My Houzz: Creating a Place That Feels Like Home
An artist and an interior designer weave their love of art and design into their first home in San Francisco
“The need to feel comfortable and to feel like a space is your own, whatever that might mean for different people, is what drives my design and the passion I have for design,” says Switzerland native and interior designer Eva Muller. Muller met her partner, Cory Bradley, an oil painter, in New York City when Muller commissioned a painting from him. The couple reconnected in San Francisco, where they ended up starting their relationship and buying their first home together, a flat in a 1900 Victorian in Potrero Hill.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Eva Muller, principal designer and co-founder of sfHeimat, Cory L. Bradley, oil painter, and their Hungarian Vizsla dog, King Cashus, usually just called Cashus
Location: Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 1,250 square feet (116 square meters); three bedrooms, 1½ baths
The house was the perfect blank canvas for the creative couple to collaborate on and design together. They spent two years converting the space to fit their needs, adding a hidden powder room and a custom nook for their dog, King Cashus, and updating each room with fresh paint and new light fixtures. Now, Muller and Bradley’s interior reflects a strong sense of heimat, a German word that translates to “a place that feels like home.” It’s a constant touchstone to remind them of the places and people they had left behind in Switzerland and New York.
Who lives here: Eva Muller, principal designer and co-founder of sfHeimat, Cory L. Bradley, oil painter, and their Hungarian Vizsla dog, King Cashus, usually just called Cashus
Location: Potrero Hill neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 1,250 square feet (116 square meters); three bedrooms, 1½ baths
The house was the perfect blank canvas for the creative couple to collaborate on and design together. They spent two years converting the space to fit their needs, adding a hidden powder room and a custom nook for their dog, King Cashus, and updating each room with fresh paint and new light fixtures. Now, Muller and Bradley’s interior reflects a strong sense of heimat, a German word that translates to “a place that feels like home.” It’s a constant touchstone to remind them of the places and people they had left behind in Switzerland and New York.
Muller and Bradley wanted to feel as if their first home told their story, so they mixed one-of-a-kind pieces that are soft and textured with natural materials such as brass, copper and leather. They curated their home with Muller’s vintage pieces from her travels, her design work and pieces from her family’s home in Switzerland. Combined with Bradley’s artwork and paintings, the result is a richly layered and eclectic style with design surprises throughout.
The cuckoo clock is from Switzerland, and Muller painted it yellow to create an accent piece for the room.
Roar + Rabbit swivel chairs: West Elm; sconces: Ken Fulk Collection, Pottery Barn; wall paint: Silver Chain, Benjamin Moore; sheer drapes: Coraggio; lacquered rectangular coffee table: Anthropologie; TV: Vizio
The cuckoo clock is from Switzerland, and Muller painted it yellow to create an accent piece for the room.
Roar + Rabbit swivel chairs: West Elm; sconces: Ken Fulk Collection, Pottery Barn; wall paint: Silver Chain, Benjamin Moore; sheer drapes: Coraggio; lacquered rectangular coffee table: Anthropologie; TV: Vizio
Bradley and Muller relax in their updated living room underneath one of Bradley’s original paintings, Crow’s Nest. A mature fiddleleaf fig from Sunborne adds a natural element in the space. Two wooden elephants that are souvenirs from a family vacation to Sri Lanka are displayed on top of the cement pedestals.
Column grey pedestals: CB2; Belgian shelter arm slipcovered sofa: Restoration Hardware; lighting: HD Buttercup; console: Resource Decor
Column grey pedestals: CB2; Belgian shelter arm slipcovered sofa: Restoration Hardware; lighting: HD Buttercup; console: Resource Decor
One of Muller’s rules is to treat any space she lives in like a blank canvas and make it her own. This was especially important because she often misses her family in Switzerland, so she makes it a point to surround herself with familiar and well-loved pieces. Another cuckoo clock from Switzerland, which Muller painted gray, is in this room.
“The chalkboard wall painting shows the mountains in Switzerland,” Muller says. “One of them is called Hahnen in Engelberg, which is the mountain we look out onto from our ski resort home. Cory painted it for me one time when I felt very homesick.” The two framed oil paintings are two originals by Bradley.
Wall paint: Iron Mountain, Benjamin Moore
“The chalkboard wall painting shows the mountains in Switzerland,” Muller says. “One of them is called Hahnen in Engelberg, which is the mountain we look out onto from our ski resort home. Cory painted it for me one time when I felt very homesick.” The two framed oil paintings are two originals by Bradley.
Wall paint: Iron Mountain, Benjamin Moore
One of Muller’s favorite pieces in the room is the custom kitchen island she designed to use the space more efficiently. She repurposed an old medical cabinet from Big Daddy’s Antiques and replaced the wooden top with a marble slab. The metal bar stools are also custom, with the seats made with leather from Tandy Leather Factory in San Mateo.
BEFORE: The kitchen was spacious, but Muller thought many areas were underutilized. The dark cabinets combined with the dark wood floor also weighed the room down visually.
AFTER: The couple had the cabinets painted to match the existing wall paint, which made the entire space feel much brighter and more inviting.
The antlers were a gift from Muller’s mother from her house in the mountains. The shelves hold a mix of alcohol and drinkware. ”The center stein on the top shelf is the tower from the Kappelbrücke in Lucerne, where I am from. It was a present from my parents to Cory after they heard that we are expecting a baby,” she says.
Bar shelf brackets: Rejuvenation
The antlers were a gift from Muller’s mother from her house in the mountains. The shelves hold a mix of alcohol and drinkware. ”The center stein on the top shelf is the tower from the Kappelbrücke in Lucerne, where I am from. It was a present from my parents to Cory after they heard that we are expecting a baby,” she says.
Bar shelf brackets: Rejuvenation
BEFORE: One of the biggest challenges for the couple was to find ways to brighten up areas that felt dark and dreary, such as this entry hall.
AFTER: Muller created an inviting entryway by layering different textures with vintage pieces she had collected over the years. She bought the vintage Singer sewing table when she lived in Williamsburg in Brooklyn. It has a working sewing machine inside. The vintage dog statues are from the Round Top Antiques Fair in Texas.
BEFORE: The third bedroom’s tapered closet ceiling created an awkward shape that wasn’t ideal for storage. Muller redesigned it as a nook for Cashus, the couple’s Hungarian Vizsla dog, named after boxer Cassius Clay (who later became Muhammad Ali). With the help of their contractor, Paul Graham of Graham Construction, who is pictured here, they opened the space up to the entry hall.
AFTER: Cashus enjoys his bed, which sits on top of a hidden storage space. “Our amazing contractor, Paul Graham, created the built-in storage in the toe kick,” Muller says. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have formed a great friendship with him. I think trusting your contractor is a make-it-or-break-it deal. He is incredibly thoughtful, honest and thinks along the way during the process.”
The U, H, K and C hooks from Anthropologie stand for “Utah House King Cashus.” Utah is the name of the street they live on.
Dog bed: Cozy Cave, Snoozer Pet Products
The U, H, K and C hooks from Anthropologie stand for “Utah House King Cashus.” Utah is the name of the street they live on.
Dog bed: Cozy Cave, Snoozer Pet Products
BEFORE: The entryway catches only a brief amount of morning sun. Muller wanted to find ways to draw light and interest to the space as a focal point in the front of house.
AFTER: New paint in a calming gray helped brighten the entry area. The couple’s playful side comes out as soon you enter their home. One side showcases Bradley’s affection for large gold ornate frames, the other displays Muller’s longstanding tradition of building an instant-photo collection.
“I’ve always loved ornate frames,” Bradley says. “In NYC, I would go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for hours. I’d obviously awe at the work and craftsmanship on exhibit, but also at the amazing hand work, solo works of art, that went into the frames.
“So when I moved out here, I decided to collect them anytime I found them. I plan on putting work in all the ones I collect. I’ve even sold works that lived in frames, and made the frame they’re in ‘not for sale.’”
Wall paint: Gull Wing Gray, Benjamin Moore
“I’ve always loved ornate frames,” Bradley says. “In NYC, I would go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for hours. I’d obviously awe at the work and craftsmanship on exhibit, but also at the amazing hand work, solo works of art, that went into the frames.
“So when I moved out here, I decided to collect them anytime I found them. I plan on putting work in all the ones I collect. I’ve even sold works that lived in frames, and made the frame they’re in ‘not for sale.’”
Wall paint: Gull Wing Gray, Benjamin Moore
“The Polaroid Wall is a tradition I have been keeping up since I moved to the U.S. over 12 years ago,” Muller says. “I take a photo of everyone who visits me and who enters my heimat. It’s nice to see the transformation of people who have visited me over the years, to see how they’ve changed.”
AFTER: The couple dramatically transformed this room to make it a multipurpose space functioning both as a guest bedroom and a nursery in anticipation of their son, due in February 2017. During the final stages of renovations, Muller found out she was pregnant with her first child.
Wall sconces: The Hesperus; gray upholstered chairs and hexagon side table: Las Vegas Market; glass console: Round Top Antiques Fair
Wall sconces: The Hesperus; gray upholstered chairs and hexagon side table: Las Vegas Market; glass console: Round Top Antiques Fair
When out-of-town guests come to visit, they stay in the newly minted nursery. The cabinets open up into a custom-made Murphy bed.
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore; brass hardware: Top Knobs; leaning mirror: Creative Co-Op; Noura Moroccan high pile wool rug: Restoration Hardware
Wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore; brass hardware: Top Knobs; leaning mirror: Creative Co-Op; Noura Moroccan high pile wool rug: Restoration Hardware
When opened, the Murphy bed provides a full-size sleeping option for guests. Clothes, toys and accessories gathered in anticipation of the baby’s arrival are displayed on the open shelves.
A large oil painting by Bradley anchors the room. “This was the first painting I ever commissioned,” Muller says. The painting holds special meaning for the couple as it was the reason they met. Muller saw a flier on a friend’s refrigerator about Bradley’s artwork in New York City, which prompted her to reach out to him to commission this piece. They formed a friendship and reconnected years later in California.
Gilded hare lamp ensemble: Anthropologie; curtains and hardware: Restoration Hardware
Gilded hare lamp ensemble: Anthropologie; curtains and hardware: Restoration Hardware
BEFORE: The washer and dryer sat exposed in the hallway. The couple decided to convert this into a powder room instead and moved the appliances into a closet by the main bathroom behind a closed door.
AFTER: Muller designed a hidden powder room that not only added value to their home but was one of the most exciting parts of their renovation.
“The powder room is a small, unique and unexpected room that no one thought was there. In fact, it wasn’t there before, yet once you open its shell, it glows and surprises every visitor,” Muller says.
Wallpaper: Birds ’n’ Bees, Timorous Beasties
Wallpaper: Birds ’n’ Bees, Timorous Beasties
By converting the space into a powder room, the couple gained space for a sink, which shares the wall behind the refrigerator in the kitchen.
Faucet: Watermark; sink: Verso Venticinque 50, Catalano; wall sconces: Hooked, Buster and Punch; trim paint: Pacific Sea Teal, Benjamin Moore; ceiling paint: Iron Mountain, Benjamin Moore
Faucet: Watermark; sink: Verso Venticinque 50, Catalano; wall sconces: Hooked, Buster and Punch; trim paint: Pacific Sea Teal, Benjamin Moore; ceiling paint: Iron Mountain, Benjamin Moore
The couple’s walls are curated with Bradley’s artwork; a majority at the moment are studies of birds. “It’s been our thing, and birds have played a big role in our relationship. They are in paintings that I’ve given to her family as gifts, and her, all over our powder room and all in our story,” Bradley says.
Hanging above the floating shelf is a painting that was Bradley’s first anniversary gift to Muller. “The painting is inspired by our first family trip from my family to Russia. Saints in all the beautiful churches were displayed with a gold halo around them,“ Muller says.
Hanging above the floating shelf is a painting that was Bradley’s first anniversary gift to Muller. “The painting is inspired by our first family trip from my family to Russia. Saints in all the beautiful churches were displayed with a gold halo around them,“ Muller says.
The salon wall now showcases a growing collection of framed art pieces the couple have received over the years from their artist friends, guests and family.
A vintage writing chair sits in the hallway. Muller picked out the piece from Obsolete in Culver City, California. While it appears to be a traditional side chair, if you sit in it facing the back, you can use it to prop up a book or write a letter.
“It is a fully functional writing chair. You can pull up the wooden part in the back to place your book on it and read,” Muller explains. “The tops of the chair pull out to place your eraser, etc., inside of them. And then the center of the seat pulls out too to place papers, etc. The chair is on casters.”
“It is a fully functional writing chair. You can pull up the wooden part in the back to place your book on it and read,” Muller explains. “The tops of the chair pull out to place your eraser, etc., inside of them. And then the center of the seat pulls out too to place papers, etc. The chair is on casters.”
Bradley’s art studio is constantly filled with activity. His creative process starts in here.
Art easel: Dick Blick
Art easel: Dick Blick
The master bedroom is a tranquil space rich with textures and natural materials. “The [deer’s] name is Walter. We found him in a vintage shop in Guerneville, California,” Muller says.
Kipp upholstered panel bed, Wayfair; bedding: Restoration Hardware; blanket: Pottery Barn
Kipp upholstered panel bed, Wayfair; bedding: Restoration Hardware; blanket: Pottery Barn
The leather chair in their master bedroom was designed by Muller while she was attending the Fashion Institute of Technology. As a graduation present, she commissioned two chairs to be made, one for herself and one for her parents, which she sent to Switzerland as a thank you.
Metal console: designed by Mary Revelli, One Off
Metal console: designed by Mary Revelli, One Off
AFTER: Muller’s trained design eye can be seen in the newly renovated bathroom with a custom vanity, a herringbone porcelain floor tile pattern and steam shower.
Wall mounted toilet: Toto; wall paint: Silver Chain, Benjamin Moore; sconces: Rejuvenation; wall tile: Silver Pearl Palladio #164A, ASN Natural Stone; mirror: West Elm; shower fixtures: Restoration Hardware; faucet: Graff; flooring: Grigio Chevron, Stone Source
Wall mounted toilet: Toto; wall paint: Silver Chain, Benjamin Moore; sconces: Rejuvenation; wall tile: Silver Pearl Palladio #164A, ASN Natural Stone; mirror: West Elm; shower fixtures: Restoration Hardware; faucet: Graff; flooring: Grigio Chevron, Stone Source
The couple enjoy a lush backyard with seating and a place for outdoor entertaining.
Bradley and Muller relax on their front steps with King Cashus.
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See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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yeah! I agree. Lovely house
I don't know how I missed this house, but this is definitely one of my favorite Houzz tours. Gorgeous artwork, humorous accessories (I have that Wall-E LEGO set, too!) and fantastic color. Such a delight!