San Francisco's historic town-homes are beloved for their charm, but they pose distinct design challenges. "A lot of them are sandwiched between other old homes, so they're long and narrow, with funky layouts, giant blank walls, and bay windows that are very hard to furnish," explains Brit Epperson, founder of Studio Plow architecture and interior design firm.
When two of Epperson's longtime clients—tech entrepreneurs with a newborn baby girl—purchased a classic 1920 townhouse in Pacific Heights, she jumped at the chance to transform it into their vision of a modern dream home. "The most recent remodel was a little more traditional than their aesthetic," she says, with espresso-stained red oak floors, chrome fixtures, and cool gray walls. "But it was all done in really beautiful materials that were in great shape." She knew she could transform the three-story, five-bedroom house to match their tastes, but there was one problem: The couple's move-in date was only five weeks away.
To make the biggest impact fast, Epperson focused on refinishing the home's old bones. First, she sanded and bleached the floors, then gave everything—from the casework to the crown molding to the walls and ceilings—a fresh coat of Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee paint. She replaced the chrome with minimalist black fixtures but kept the white Calacatta marble countertops, Shaker-style kitchen cabinets, and classic bathroom vanities intact. "We didn't have the luxury of time, plus it felt incredibly wasteful to toss and replace them," she explains. Leaving those traditional elements ended up being a blessing in disguise: "It gave us really great layers and textures to build on."
For starters, that backdrop created the perfect canvas for the couple's ever-growing collection of original art and modern furniture. The mix includes Togo, Tacchini, and Mario Bellini sofas, as well as custom pieces from Studio Plow and wall hangings from the wife's home country of Mexico. Many items were handpicked for their soft, sculptural silhouettes, and Epperson notes that everything is toddlerproof. "All of the materials and textures were thought through," she says. "Nothing is hyperprecious."
With its rich hues, tactile materials, and intricate shapes, the home is elegant but not untouchable. It's meant to evolve as the family grows. "We tried to build a palette that's easy to tweak and shift," Epperson explains. "The energy is very calm and grounded, yet creative."
Foyer
Epperson painted the white staircase railing black to "make it hypergraphic." Bannister paint: Black, Benjamin Moore. Pendant: L'Aviva Home. Rug: Armadillo. Console: Cuff Studio.
Family Room
The Calacatta stone around the fireplace was a keeper holdover from the previous owners. Chair and ottoman: Hem. Coffee Table: Akron Street. Side Table: The Future Perfect. Sofa: Nor11. Rug: Sera Helsinki.
Drawing Room
Pictured above.
"We went monochromatic on the furnishings to bring drama," designer Epperson says. Sofa: Tacchini. Daybed: Croft House. Coffee table: Haus of Plow. Side table: Laun. Mirror: Bower Studios. Rug: Armadillo.
This tone-on-tone nook "allowed us to be playful with color, but not wild," she says. Chairs: vintage Ligne Roset, 1stDibs. Pillow: St. Frank. Lamp: The Future Perfect.
Play Room
"Beautiful but also fun and playful," this space "is for adults and children," Epperson says. The raw cotton wall hanging was made in Querétaro, Mexico. Sofa: Mario Bellini. Table and chairs: ecoBirdy. Rug: Armadillo. Wallhanging: Caralarga. Storage: RH.
Kitchen
The preexisting Calacatta marble is "absolutely stunning," Epperson says. Cabinet hardware: Top Knobs. Pendant: Trueing. Stools: Skagerak by Fritz Hansen. Cushions: custom, in Raf Simons fabric.
Dining Room
An oil panting by Vonn Cummings Sumner hangs above the marble dining table by CB2. Chairs: Resident. Chandelier: Bocci. Credenza: Burke Decor.
Powder Room
In this windowless room, the focus is on the custom hand-painted wallcovering by Porter Teleo. Faucet: Graff. Hardware: Richelieu. Pendant: Studio David Pompa. Mirror: 9 & 19.
Primary Bedroom
Linen, wool, leather, and suede add texture to the all-beige space. Bed: Maiden Home. Nightstands: Yet Design Studio. Light: DWR. Lamps: Ceramicah. Rug: Armadillo. Desk: &Tradition.
Epperson says the room's "earthy palette" creates "a sense of calm, punctuated by textural art moments" like these Hiroko Takeda wall hangings. Chair: Gubi. Lamp: vintage. Table: Andrianna Shamaris.
Bathroom
An antique rug anchors the otherwise modern space. Light fixtures: Apparatus Studio. Faucets: Graff. Mirrors: Gubi. Sculptural vase: Elise Birnbaum.
