Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Style and Purpose in a Live-Work Loft
Custom light fixtures, a retractable skylight and a deck with 360-degree views are highlights of this San Francisco home
Originally a commercial laundry and then a fashion studio, this cavernous San Francisco loft, with its riveted steel I-beam columns and tall arched windows, was a dream canvas for a young tech entrepreneur, who decided to turn the upstairs into a living space and the downstairs into an art gallery. Keeping the two levels separate yet open to each other, while warming up the living areas, was the job of builder Jeff King — who earned bonus points for adding a retractable skylight opening to a rooftop deck with stunning city views.
To accommodate lots of visitors during events and gallery openings, King and his team created a large communal bathroom on the first floor. The 13-foot-long stainless steel trough sink has powder-coated fixtures and is surrounded by white ceramic tile. Once again, lights float inside a custom metal fixture, only here they’re smaller with a more discreet profile.
In the upstairs living area, the original 3-inch-wide Douglas fir floorboards, which have been refinished and polished, help warm up the space. The long custom dining table table can comfortably seat up to 10 guests. The pendant lights over the table illuminate the space while enhancing the minimal, industrial aesthetic. The original arched window on the back wall is the same style that historically appeared in early 20th-century firehouses.
The white-painted steel beams in the open loft space frame a sitting area that invites comfort and conversation. Interior designer Lauren Geremia furnished it with a charcoal-gray modular sectional, a chunky low-profile wood coffee table and a modern leather-and-chrome armchair.
A small seating area features a built-in banquette. The custom pendant lights over the steel table are made out of repurposed copper pipes.
A guest room was carved out of the open upper level. Accessed via a steel sliding barn door fabricated by the design team, the bedroom can remain open to the breakfast area or be closed for privacy.
A guest room was carved out of the open upper level. Accessed via a steel sliding barn door fabricated by the design team, the bedroom can remain open to the breakfast area or be closed for privacy.
A jewel-toned green wall, midcentury-inspired nightstands and a pair of leather ottomans with a zigzag nailhead trim add an eclectic vibe to the master bedroom. Overhead, another custom light fixture brings in the loft’s industrial aesthetic.
In the master bathroom, small white hexagonal tiles cover the floor, tub face and lower wall. A square basin atop a floating cabinet provides an airy feel. A custom mirror includes an inset light that continues the industrial theme.
Underneath the staircase leading to the roof deck, King and his team created a massive 18-foot custom desk with a wood top and metal legs that have been screwed into the floor. This quiet nook is awash in natural light from the arched window and two nearby skylights.
The steel-stringer staircase with Douglas fir treads and rails leads to a new skylight that is electronically retractable and opens to a roof deck.
How to Add a Skylight or Light Tube
How to Add a Skylight or Light Tube
The ipe wood roof deck provides 360 views of the city and spectacular sunsets for visitors, family and friends. “In total, the project achieves an ideal balance of openness and privacy, work and play, the industrial and hominess,” King says.
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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
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A tech professional
Location: San Francisco
Size: 5,000 square feet (465 square meters)
Designer: Geremia Design
Architect: Boor Bridges Architecture
Builder: Jeff King & Co.
This photo taken from the main staircase shows the gallery space on the first floor and the living space on the second. The loft’s concrete structure features original steel beams, brick walls and an updated heating system with exposed ductwork.
The first floor’s 26-foot-high ceilings are ideal for an art gallery and allow for large-scale installations. All the walls are painted a crisp white commonly found in galleries. On the second floor, a grand piano sits under a light fixture housed in a perforated metal carriage. Similar versions of this custom-fabricated fixture appear elsewhere in the building. A stainless steel railing provides a visual separation between the two levels.