Houzz Tour: Remodel Reveals a Pied-à-Terre’s Rustic Charms
In this San Francisco condo, a designer uncovers a steel beam, teak floors and tons of character
Duscheone says the previous stainless steel fireplace surround drew too much attention away from the room’s other features. To remedy the situation, the designer replaced the stainless steel with drywall. “The simple white surround adds a contemporary touch, and it also brightens the room,” she says.
While the designer added drywall to one side of the room, she stripped it from the other side. Duscheone removed the drywall that concealed an original steel beam in the corner of the living area. “Exposing the steel beam added to that industrial loft vibe we were going for,” she says.
While the designer added drywall to one side of the room, she stripped it from the other side. Duscheone removed the drywall that concealed an original steel beam in the corner of the living area. “Exposing the steel beam added to that industrial loft vibe we were going for,” she says.
The designer says she didn’t realize just how beautiful the condo’s teak floors were until she had them stripped of the dark red stain. “The red stain was so heavy, you couldn’t even see the grain of the wood. We had no idea that such a lovely teak was underneath,” she says.
Once the floors were stripped down to their natural color, she had them finished with a clear oil stain to highlight the grain and protect the wood.
Browse light-toned hardwood floors on Houzz
Once the floors were stripped down to their natural color, she had them finished with a clear oil stain to highlight the grain and protect the wood.
Browse light-toned hardwood floors on Houzz
The existing kitchen featured a bar-height island that the designer felt made the space feel too separate from the living room. “It’s a small living area, so it was important for the kitchen to be open to the living room to make it feel bigger and to draw in light,” Duscheone says.
The new counter-height island and countertops are covered in white quartz with a waterfall edge. The designer also added new cabinets covered in a deep purplish gray called Temptation from Benjamin Moore. Brass cabinet pulls with ridges for easy gripping complete the look.
Pros and Cons: Painted vs. Stained Cabinets
The new counter-height island and countertops are covered in white quartz with a waterfall edge. The designer also added new cabinets covered in a deep purplish gray called Temptation from Benjamin Moore. Brass cabinet pulls with ridges for easy gripping complete the look.
Pros and Cons: Painted vs. Stained Cabinets
Duscheone says the upper cabinets used to run all the way to the fireplace. “While I wanted the two spaces to feel open to one another, a little distinction is nice,” she says. Therefore, in place of an upper cabinet, the designer added a custom shelving unit that she designed. The shelves are made out of mahogany blocks with edges wrapped in a thin layer of brass.
Continuing with the warm metal accent, the designer selected a backsplash tile composed of white Carrara marble embedded with brass rivets and a thin outline of brass along the perimeter.
Continuing with the warm metal accent, the designer selected a backsplash tile composed of white Carrara marble embedded with brass rivets and a thin outline of brass along the perimeter.
The condo’s bedroom is on the first floor near the stairs that lead to the living area upstairs. “Since it’s a small space, I felt it was important to make the bedroom and living area feel connected to one another,” Duscheone says. So the designer covered the wall behind the bed in Benjamin Moore’s Regent Green — a deep tone similar to the paint on the kitchen cabinets.
Much as it does upstairs, brass plays a starring role in the bedroom. A pair of table lamps, mirrors and the Iron Box chandelier pendant that Duscheone bought on Houzz all feature warm metal tones.
Much as it does upstairs, brass plays a starring role in the bedroom. A pair of table lamps, mirrors and the Iron Box chandelier pendant that Duscheone bought on Houzz all feature warm metal tones.
Another way the designer connected the bedroom to the living area was to again remove the drywall from the original steel beam in the corner. The crushed velvet curtains also match the curtains in the living room.
“It’s a boutique space in the middle of a great San Francisco neighborhood,” Duscheone says. “I wanted it all to fit together just so.”
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“It’s a boutique space in the middle of a great San Francisco neighborhood,” Duscheone says. “I wanted it all to fit together just so.”
More
How to Make an Interior Brick Wall Work
Kitchen Trend: These Jewel-Toned Cabinets Really Shine
Find interior designers on Houzz
House at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a professional couple’s pied-à-terre.
Location: San Francisco
Size: About 850 square feet (79 square meters)
Designer: Deniece Duscheone Design
Designer Deniece Duscheone says the process of renovating this professional couple’s pied-à-terre in San Francisco’s Jackson Square neighborhood was “a little bit like peeling an onion” as she removed old layers to uncover the home’s original character and charm.
The two-story condo is in a converted warehouse built in the late 19th century. While the home’s original brick walls have always been exposed, a dark red stain formerly covered the wood floors, and stainless steel covered the fireplace. And drywall covered an original steel beam running through both floors of the unit.
A staircase from the first-floor entry leads to the second-floor living area. A glass railing on the right side of the staircase visually opens up the space. A sculptural brass-and-glass chandelier designed by Lindsey Adelman hanging above the staircase adds drama and introduces the warm metal tone used throughout the condo.