White Album

San Francisco, California

Architect: Level Design
Contractor: Heirloom Builders
Photographer: Bruce Damonte

This design refresh adds space and style to a cozy San Francisco home. Notes of color and handicraft enliven the classic canvas of white walls for a minimalist-leaning family. The unfinished basement becomes a cool teenage hang-out space that doubles as guest quarters. A new full bathroom clad in celadon zellige tile and a proper laundry room swathed in custom cherry-print wallpaper also add functionality and fun. New paint, finishes, and light fixtures weave throughout the rest of the abode. A mix of vintage accessories, warm woods and sophisticated textures ground the design with a sense of authenticity.

What results is a home that makes effective use of its urban footprint, with a fresh design palette that stays true to the family’s personality and home’s history.

First, Alison tackled the renovated basement by conceiving of the space as a teenage hang-out that could double as guest quarters with a Murphy bed and built-in cabinetry. New paint and finishes were selected for the rest of the house. While the client preferred a minimal palette with white walls, Damonte introduced a sense of authenticity through handcrafted and vintage accessories, warm woods and subtle touch points of color like the olive seats in the dining room and dark green living room chairs. Since furnishings were all newly purchased with short lead-time considerations, it was important that the accessories add a human touch to enliven the space.
What results is a home that makes effective use of its urban footprint, with 400 additional square feet of livable space.  The fresh design palette stays true to the family’s needs and personality.

Architect: Level Design
Photos: Bruce Damonte