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Collection by Olivia Martin

High on a Hill: San Francisco Homes

San Francisco is Dwell’s birthplace, so it’s no surprise that we have featured many fantastic modern homes from the city by the bay. See some from our archives!

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In the kitchen, artist Riley McFerrin installed custom floating shelves.
In the kitchen, artist Riley McFerrin installed custom floating shelves.
“Peter and I’ve got shockingly similar and far-reaching design inspirations. Our conversations would move easily from brutalism to driftwood to kachinas and then flow right back to something applicable to architecture. I can’t tell you how many times I will do that with a less-design-literate client and just get a blank stare!” —Architect Craig Steely
“Peter and I’ve got shockingly similar and far-reaching design inspirations. Our conversations would move easily from brutalism to driftwood to kachinas and then flow right back to something applicable to architecture. I can’t tell you how many times I will do that with a less-design-literate client and just get a blank stare!” —Architect Craig Steely
A unit facing Natoma Street looks on to what was once housing for the area's factory workers.
A unit facing Natoma Street looks on to what was once housing for the area's factory workers.
Before founding atelier KS in the fall of 2008, Franz and Pare-Mayer both worked for accomplished San Francisco architects: Franz for Cary Bernstein and Pare-Mayer for Craig Steely. The residents of this home contacted Steely to complete the renovation but when he was unable to accept the project, he put them in touch with the husband-wife design team.
Before founding atelier KS in the fall of 2008, Franz and Pare-Mayer both worked for accomplished San Francisco architects: Franz for Cary Bernstein and Pare-Mayer for Craig Steely. The residents of this home contacted Steely to complete the renovation but when he was unable to accept the project, he put them in touch with the husband-wife design team.
The living room is a comfortable melange of pieces Baker grew up with, such as the Robsjohn-Gibbings chaise, and ones he's added, such as the Frank Gehry Power Play club chair.
The living room is a comfortable melange of pieces Baker grew up with, such as the Robsjohn-Gibbings chaise, and ones he's added, such as the Frank Gehry Power Play club chair.
Farnham walks the couple’s Vizsla, Kasia, down the sloped alley upon which the house sits. Hill’s renovation maintains some Victorian character in the decorative eaves and scaling, but the home is largely an anomaly for San Francisco.
Farnham walks the couple’s Vizsla, Kasia, down the sloped alley upon which the house sits. Hill’s renovation maintains some Victorian character in the decorative eaves and scaling, but the home is largely an anomaly for San Francisco.