This 1929 Mediterranean Revival home captivated Emily Kates from the moment she first saw it. Perched above San Francisco Bay and bathed in golden light it became the canvas for a thoughtful, minimalist renovation, balancing modern updates with homage to its historic charm. Tour the gorgeous property and read about how it all came together below.

From the designer… The first time I approached the house, I was absolutely struck by its beauty and commanding presence. It’s perched above the street, and has a northeastern orientation, facing the stunning San Francisco Bay, so the facade is drenched in beautiful golden light for much of the day. The house had so much innate beauty, like the volume, and the golden beams of light that burst in each day. It didn’t feel necessary to try and compete with that.

The clients had resided in the home for a few years before deciding to undergo this extensive renovation, and as such, had a fairly good sense of what they wanted, but needed the right professional to formulate and execute a plan. For any designer, it’s so important to balance listening closely, with bringing the value of additional, and unique ideas. My overarching goal was to reference the Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial architecture, but in a very subtle, and modern way. The minimalism in my design just felt like a respectful extension of the original home. It was also an exercise in marrying modernity with tradition. It was important to me and the clients, that the choices weren’t overly literal or too “on the nose” for what one might expect from this style of home. We didn’t use patterned Spanish tile or twisted leg furniture but instead opted for subtle nods to the history. The decision to keep the stucco relief detail over the front door and the original ceilings, for example, was a way to honor the home, but still allow us bandwidth to reimagine the rest.

While some of the original architectural elements were saved, there were others that had to go. For example, all of the existing interior door openings had to be raised to accommodate the husband, who is very tall. Because all of the original single paned windows had to be replaced, it gave us an opportunity to really rework the interior floor plan and determine where new, or larger windows were needed. We added quite a few, mostly in the kitchen and primary suite.

The kitchen was perhaps the most dramatic overhaul of the project and was reworked from end to end with new windows and an entirely revamped floor plan. I designed the kitchen to have generous, sweeping proportions but wanted to keep it grounded and inviting with the use of rich finishes like the midnight-hued paint and the painterly quality of the unusual stone selections. The mix of brass, steel, warm stones, honey toned wood created an elevated and still welcoming feel.

I designed the recessed steel cabinets to tuck perfectly into the wall, and think it’s so special! It holds beautiful treasures and everyday items, and is also a dreamy evening focal point when the shelves are illuminated.

In the living room, the original ceilings were so stunning that the rest of the room didn’t need to compete. We kept it soft, and neutral, adding the warm oak floors, smooth cream walls and new ombre blackened brass sconces. The large scale cast stone fireplace surrounded, is also new and designed by me, but intended to look original.

Much like the rest of the home, they sought simplicity in the bedroom, but with warmth and a spa-like feel. The original ceilings were freshly stained in a rich coffee bean color to envelop the space, and the addition of a new window on the bed wall allows a greater stream of warm light. Thus, furnishings were kept soft and simple for a restful retreat.

In the ensuite, the Crème du Provence countertops have a flannelled texture which played beautifully with the wooden cabinets and satin nickel plumbing. We also added a giant steam shower in large format honed Dolomite, with an accent wall in the reeded, raw limestone to complement the vanity wall.

This structure was entirely new, but made to look like an original edifice on the property. It was also designed and built for a party! The husband wanted a place to entertain friends away from the main house, where people could lounge freely between the pool and the pool house, watch a game, and sip from his impressive tequila collection. The rich palette of wood, soapstone and dark brass gives a masculine, rich feel.

Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Interior Design: Emily Kates Design · Photography: Brad Knipstein · Architect: Eric Nyhus · Builder: The Toboni Group