Houzz Tour: Sleek San Francisco Getaway
Spectacular Views Inspire a Renovation 'Full of Promise and Theater'
Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More »
When San Francisco architect Mark English came upon this two bedroom/two bath apartment in The Fontana, its 1960s interior was intact, including old carpet, acoustic ceiling tiles, cheap sheetrock and hollow-core doors. He and his clients were able to see past all of that to the incredible views of The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and the shore of Tiburon. Anxious for a change from their Tuscan-style home, the clients were ready to have a sexy, high-end resort kind of getaway in the city. After a complete renovation, the end result is a sleek and exciting pied-a-terre with carefully thought out texture and color palettes, clever storage solutions, design moves that make the space feel larger than it is — and a plan that exploits every opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views.
English's approach to a new project: "Every building project is expensive, in every sense of the word: time, money and involvement. Therefore, every project should be thought of as a precious endeavor... I generally start by trying very hard to understand what the new or re-envisioned space could be at its best."
Case in point: English realized a wall was blocking the view of the Golden Gate bridge from the entry, and that the "humdrum layout" was not celebrating the dazzling views from the apartment. His first move was to start knocking down walls and opening up the entryway and living room to as much of the view as possible.
Private Comment
Case in point: English realized a wall was blocking the view of the Golden Gate bridge from the entry, and that the "humdrum layout" was not celebrating the dazzling views from the apartment. His first move was to start knocking down walls and opening up the entryway and living room to as much of the view as possible.
| The plan is centered around an oval living room. The shape creates affinities between the interior's lines and the greater context beyond its walls, such as the shape of the building, breakwaters in the port below, and the cable arches of the Golden Gate bridge. "More to the point, the oval is a sexy shape full of promise and theater," he says. Private Comment
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Choosing a white floor was a no-brainer for English, as he knew it would add elegance and help counter the limited ceiling heights. The floors are 18" square Polar White marble over hydronic radiant heating.
Private Comment
With the white floor decision made, English's next move was hitting the stone yard with his clients in search of a "an entry wall that would really wow." They came across this stone, a Laurentian Green granite from Canada with giant crystals that flash iridescent color when lit.
Private Comment
Now armed with the glossy white floor and this greenish-blue stone wall, his next choice was to "go to the other side of the color wheel," where he found the deep orange hue of the ultrasuede sofas.
The ultrasuede upholstery on the sofa as well as the plush oval rug introduce soft elements to the glossy space, and the stripes of varying hues on the rug add a few straight lines to the room's major curves.
The finish on the curved wall is an integrally colored Venetian plaster, very finely applied, with a wax finish that enhances the gloss.
Private Comment
The ultrasuede upholstery on the sofa as well as the plush oval rug introduce soft elements to the glossy space, and the stripes of varying hues on the rug add a few straight lines to the room's major curves.
The finish on the curved wall is an integrally colored Venetian plaster, very finely applied, with a wax finish that enhances the gloss.
| English's plans maximize the views from the public space in the apartment. Thus, a hallway between the master bedroom and the living room was eliminated, and now the a wider view can be enjoyed from the living room. Private Comment
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Wondering about privacy for the bedroom? If you look very carefully at this picture, you will spot a translucent door's track on the ceiling. "Holding the curving wall down from the ceiling allows all spaces to share the natural light, and to help the wall and the sofa read as a unit. Privacy is not much of a concern in a weekend space."
Private Comment
| While full of shiny glossy surfaces, the textural palette includes soft touches as well, such as this tufted headboard and matching bedding. Private Comment
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| The dramatic height of the headboard extends the eye vertically and the strict white palette makes the space appear larger. Private Comment
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| The back of the limestone entry wall plays an integral role in the master bath, and the wall on the right side of the photograph is the back of the living room's curved wall, also treated in a Venetian plaster finish. The sink is cast glass, and was made by Kohler.
Private Comment
Tip: Consider a floating vanity. "Spaces always look bigger if the horizontal planes (floors and ceilings) can be seen all the way to the perimeter. For instance, furniture and cabinets that are wall-hung or on legs allow you to see the floor as a whole." |
Thoughtful lighting strategies are an integral part of English's designs. "I believe in focusing lighting on vertical surfaces, and occasionally elements of furniture. So generally, the recessed lighting is striking the plaster featured wall, paintings, or Carlos Santana guitar! But in this space we've also turned the curving sofa base itself into a glowing light fixture (the sofa sits atop a lighted plinth), and picked out the oval ceiling with cove lighting, using LED tape lighting."
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| From this angle we get a peek into the galley kitchen. The wood cabinet on the right side you see in the background adds a subtle nautical touch; it's gloss-finished teak, similar to what you would see on a boat. Private Comment
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One of the many luxuries of a pied-a-terre is that you don't need a lot of kitchen storage. English always uses a questionnaire with his clients to determine their storage needs before he starts designing.
Private Comment
| After determining the clients' storage needs, English set out to transform the existing "chopped up and distracting" 1960s kitchen into "a sleek, simple-looking kitchen where everything is in its place." He accomplished this by approaching the cabinet design and arrangement as a chance to create "inhabited walls" as opposed to giving the cabinets the look of discreet design elements. Note how the glossy lacquer of the cabinets beyond the vent hood form one block that doesn't stand out. Also, the cabinets hide the kind of materials that can chop up a space, such as pipes and other structural elements. Private Comment
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Here's another example of the "inhabited wall." I barely noticed all of the storage in this area upon first glance because the cabinets form a wall that reflects the natural light.
The Random Light adds texture while keeping with the strategy of using white to make the ceilings appear higher.
Private Comment
The Random Light adds texture while keeping with the strategy of using white to make the ceilings appear higher.
| Here's a glimpse of the view from the eat-in end of the kitchen. The high stools allow for a better sightline over the balcony wall outside. Private Comment
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| Here you can see the curve of the building that helped inspire the curved wall and oval shape in the interior. Private Comment
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| In contrast to the white master bedroom, which draws the eye vertically, the second bedroom emphasizes horizontal planes through the paprika-colored lacquer headboard/nighstand piece and the long painting. "Our office designed both of the beds as platform storage beds and works of sculpture in their own right. The rooms are a bit small, and combining furniture pieces into one made sense." Private Comment
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I love to see how a sketch can come to life. From this rough original plan you can see how English's initial impulse was guided by the views and how the rooms relate to one another. The result is a very efficient use of space, where the interior design materials and details make the space appear much larger than it really is.
Thanks so much to Mark English for sharing this dream apartment with us! See more of his projects.
Next: Browse more home design photos
Private Comment
Thanks so much to Mark English for sharing this dream apartment with us! See more of his projects.
Next: Browse more home design photos
Comments
Roopa Rajesh says:
excellent. lovely plan, liked it soooooo much, want to move in there permanently.
14 months ago ·
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irluan says:
very cool living, I LOVE the venetian plaster. I don't see any BATHroom, WC ... it'a all open in the master bedroom?
14 months ago ·
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Teresa Culbert says:
Wow--all the white and then the frightening orange... Not for me! But I love the view...
14 months ago ·
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njbigred says:
Love the view, great modern space, but I guess it's always a buffet since there is only 2 high chairs and a small 2 seater table...Not practical for company or more than 2, rearrange space to include some place to entertain eating guests too! Breakfast anyone?
14 months ago ·
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Molto Bene Studios says:
Beautiful job! The venetian plaster finishes are amazing, what a great way to use that finish in modern spaces!
14 months ago ·
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linbar says:
I would love to be invited over for cocktails and enjoy the view but I don't think I could live there. It looks like a show room with many beautiful features but no personal touches.
14 months ago ·
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jane brody says:
I'm with linbar, great place for cocktails but not for living. Looks like a corporate meeting space. Seems to dwarf people and their activity.
14 months ago ·
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Becky Harris says:
linbar and jbrody, the chic resort feel is what they were going for - this is their city getaway and they have a full-time home outside of the city.
14 months ago ·
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Adi Tatarko says:
Gorgeous! I would die to have such a cool getaway place in the city!
14 months ago ·
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Karen Ho Fatt says:
Love the simplicity of teh shapes and use of color to make it pop. The light is fabulous too. Still reminds me of the 60's modernized with the circular shapes and the rich almost psychedelic color.
14 months ago ·
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Chris Frank says:
Really nice....but does somebody really live here? A showcase.
14 months ago ·
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asude says:
I dont like it at all. No seperations between rooms, noise and smells (kitchen bathroom) and the balcony its seems like no privacy in your own place ... sorry not a place for me ... yet the colours are very charming
14 months ago ·
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hegging says:
This space makes me want to run out and buy a fixer upper to transform! Well done.
14 months ago ·
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paramdeep says:
Hello Becky,
Thank you for the wonderful article that you wrote about our San Francisco getaway. You described it perfectly. My wife and I have an estate home outside of the City yet we love to come and relax at the Fontana. Mark English and Gary Hutton are true professionals and I would recommend them to anyone.
I would like to clear up the matter of the selection of the orange couch color. While seated on the couch one has a completely unobstructed view of the entire Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge is a miracle of engineering and one of the greatest visual icons of all time. The Golden Gate Bridge has always been painted orange vermilion, deemed "International Orange." That was the inspiration for the couch color. We wanted to bring a little bit of the bridge into our home.
Best regards
Thank you for the wonderful article that you wrote about our San Francisco getaway. You described it perfectly. My wife and I have an estate home outside of the City yet we love to come and relax at the Fontana. Mark English and Gary Hutton are true professionals and I would recommend them to anyone.
I would like to clear up the matter of the selection of the orange couch color. While seated on the couch one has a completely unobstructed view of the entire Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge is a miracle of engineering and one of the greatest visual icons of all time. The Golden Gate Bridge has always been painted orange vermilion, deemed "International Orange." That was the inspiration for the couch color. We wanted to bring a little bit of the bridge into our home.
Best regards
13 months ago ·
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Becky Harris says:
Oh wow, thank you so much for giving me that information. I thought it was a gorgeous choice all along, but had no idea it had such significance - I love it!
13 months ago ·
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norma says:
what a beautiful place. just because its so neat doesnt mean no one lives there. thats the way i live could not live in a cluttered place. its beautiful
11 months ago ·
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sally436 says:
What a breathtaking, clean sweep of a space. A weekend there must serve well to unclutter your mind and reenergize your soul. Thanks to the owner for writing in; now I can well imagine that the decor -- indeed, the whole experience -- is in service of that tremendous Golden Gate view.
6 months ago ·
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theanalyst says:
I know that building, and most locals dislike it as it blocks views of the bay from up the hill. The exterior is boring, and doesn't fit in with the neighborhood. However, I do love what was done with the interior. Nice clean lines, spectacular views. I also love the white marble floors.
6 months ago ·
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