PROJECT
A large 1930s modern home in Presidio Heights in San Francisco, with views over Golden Gate Bridge. The house has an elegant hallway, formal living room, kitchen and dining room, as well as a second family room living space, and a second, more informal kitchen diner that leads to the garden, plus several terraces, then there's a master suit as well as three guest ensuites and several powder rooms. The original interiors and floor plan had remained unchanged since the '30s, which meant that many of the rooms were dark, and the broken up floor plan was unsuited to a modern lifestyle. Interior designer Richard Felix Ashman, who was brought on board to remodel and redesign the property, transformed the property into a modern family home while still keeping a sense of the property's history by keeping the original features and details. As the house was built in a French style (a popular vernacular in 1930s California), Richard wanted the interiors to evoke a feeling of provincial France without resorting to pastiche. The result is a soft, warm interior filled with natural materials, natural light, and a more flowing floor plan.
HALLWAY
The original entrance hall was dark, void of natural light, so Richard Felix Ashman brought in light from every direction by opening up every side of the original hallway, to allow light to come in from the garden at the back as well as the rooms on either side. A single, sculptural table is the centrepiece to this room. The organic, cast bronze pedestal is topped with a circle of Belgian limestone.
LIVING ROOM
The living room's walls are lined in a white silk cloth, and the ceiling plastered in a white grasello plaster. It was important to have the room bathed in light, be warm-toned and calm. The owners wanted a space that was inviting and not overly formal.
The space is centred with a large bronze cocktail table.
DINING ROOM
Ruhlman chairs in a subtle green-weave were chosen for their sculptural, curving back. The chandelier was custom designed and fabricated by Lindsay Adelman. Its irregularity is a counterpoint to the rectilinear forms of room and table.
KITCHEN
The dining room is connected to the main kitchen via a large archway. The modern kitchen island doubles up as a breakfast bar and serving island for the dining room.
The ceiling beams were added, and flow from the kitchen into the dining space, providing an additional visual link between the two spaces.
TERRACE
The view across rooftops to the Golden Gate Bridge says it all!
FAMILY ROOM
The mansard roof in this old attic space is really a lovely feature and gives this family room its informality.
The designer wanted to achieve a clean, loose-fit feel to the room, because the turret and bar are held firmly by the architecture.
The furniture floats in the middle of the room.
Eliminating rugs allows the furniture to be unanchored and free.
GARDEN ROOM KITCHEN-DINER
The old basement space was extended and opened. The feeling is of a rural retreat, drawing inspiration from Belgian and French provincial homes.
The materials are a classic combination of plaster, oak and limestone, creating a neutral backdrop.
The refectory style dining table acts as the centrepiece.
Natural textures in neutral colours create a calm space. There are no metallic finishes anywhere.
Arched steel windows open on to the garden, where there is a secluded, outdoor living space.
GARDEN
The kitchen-diner extends outside where there is a little terrace, framed by trees and palms.
There's also a second seating area.
MASTER BEDROOM
Interior designer Richard Felix Ashman completely remodelled the master suite, building a bedroom where the bathroom used to be, and extending it into a former annex to give the master bedroom its own sitting area.
The bed looks out over Golden Gate Bridge, while the adjoining sitting room is a quiet enclave complete with fireplace.
MASTER BATHROOM
A double-sided vanity island takes centre stage in the master bathroom. Richard Felix Ashman decided to place the vanity in the centre as the walls were all in use; either as a shower, or for the bath, or as the entrance to the dressing room.
The owners suggested the diagonal angle of the vanity island, which frees the circulation from a rigid grid. The custom hanging mirror is also double sided and flanked by customised pendants, all in polished nickel.
The marble was sourced directly from Italy. The slabs were cut to 24” x 36” and laid randomly, avoiding any repetition.
GUEST BEDROOMS
Canopy beds create a room within a room and bring a touch of five-star hospitality to any guest bedroom. Thie 'rose bedroom' is the primary guest room in the home, with views to the south and north, so it seemed the appropriate room to use a four-poster. The walls and ceilings are venetian plaster. The palette is soft blush and old rose.
A second guest bedroom in the attic makes the most of an awkward shaped room.
The third guest room is given the same neutral palette.
GUEST BATHROOM
The guest bathroom was given a dark, bold wallpaper.
A clawfoot tub is a luxe touch.
Interior design by Richard Felix Ashman.
Photography by Aaron Leitz.
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