The owners of this San Francisco penthouse wanted to update and refresh their home by making it more open, bright, and modern. Although they desired a clean, sleek look overall, they also wanted plenty of visual interest and focal points. Additionally, they hoped to maintain some of the original character in this century-old building. Let’s look at some of the prominent features of this impressive remodel:
Showstopping Ceiling
When we saw this incredible ceiling, we knew it not only had to be preserved but highlighted. The geometric wood-paneled ceiling treatment is a timeless feature of this 1920s building that brings character and charm to the home. We added thirty-five bocce pendant lights to enhance it — creating a unique, warm look and a striking focal point.
Flame-Treated Steel Panels
Another distinctive element in this remodel is the flame-treated steel paneling on some of the walls and cabinet doors. This unexpected texture brings an industrial, edgy style that contrasts the whimsy and warmth of the lighting fixtures and natural wood.
Bringing Warmth With Walnut
Adjacent to the steel-paneled wall is a beautiful hand-finished walnut wall treatment that continues up to the ceiling above the kitchen island and across to the front entry hall. Recessed lights were incorporated right into the wood to keep the room bright and modern, without the clutter of floor lamps. This feature is truly a statement piece and a wonderful way to divide the space while keeping it open and airy.
Timeless & Trimless
The zero-casing trimless treatment on the doors and windows required a degree of technical skill. Without any trim, there is no room for error — any imperfection would be obvious. Fortunately, our talented team was able to pull off this feature, and it looks fantastically crisp and clean.
Marvelous Marble Master Bath
Although the master bath isn’t particularly spacious, careful fixture and feature selection allowed for every spa amenity, including a double sink vanity, separate bath and shower space, and even a water closet. The heavily veined Carrara marble is both classic and on-trend, playing to this historic building’s modern charm.
This featured project showcases some of our greatest strengths — our quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, creative thinking, and ability to update a space while preserving character. We are proud of the work done on this home and were so pleased to read the homeowner’s wonderful review:
“I would trust these guys with my life. We worked with them on an extensive renovation — a complete gutting and rebuilding from the studs — of our Penthouse condo in a landmark Nob Hill building. They have an attention to detail and quality of craftsmanship that is translated to everybody who works on the site, including the subcontractors. Sid has an understanding of both modern and original building materials, and was competent at managing the installers for our Bulthaup kitchen from Germany and the cabinetry handcrafted here in San Francisco. I would hire them again in a heartbeat, and will be working with them again if we ever move.”
– D. Mandel
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