An Eclectic San Francisco Home with Classic Interiors

Details

Eclectic White Bathroom with Green Shades

A dynamic Eric Zener commissioned painting brings joie de vivre to the master bathroom with its Art Deco-inspired vanity—designed by Weiss and constructed by GO Build Studio—and floor tiles, tub and fittings by Waterworks.

Eclectic Black Sitting Area with Nesting Tables

“It was important to the homeowners that nothing feel stuffy,” Weiss says. “They wanted the interiors to be light, fun and young, just like their family.” To accomplish this, Weiss worked with Sears to sand, repaint and re-stain the extensive woodwork throughout the house, giving the interiors a little face- lift before she began the job of furnishing each room. “We were careful not to alter the character of the home,” Sears says. “We just needed to brighten things up. Palmer even had us reuse all the existing trim and molding.”

Eclectic Multicolored Bedroom Detail with Orange Dresser

The playful wallpaper brings out the bright color notes seen in the draperies and coral Mastercraft nightstands.

Eclectic Multicolored Bedroom with Mirrored Bed

A mirrored bed from Oly Studio is the statement-making centerpiece of the master bedroom, with a lovely supporting cast made up of a webbed bench by Vicente Wolf, Katie Ridder’s Moon Flower wallpaper—from Harbinger LA—and gilded-base Christopher Spitzmiller lamps.

Eclectic Bar Area with Green Barstools

The homeowners’ love of entertaining manifests itself in the sophisticated bar area where custom Moroccan-inspired barstools covered in Hunt Leather join a copper-topped island and lacquered cabinetry by GO Build Studio for a space that’s sleek and seductive.

Eclectic Wine Cellar with Leather Door

The team at Thomas Warner Wine Cellars worked with Weiss to create a state-of-the-art spot to house the homeowners’ carefully curated collection of spirits. The cellar door is upholstered in a Cortina Leathers hide and punctuated by a modified chevron nailhead design and brass Soane Britain handle.

Eclectic Whtie Dining Area with Gold Banquette

The lounge is equal parts cozy and cool, with vintage Mastercraft chairs from Monument upholstered in Elitis fabric from Donghia and a built-in skirted banquette in a Nobilis textile from Kneedler-Fauchère. Custom tables, pendants from The Urban Electric Company and a framed Richard Misrach photo preside over the space.

Eclectic White Breakfast Area with Roman Shades

In the breakfast room, Les Indiennes fabric on the draperies, by Fabrications For Interiors, provides the ideal backdrop for a modern Country French aesthetic, complemented by the bistro-style dining chairs from TK Collections and the custom pedestal table built by GO Build Studio.

Eclectic White Kitchen Detail with Tiled Backsplash

Builder Justine Sears painted the existing kitchen cabinetry white, while Weiss outfitted the space with honed Calacatta countertops from Fox Marble, Miele and Wolf appliances, a Waterworks tile backsplash, and globe pendants from Remains Lighting to give it new life. The hood is custom by the designer and fabricated by Berlin Food Equipment.

Eclectic Brown Living Room with Yellow Drapes

Deep seating, like the custom coral sofa upholstered in Jane Shelton chenille, provides plush spots for guests. A Harrison-Van Horn coffee table and rug from Stark Carpet complete the laidback look.

Eclectic Neutral Sitting Area Detail with Carved Console

Designer Palmer Weiss created separate seating areas in the living room in order to lend intimacy to the space’s large scale. A Natasha Law artwork from Voltz Clarke in New York brings color to the paneled walls.

Eclectic Blue Staircase with Animal Print Runner

Stepping into the front hall, with its leopard-print stair runner by Stark Carpet, teal grass-cloth wallcovering and Lucite railings—designed by Weiss and custom-made by builder Justine Sears—is a welcome reminder not to judge a book by its cover. These eye-catching elements lend a much-needed modern edge to the buttoned-up, classic exterior and set the tone for the rest of the home: an aesthetic that Weiss refers to as “eclectic glamour".

There’s something to be said about the power of an unexpected moment: a flash of Technicolor in your favorite black-and-white movie, a phone call from a long-lost friend. What follows is a feeling of wonder born from a sense of discovery, and it’s precisely this sentiment that designer Palmer Weiss wanted to recreate for a San Francisco family. Although their house—an unfalteringly traditional residence with plenty of rich architectural details—was lovely, it was missing the magic necessary to make it a home. So, Weiss quickly made it her mission to craft a family home full of surprises that showcased original and one-of-a-kind pieces. “From the outside, the house reads much older and more conservative,” she says, “but we wanted people to open the door and discover it’s not at all what they thought it would be.” 

In fact, stepping into the front hall, with its leopard-print stair runner by Stark Carpet, teal grass-cloth wallcovering and Lucite railings—designed by Weiss and custom-made by builder Justine Sears—is a welcome reminder not to judge a book by its cover. These eye-catching elements lend a much-needed modern edge to the buttoned-up, classic exterior and set the tone for the rest of the home: an aesthetic that Weiss refers to as “eclectic glamour.” The theme prevails in the lounge and adjoining bar area, as well, where vintage brass chairs upholstered in hot pink velvet, sleek, lacquered cabinetry, and a custom island, constructed entirely of different metals, dull the memories of the dark finishes and formal silhouettes that used to define the spaces. 

“It was important to the homeowners that nothing feel stuffy,” Weiss says. “They wanted the interiors to be light, fun and young, just like their family.” To accomplish this, Weiss worked with Sears to sand, repaint and re-stain the extensive woodwork throughout the house, giving the interiors a little face- lift before she began the job of furnishing each room. “We were careful not to alter the character of the home,” Sears says. “We just needed to brighten things up. Palmer even had us reuse all the existing trim and molding.” 

Architectural integrity preserved, Weiss made a big impact instead by introducing a colorful palette, as well as a variety of playful prints and an impressive contemporary art collection—featuring paintings and photographs by Eric Zener, Richard Misrach, Lawrence Beck and Natasha Law, among many others. In the media room, for example, rusty orange walls (a nod to the Golden Gate Bridge seen through the windows) paired with upholstered aqua chairs look fresh and inviting, while a psychedelic Damien Hirst helps to downplay the seriousness of the original wood-paneled walls in the living room. The hippie-chic Moon Flower wallpaper from Katie Ridder, too, in the master bedroom, is key in tying the space together, providing a grounding influence to the mirrored bed. 

For all of the place’s glitz and glam, however, at its heart, it’s still a family home, which is why Weiss was careful to ensure that each room was dog-, child- and party-proof. “Before we brought any fabrics or carpets into the house, we put them through the ringer,” she explains. “We spilled red wine, soy sauce and ketchup—the works really—on everything to see how it would hold up. There’s nothing worse than having a beautiful house but not wanting to share it because you have a white sofa and you’re scared it’ll get ruined. We didn’t want them to have to walk on eggshells.” 

The result is a home that’s as tough and durable as it is lovely. It’s exactly the magical setting that the homeowners had envisioned, and for her part, Sears is equally under its spell. “I’ve been in the homes business for over 15 years, and this is probably my favorite house,” she says. “It flows so well, and everything is harmonious.”