Houzz Tour: Elegant and Modern in San Francisco
San Francisco designer Chloe Warner puts a new twist on modern style in this Russian Hill apartment
For many homeowners, modern design can still be a tough sell. While it's fun to look at, some designs can seem unapproachable and hard to live in. Surprisingly, some designers would say the same thing. When a San Francisco couple approached Chloe Warner of Redmond Aldrich Design, they wanted their home to exude a style that's a bit more modern than what she's known for. While Warner has a definitively contemporary look, her projects are usually punctuated with color and pattern.
But as Warner pared down her usual details, it ended up being a learning experience for her and an experiment in minimalist style. "I learned that I don't need tons of pattern to create an interesting space," she says. "It's more important to pay attention to a sense of proportion, color, light, symmetry, and quirkiness."
Photography by Matthew Millman
But as Warner pared down her usual details, it ended up being a learning experience for her and an experiment in minimalist style. "I learned that I don't need tons of pattern to create an interesting space," she says. "It's more important to pay attention to a sense of proportion, color, light, symmetry, and quirkiness."
Photography by Matthew Millman
The palette of the home is undeniably neutral, but Warner infused the design with enough color to keep the house from becoming monotone. "There isn't much pattern, but there is a lot of texture and subtle color," she says. These classic Saarinen Executive chairs help balance out the cool tones of the kitchen in this combined kitchen and dining space.
The beautiful slab dining table was custom designed by Warner and her team at Redmond Aldrich Design. The warm tones of the wood grain are enhanced by the chairs' rosy hue.
Chairs: Saarinen Executive Chairs
Lighting: Phillipe Starck Romeo Louis II Pendant
Chairs: Saarinen Executive Chairs
Lighting: Phillipe Starck Romeo Louis II Pendant
When the clients purchased this apartment, the interior finishing was brand new. Unfortunately it wasn't in line with the couple's taste — the design was too slick, and too much. "It was important that the end product reflected our clients' taste, but we also didn't want to be wasteful," says Warner. "We spent a lot of time making sure that the countertops, cabinets, sinks, and lots of other things found good homes in other projects."
The kitchen was based around a simple palette of various natural gray and steel materials. The intricate herringbone flooring is made of walnut, and the gray granite countertops are just a slightly different shade of gray than the stainless steel cabinetry. The backsplash on the far wall is made entirely of large rectangular Travertine tile.
Barstools: Vintage, Charlotte Perriand
Countertop: Stargazer Granite
Pendants: Alison Berger
The kitchen was based around a simple palette of various natural gray and steel materials. The intricate herringbone flooring is made of walnut, and the gray granite countertops are just a slightly different shade of gray than the stainless steel cabinetry. The backsplash on the far wall is made entirely of large rectangular Travertine tile.
Barstools: Vintage, Charlotte Perriand
Countertop: Stargazer Granite
Pendants: Alison Berger
The joint library and living room is one of Warner's favorite rooms in this house. The style is definitely modern and minimal, but is still visually interesting. "I love how the floor, art, and stainless steel bookshelves all combine in a classic, comfortable, and very sophisticated way," she says.
The built-in bookshelves and rolling library ladder are both custom creations forged out of steel. The coffee table is made out of steel as well, and is another custom design from Redmond Aldrich. Vintage chairs with polished wood backs add a natural element to the space, and a canary yellow couch provides soft, warm color.
Couch: Christian Liaigre
Couch: Christian Liaigre
Before moving into this home, the clients had been living in a loft in the SOMA district. Because this new apartment had very defined spaces, they really wanted to create a space that would allow them to live in the city in a different way. This home is designed for easy entertaining, and of course enjoying the amazing views, as you'll see later.
The powder room is a perfect blend of modern and vintage pieces. The wall panels are made out of resin, and Warner had them back-painted with a very light blue-green, which gives the room a slight turquoise glow. The playful mirror and sconces are vintage pieces that add a stylish touch to the otherwise barren walls. "It looks amazing in person," Warner says. "It's really watery and serene and glowing."
Resin panels: 3-form
Resin panels: 3-form
Just past the main living room, a little sitting area with a vintage lamp and Egg Chair makes for a great reading nook. Large-scale black-and-white photography from the clients' art collection plays into Warner's neutral color palette.
Artwork: Sally Mann
Bench: Christian Liaigre
Artwork: Sally Mann
Bench: Christian Liaigre
The master bedroom plays off of lighter shades of lilac and sage, which complement the blue and gray view of the foggy San Francisco Bay. Simple design was the key in this room — Warner wanted it to be a place for complete relaxation, so no extraneous details were necessary.
Bedframe: Custom leather, designed by Redmond Aldrich Design
Rug: Fort Street Studio
Bedding: Custom, designed by Redmond Aldrich Design
Bedframe: Custom leather, designed by Redmond Aldrich Design
Rug: Fort Street Studio
Bedding: Custom, designed by Redmond Aldrich Design
The apartment is perched perfectly on one of the sloping hills in the Russian Hill neighborhood. Its prime location has an incredible view of the San Francisco bay — including Alcatraz.
Floor lamp: Vintage
Floor lamp: Vintage
Warner wanted her clients to feel completely comfortable in this house, so products were carefully run by them. The clients did an excellent job of picking pieces of furniture that were very sculptural, so there are curves and movement in all of the pieces. "It doesn't feel like everything is right-angled and boxy," she says.
Stunning onyx walls were installed using a bookmatched technique in the master bathroom. The slabs of stone were installed so that the two surfaces mirror each other, creating a unique and dramatic pattern. An extremely minimal bathtub and Lagos Azul limestone floor tiles are all that's needed to decorate the rest of this space.
More Houzz tours:
Modern Houseboat in Vancouver, B.C.
Simple Luxury at a Swedish Retreat
A California Home Designed by Nature
More Houzz tours:
Modern Houseboat in Vancouver, B.C.
Simple Luxury at a Swedish Retreat
A California Home Designed by Nature