Explore a light-filled San Francisco family home with monochrome interiors and lush gardens

This stunning San Francisco family home ticks all our boxes...

San Francisco family home
(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

The property

This striking, light-filled San Francisco family home is located in the fashionable Pacific Heights area. The modern house – an Edwardian-style property built in 1925 – had been relatively untouched over the years and was due for a complete overhaul. The owners brought on Walker Warner Architects, interior designer Redmond Aldrich and garden landscapers Scott Lawrence Landscape Architecture to transform it into the stunning family home it is today.

See Also: See inside this colourful, contemporary home in the heart of San Francisco

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Exterior

Originally built in the 1920s, the renovation of this historic Italian Renaissance style home was a delicate balance between preserving its historical character while leaning forward to respond to a more contemporary way of living.

To bring the building up to earthquake code, the home had to be taken down to the studs and the foundation reinforced with steel. With San Francisco having strict historic preservation regulations, it was essential to preserve the look and feel of the public facades of the building.

Decorative wooden cornices and columns were replaced with custom fibreglass reproductions, recreating the original architectural details.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Entrance

The front door pushes open into a generous hallway with a modern sweeping staircase taking centre stage.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Living room

The interiors feature a monochrome colour palette, arched doorways, and steel-framed doors and windows that open out to lush, landscaped gardens.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

See Also: This chic family home in Dallas is packed with bold design and modern art

Kitchen

The modern kitchen is the heart of the home and features a modern kitchen island, white kitchen cabinetry, a lounge area and informal dining space.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Walker Warner Architects opened the house up, creating a better connection between rooms and adding more windows and doors to connect to the adjoining gardens.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

The architects added a new two-storey rear extension which floods the new rooms with natural light and connects to the vibrant garden.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Dining room

The formal dining room also features the same black and white colour palette, softened by the arched doorways leading outside.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

The dining room was given a Mid-Century Modern inspired look.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Staircase

The new staircase features a sky light which floods the stairwell with natural daylight.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

The wide treads and curved corners give the staircase a soft, relaxed look.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Master bedroom

The master bedroom features a neutral colour palette and a patterned but muted bedroom wallpaper.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views over the Cedar Tree and manicured gardens.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

A polished dressing room space leads through to the ensuite bathroom.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Childrens' bedroom

A sharing bedroom was set up for the kids, featuring twin beds with built-in bench seating at the foot.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Roof terrace

The best views are seen from the roof terrace and adjoining sun room.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

Garden

But the most-used outdoor space is of course the stunning garden, with the century old Copper Beech tree as a front and centre focal point.

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

San Francisco family home

(Image credit: Matthew Millman)

See Also: This Sonoma farmhouse has a warming summer style that lasts all year

Lotte Brouwer

Lotte is the Digital Editor for Livingetc, and has been with the website since its launch. She has a background in online journalism and writing for SEO, with previous editor roles at Good Living, Good Housekeeping, Country & Townhouse, and BBC Good Food among others, as well as her own successful interiors blog. When she's not busy writing or tracking analytics, she's doing up houses, two of which have features in interior design magazines. She's just finished doing up her house in Wimbledon, and is eyeing up Bath for her next project.