Architectural Style: Historic Arts & Crafts
Building Type: 2-Unit Condo
Location: Noe Valley, San Francisco, CA
Year Built: 1902 | Sq.Ft. 1,500
CLIENT GOALS
After owning this beautiful Arts & Crafts home in Noe Valley for many years, our clients were eager to embark on a full-flat renovation and finally get the space of their dreams. Originally built as a classic Arts & Crafts home, the property had a railroad-style layout, with all the rooms off a central corridor. As a result, improving the flow and opening the space were top priorities for our clients, as were restoring historical elements and correcting some past construction errors. In true Centoni fashion, our client’s goals were made a reality by taking this 1902 home and making it modern and accessible while respecting the original architecture.
DESIGN SOLUTION
To renovate this lovely San Francisco home, our expert team of designers, engineers, and craftsmen created thoughtful solutions to open the layout and provide the living experience our clients wanted. We utilized our structural engineering expertise to remove the load-bearing walls between the kitchen and dining room, turning a once isolated and infrequently used space into a bright, airy dining area ideal for entertaining or everyday living.
The kitchen was expanded into an adjoining service porch, which allowed for an island with seating, large refrigeration, and double ovens. Full of exquisite finishes, the re-imagined chef’s kitchen has all electric appliances, including a Wolf induction cooktop, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, gorgeous Dolomite marble from the Dolomite region in Italy, plus sophisticated yet timeless lighting fixtures, and custom cabinetry.
In the bathroom, a previously closed window was restored to allow natural light to flood the relatively small space, creating an ADA-accessible retreat with a spa-like atmosphere. The bathtub was converted to a walk-in shower with a seat for easy use. While the walls may look papered, they are not. Our brilliant designers chose a matte finish, micro-mosaic hex tile made of recycled glass that creates the appearance of wallpaper, giving the historical pattern a modern twist. Fine fixtures, custom cabinets, and Carrara marble also help transform this room into a relaxing oasis.
A wall that isolated the kitchen was removed to bring more light into the home, and two solar tubes were installed to naturally brighten a dark corridor and stairwell. The efficient lighting solution is a low-maintenance way to solve a classic San Francisco lighting problem indicative of houses being stacked side-by-side. The Centoni team restored finishes, custom-built doors, and shelving to match the home’s original architecture.
We enjoy being ‘Green’ and were thrilled to remodel this historic home using many green building practices, including solar lights, all-electric appliances, and some gorgeous recycled products.
Lighting by Visual Comfort.
