Collection by Erika Heet

Space-Savvy San Francisco Renovations

With an eclectic intermingling of skinny Victorians, gritty warehouses, earthquakes, and impossibly steep streets, San Franciscans have much to contend with when planning their built environment. Here are 6 inspiring renovations that highlight the city's innovative architects, designers, and DIYers.

The house is also Build it Green Certified, beating the sustainability requirements of Title 24 (guidelines issued by the California Energy Commission Building Energy Efficiency Program) by over 50%. The house’s laundry is hooked up to a grey water irrigation system and its gutters drain rain into barrels for reuse. The concrete also incorporates 25% fly ash.
The house is also Build it Green Certified, beating the sustainability requirements of Title 24 (guidelines issued by the California Energy Commission Building Energy Efficiency Program) by over 50%. The house’s laundry is hooked up to a grey water irrigation system and its gutters drain rain into barrels for reuse. The concrete also incorporates 25% fly ash.
A departure from the mod-meets-baroque dining room, Turin’s breakfast area is far more sedate. She and her daughter, Helena, have a chat at a Progetto 1 table by Monica Armani for B&B Italia surrounded by four Lia chairs by Roberto Barbieri for Zanotta. The painting behind Helena is by Ricci Albenda.
A departure from the mod-meets-baroque dining room, Turin’s breakfast area is far more sedate. She and her daughter, Helena, have a chat at a Progetto 1 table by Monica Armani for B&B Italia surrounded by four Lia chairs by Roberto Barbieri for Zanotta. The painting behind Helena is by Ricci Albenda.
This modern and space-efficient family home kept the original exposed wooden rafters and grid of windows to open up the living room. Photo by: Daniel Hennessy
This modern and space-efficient family home kept the original exposed wooden rafters and grid of windows to open up the living room. Photo by: Daniel Hennessy
The modern breakfast area also serves as a mudroom with plenty of shoe storage under the window seat.
The modern breakfast area also serves as a mudroom with plenty of shoe storage under the window seat.
Two San Francisco art and travel addicts overhauled a loft—and customized a pair of shipping containers—to accommodate their collection and reflect their passions. The shipping containers were stacked, joined with steel tubes, and lashed to reinforced floor joints to make them earthquake-safe.
Two San Francisco art and travel addicts overhauled a loft—and customized a pair of shipping containers—to accommodate their collection and reflect their passions. The shipping containers were stacked, joined with steel tubes, and lashed to reinforced floor joints to make them earthquake-safe.