Contemporary Living Defines This Bay Area Abode

The change in this house is dramatic; it’s night and day,” says interior designer Sheila Kramer of the Atherton home she recently renovated. “It was formal and ornate, with dark walls and floors,” she adds. “Our goal was to make everything approachable and friendly but with plenty of sophisticated personality.”

To do away with the dated, Kramer collaborated with general contractor Ryan Jurian to lighten the floors, update all finishes and fixtures, and add built-ins for storage—much-needed for this active family of six, plus a cat and dog. “Sheila listened first, really taking in how we live day to day, and then translated that into design decisions that feel both beautiful and practical,” the wife says.

That’s not to say every element changed. In fact, there were several aspects of the original design that Kramer and the couple happily embraced. “The kitchen’s marble slabs were beautiful, so we didn’t need to replace those,” explains Kramer, noting that she simply refreshed the paint colors on the island and updated the hardware with mixed metals. She also added three pendant lights to the space. “They’re nicely oversized to make it playful,” the designer says. “We wanted these rooms to feel young and happy.” The reimagined island has now become a family hub. “Dinner prep, casual meals, even impromptu gatherings with friends happen here,” the wife notes. And along with the breakfast nook and adjacent family room, it serves as a prime spot for homework, something Kramer, a former first grade teacher, knows is essential.

The designer and her clients also embraced the traditional wood paneling of the media room but updated the fireplace with a new Calacatta Viola marble surround, a move that also determined the home’s palette. “We pulled the aubergine shade of the veining all the way through the house,” Kramer explains. “One of the first things I talk to clients about is homing in on one color and letting that be the through line; it makes a home feel cohesive and calm.” Guests first meet the hue in the entryway, where Kramer used it for velvet ottomans placed around the center table. It then appears on the sofa pillows in the living room. Those sofas, too, are another Kramer hallmark. “I often bring in curved edges—rounded sofas or rugs—to soften a room,” she says. “They really welcome a person in.” The designer also tucked a multifunctional round table and chairs into a corner of the space. “It’s where they like to do activities, like Christmas puzzles,” she adds.

In the dining room, Kramer continued the focus on the aubergine color story, weaving it into the space’s tweed chair upholstery, drapery fabric and patterned wallcovering. “I like powerful rooms, and this wallpaper really makes a statement,” she says. “It’s a fun moment,” the wife adds. “It’s bold and unexpected, and it makes hosting feel special every time.” And while powder rooms are often the place for such surprises, Kramer believes homeowners are getting braver. “They’re committing to bolder choices like this; they’re really ready to live in their houses.”

But what also defines this dwelling is its contemporary art collection, a mix of new and existing pieces. “Choosing artworks that really represent the people who live there makes it feel like more of a home,” says Kramer, who worked with Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts to find several of the pieces. Artists featured throughout the residence include AJ Oishi, Landon Nordeman, Santiago Garcia and Harry Benson. Perhaps the most meaningful work is one commissioned from painter John O’Hara, This Must Be the Place, a reference to the couple’s wedding song by the Talking Heads.

“The whole house flows seamlessly now and supports both our daily chaos and those special, quieter moments,” the wife says. “Sheila combined elevated pieces with livable comfort, which was exactly what we needed.” Adds Kramer, “It’s essential for me to create homes that feel personal. It has to show their heritage and celebrate their story. It’s form and function, yes, but there also has to be soul.”

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