance of color and texture to create a cohesive home that reflects the owners.
Since the living room’s modern fireplace features a cool, dark tile surround, McCoy says the original abstract painting by Harry Gruenert helps brighten up this focal point of the room. “We were worried we would have to take that tile off; it’s so dark and massive,” Olson recalls. “But once Jill brought the art in, that changed everything.”
Lau and Olson’s favorite artifacts and mementos gathered over the years were used to style and personalize the living room’s floating bookshelves, placed on each side of the fireplace, and the top of the built-in black lacquer credenzas. “People don’t realize how fabulous their own collectibles can look until they’re grouped together and styled to highlight color, size and texture,” McCoy says.
Lau and Olson’s favorite artifacts and mementos gathered over the years were used to style and personalize the living room’s floating bookshelves, placed on each side of the fireplace, and the top of the built-in black lacquer credenzas. “People don’t realize how fabulous their own collectibles can look until they’re grouped together and styled to highlight color, size and texture,” McCoy says.
The living room sofa is placed on the dominant side of the room, so it faces guests when they enter from the stairs off the entry.
The black console table and long aqua painting seen on the left side of this photo were existing pieces of Lau and Olson’s.
The black console table and long aqua painting seen on the left side of this photo were existing pieces of Lau and Olson’s.
The master bedroom was designed to be a calm and relaxing retreat. An existing queen bed and nightstands were paired with a new off-white duvet, two teal cotton velvet pillows, a teal throw blanket and a John Robshaw hand-block-printed lumbar pillow that adds pattern.
The bedroom’s blue hand-knotted area rug with a faded, vintage look and interesting color and pattern variations picks up the teal on the bed. Two paintings the couple already had add color to the walls.
Duvet cover: Restoration Hardware; lumbar pillow: Anthropologie; area rug: Room & Board; teal pillows: Crate & Barrel; lamps: existing
The bedroom’s blue hand-knotted area rug with a faded, vintage look and interesting color and pattern variations picks up the teal on the bed. Two paintings the couple already had add color to the walls.
Duvet cover: Restoration Hardware; lumbar pillow: Anthropologie; area rug: Room & Board; teal pillows: Crate & Barrel; lamps: existing
Custom storage was added along one wall of the master bedroom. A light teal daybed-style sofa gives Lau and Olson a comfortable and stylish place to put on their shoes or lay out an outfit for the next day.
The more neutral area rug below the sofa adds warmth to the light wood floor. “We used a lot of textural rugs throughout the house,” McCoy says. “Modern homes can have a cold feel, and we wanted to make this home cozier.”
Sofa: Room & Board; storage unit: custom, California Closets; area rug: Crate & Barrel
The more neutral area rug below the sofa adds warmth to the light wood floor. “We used a lot of textural rugs throughout the house,” McCoy says. “Modern homes can have a cold feel, and we wanted to make this home cozier.”
Sofa: Room & Board; storage unit: custom, California Closets; area rug: Crate & Barrel
A large sliding glass door opens the home office to the beautiful bay and city views outside. The desk, a gently used online find, has a glass top that reflects the natural light from outside. A fun zebra-striped area rug below that adds needed pattern.
Custom shelves allow display storage for books, artwork and collectibles, with file cabinets below that keep paperwork organized and out of sight.
Glass-top desk: originally from Williams-Sonoma Home; desk chair: existing; area rug: special order, West Elm; storage: custom, California Closets
Custom shelves allow display storage for books, artwork and collectibles, with file cabinets below that keep paperwork organized and out of sight.
Glass-top desk: originally from Williams-Sonoma Home; desk chair: existing; area rug: special order, West Elm; storage: custom, California Closets
The desk overlooks this narrow seating area where Olson spends most of her time at home, a cozy spot with a sliding glass door that leads to the deck outside. The couple’s existing blue leather sofa is placed against the wall, so the beautiful views can be enjoyed. Two cube tables create a flexible coffee table that doesn’t take up lots of space. Three Asian chests Olson purchased during her three years living in Shanghai are also on display. “I love how we were able to incorporate my Asian chests into the design of this modern home,” Olson says. “They look beautiful and work perfectly in this space.”
The orange in the artwork inspired the selection of the throw pillows on the sofa, and two tall bookshelves provide some needed height in the tight space.
Sofa: existing; coffee table cubes: Crate & Barrel; area rug and bookshelves: CB2; wall art: Room & Board; floor lamp: EQ3
The orange in the artwork inspired the selection of the throw pillows on the sofa, and two tall bookshelves provide some needed height in the tight space.
Sofa: existing; coffee table cubes: Crate & Barrel; area rug and bookshelves: CB2; wall art: Room & Board; floor lamp: EQ3
The casual patio outside with stunning views has a couple of Adirondack chairs where Lau and Olson can enjoy a glass of wine or cup of coffee, and a dining table that seats six for alfresco meals.
Lounge chairs, Rex dining chairs and dining table (table no longer available): CB2; pillows on Adirondack chairs: Room & Board
Lounge chairs, Rex dining chairs and dining table (table no longer available): CB2; pillows on Adirondack chairs: Room & Board
Located one level higher, the home’s wraparound rooftop deck provides space for entertaining and hanging out, with a seating area, an indoor-outdoor fireplace and clear railings that keep the views unobstructed.
Outdoor sectional, armless chairs, lounge chairs, ottoman and pillows: CB2; indoor-outdoor fireplace: AllModern
Outdoor sectional, armless chairs, lounge chairs, ottoman and pillows: CB2; indoor-outdoor fireplace: AllModern
Just around the corner, this seating area in front of the house with two modern lounge chairs and a table lets Lau and Olson enjoy more of the city views that surround the home. They now have a modern home they created together, that feels cozy and reflects their interests and travels.
“We were able to use quite a bit of their own instead of buying everything new,” McCoy says. “They have great taste and weren’t afraid of color. This house feels more like their home than a store.”
Lounge chairs and table: CB2
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“We were able to use quite a bit of their own instead of buying everything new,” McCoy says. “They have great taste and weren’t afraid of color. This house feels more like their home than a store.”
Lounge chairs and table: CB2
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tom Lau and Lisa Olson
Location: San Francisco
Size: Four levels (including rooftop deck), four bedrooms and four baths
Designers: Jill McCoy and Lauren Hosmer of Visual Jill Interior Decorating
Lau and Olson sit in the open living room, the home’s main indoor entertaining space, located off stairs from the front entry and family room. A comfortable white leather sofa with clean lines is positioned across from two gray swivel chairs that allow guests to visit with the couple while they cook in the adjacent kitchen, and to enjoy the beautiful views outside. A round glass-top cocktail table is placed in between, to offer a spot to rest drinks without taking away from the open feel of the room.
Like the rest of the home, the living room features a neutral base with splashes of vibrant colors and a mix of glass, wood and metal. The bright blue area rug (blue is a favorite color for both Lau and Olson) and the yellow and patterned pillows work with the more neutral furniture pieces to create a space with layers. “I love the simplicity and openness of the living room,” Olson says. “It’s open and modern but really warm and inviting, with access to the kitchen.”
Camber Sofa in white leather: Design Within Reach; cocktail table, gray swivel chairs, multicolored pillows and walnut wall shelves, Room & Board; Calypso rug: Home Decorators Collection; yellow pillows: Crate & Barrel; lumbar pillows: AllModern