Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: An Open Interior Shows Off San Francisco Views
A designer helps condo owners add storage and make the most of their bridge-to-bridge views
The lights are on dimmers, which allows the couple to control the light level around the open space. At night, they can turn the lights off or down low to enjoy the city lights, Michaelsen says.
Entry. When you take the building’s elevator to the condo, the doors open to a wood-paneled entry in the home. To the right is the living, dining and kitchen area. To the left is the master suite. The original white oak floors seen here run throughout the home.
Console table: Gump’s; mirror: Pagoda, Mirror Image Home; lamps: Gatehouse
Console table: Gump’s; mirror: Pagoda, Mirror Image Home; lamps: Gatehouse
Kitchen. The elegant kitchen is open to the living and dining areas. The couple like its layout because the large island and attached table become gathering spots for guests, Michaelsen says.
Cabinets. The couple needed more storage in the kitchen, so Michaelsen added cabinets above the sink. She used white glass-front cabinets to match the island colors and to break up the expanse of existing light cabinetry wood elsewhere in the kitchen.
Lighting: Because of all the windows, the room receives a lot of natural light during the day. To the left, Michaelsen installed woven linen Roman shades with a large diamond pattern to block some of the morning sun. For the chandelier over the island, each orb was handblown and chosen for the space.
Chandelier: CX Design
Cabinets. The couple needed more storage in the kitchen, so Michaelsen added cabinets above the sink. She used white glass-front cabinets to match the island colors and to break up the expanse of existing light cabinetry wood elsewhere in the kitchen.
Lighting: Because of all the windows, the room receives a lot of natural light during the day. To the left, Michaelsen installed woven linen Roman shades with a large diamond pattern to block some of the morning sun. For the chandelier over the island, each orb was handblown and chosen for the space.
Chandelier: CX Design
Backsplash. The reflective backsplash was installed during the first redesign, and Michaelsen was thrilled it went unscathed during construction of the cabinets. The surface reflects the view of the city.
Bar stools. The custom bar stools swivel and can be tucked under the island overhang to save space when needed.
Bar stools: A. Rudin; bar stool fabric: Donghia
Bar stools: A. Rudin; bar stool fabric: Donghia
Seated at the island, the couple and their guests have a great view of the bay.
Dining area. Instead of having chairs on all sides of the table, Michaelsen had a banquette installed along the wall, which makes the dining area less crowded. The table has a hammered steel base with a handmade wood top.
Banquette, chairs and table: A. Rudin
Banquette, chairs and table: A. Rudin
Den. Past the main living area is a small den. Michaelsen added built-in cabinets for the couple’s books. They also use the den as a more relaxed office space.
Sleeper sofa: A. Rudin; ottoman: Bella Furniture Home
Sleeper sofa: A. Rudin; ottoman: Bella Furniture Home
Desk. The homeowners sometimes work from home, and when they do they like to take in the view of the Golden Gate while they work. The desk, which has vintage acrylic chairs on either side, can double as a dinner table for two.
Chair fabric: Shogun, Pierre Frey; desk: custom, Clark Functional Art
Chair fabric: Shogun, Pierre Frey; desk: custom, Clark Functional Art
Patio. A small patio beyond the den offers unobstructed views of San Francisco and the bay.
Master bedroom. The couple had always wanted a four-poster bed, so Michaelsen helped them find a slim design that matched the room’s decor.
The bench at the foot of the bed was custom made to be small enough to easily walk around but big enough for the dog to use as a step up to the bed.
Bed frame: Bella Furniture Home; chair: Ironies; credenza: Canyon Credenza, Kavante
The bench at the foot of the bed was custom made to be small enough to easily walk around but big enough for the dog to use as a step up to the bed.
Bed frame: Bella Furniture Home; chair: Ironies; credenza: Canyon Credenza, Kavante
Bathroom. The bathroom was originally very black, and Michaelsen brightened up the space with lighter gray tones. She had wavy wallpaper and a small chandelier installed to give the room an interesting and more elegant look.
Wallpaper: Onda, NewWall
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Wallpaper: Onda, NewWall
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Location: Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 2,465 square feet (229 square meters); two bedrooms, 3½ baths
Designer: Anne Michaelsen Design
The view sweeps from the Golden Gate Bridge to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as you walk around this San Francisco condo. The owners, who moved into the city to be closer to work, wanted to make the inside of the condo a place they loved as much as the view. While the general layout of the space worked, it was lacking in personality and storage. From the main living area to the bedrooms, the couple worked with designer Anne Michaelsen to make the condo their own.
Scope of work. The condo had recently been renovated and was in good shape, but the owners wanted more built-in storage and places that could function better as workspaces, such as the den. The couple worked with Michaelsen to introduce those elements and navigate the building’s remodeling restrictions, such as work times, during the six-month project.
Living space. In the main living area, Michaelsen helped the couple pick neutral-colored furnishings with a touch of luxury. The linen material of the sofa gave the room “casual elegance,” she says, especially when combined with the resin-topped brass coffee table. The swivel chairs in front of the window are upholstered in rich mohair.
Michaelsen added shades to the windows for days when the sun is too intense. When raised, the shades are barely visible, she says.
Sectional and coffee table: Ironies; chairs: A. Rudin; pillow fabric: Donghia