Cow Hollow

Heather Hilliard Design and Sutro Architects completed an extensive interior and exterior renovation and decoration of a historic house in SF. To provide warmth to the minimal envelope, HHD specified rich materials including wide bleached white oak floors, hand applied smooth plaster at the fireplace, large warm honed stone slabs for all floors and walls in the bathrooms, suede textured granite on the kitchen island, large white veiny slabs of Calcutta on the kitchen counters, rift oak custom millwork throughout and fabric upholstery at the master bed wall. A notable feature is the light reveal between the stair treads and wall all the way up the staircase. The indirect light creates a warm glow that guides the eye up the stairs. Originally from the east coast and Germany, the clients embraced their new California lifestyle and requested a plan to bring the outside inside wherever possible. In the kitchen, large steel frame and glass doors open all the way up, blurring the lines of inside and outside. New wide picture windows in the bedroom frame the view of the the city. A large sliding glass skylight slides open at the top of the stairs to reveal a roof deck with a fire pit and expansive views of the bay. Large steel frame doors/windows were installed in the home office and off the media room to maximize views and access to the new lush backyard. To reflect the clients’ informal and immensely warm family dynamic, HHD suggested a neutral palette with pops of blue to keep the house feeling young and fresh. Every inch of this house was customized to suit the clients’ needs. The furnishings are a mix of custom and high-end pieces by master furniture makers. Bathroom walls were clad in stone slabs, LED lights were added to highlight architectural elements including the staircase and fossil niche in the powder room and a rooftop was added to maximize views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The result is a house that reflects the clients’ aesthetic and lifestyle.