Residents of San Francisco are well versed in the phenomenon of the marine layer – that shifting veil of fog that rolls in from the Pacific, softening the outline of the Golden Gate Bridge and casting the city in diffused light across a palette of blue-greens and silvers.
Step inside this house design in Presidio Heights and that same atmospheric quality prevails: in the veining of its marbles, in the watery mural that wraps the dining room, and in a palette that hovers somewhere between sea and sky.
Exterior: The house, its timber paneled façade faithfully restored, is distinguished by a front terrace – a rare, coveted luxury in the city.
The house – a detached Edwardian property dating from 1905 – has been reworked by Lindsay Anyon Brier in collaboration with Sutro Architects. It was, from the outset, a house designed to keep pace with the owners’ rapidly expanding family.
With two older children from a previous marriage, a toddler at the beginning of the project, and two more arriving before its completion, it is frequently home to seven.
Entry: The striking marble floor was inspired by a photograph of a beautiful rug. Brass table, 1stDibs. The Flush Scallop Monumental pendant light in Antique Brass, Soane Britain. Chatterboxes copper art installation by Lori Cozen-Geller, Madison Gallery. Sable bench (right), Ochre. Wool stair runner, Stark
And yet, despite this lively dynamic, the brief was rooted in restoration and restraint.
As the client explains, 'Our vision was to honor the original San Francisco Edwardian style of the house while introducing English and Scottish inspiration.' Crucially, she adds, 'We couldn’t have articulated this without the help of a professional designer.'
Garden: New glazed openings create a seamless connection between house and garden, where an outdoor kitchen sets the scene for relaxed, open-air entertaining. Dining table, Zachary A Design. Dining chairs, Bonacina. Evia heated lounge chairs, Galanter + Jones. Frei sofa, Paola Lenti
Architecturally, the interventions are subtle but transformative.
The footprint remains intact but the flow between spaces has been recalibrated. A reworked staircase draws light down from a retractable skylight, while at the rear, glazing opens the main floor to the garden.
Even the facade was reconsidered, with original drawings discovered mid-project, allowing a faithful return to timber paneling. 'We were able to restore that sense of what the house would have been,' says Lindsay.
Living Room: The 19th-century French Breccia Violetta marble mantel adds subtle drama, its richly veined surface bringing warmth and depth to the scheme. CHP hanging pendant, The Urban Electric Company. Benson mirror, Anyon Atelier. 19th-century French mantelpiece, 1stDibs. Orma coffee table set by Emmanuelle Simon, Invisible Collection
Inside, however, it is the decorative confidence that defines the project.
The clients’ appetite for color proved a catalyst. 'They kept saying, “What if we add another color?”,' Lindsay laughs.
Kitchen: Calacatta Borghini Macchia Vecchia marble – threaded with bronze and copper tones – is set against oak joinery and warm metal, creating a richly layered scheme. Custom cabinetry by Anyon Interior Design and Sutro Architects; painted in Green Smoke, Farrow & Ball. Globe Series Egg shade, Roman and Williams. Copper taps, Waterworks
Nowhere is this more evident than in the kitchen, where smoky green kitchen cabinetry – inspired by an English country sensibility – is paired with dramatically veined marble and copper fittings.
The stone, with its rusted undertones, feels almost elemental, echoing the tonal shifts of the landscape beyond.
Bedroom: Wallpaper in a painterly print sets the tone for a palette of mauves and greens, adding character and warmth to this space. Circle Stripe wallpaper in Taupe, Rebecca Atwood. Headboard in Undine, Zak + Fox. Cushion in Natural Ventana, Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca. Holden mini bedside table in Mappa Burr, Trove by Studio Duggan
That same spirit carries through into craftsmanship and narrative detail.
A subtle Anglo-Scottish thread runs throughout – a reflection of family heritage and shared travels. Plaid textiles in the main bedroom, a 19th-century Scottish rocking chair in the family room, and exquisitely crafted pieces all contribute to a sense of quiet continuity.
'They would return from trips with photographs of castles or details that inspired them and we would find ways to weave those ideas in,' Lindsay says.
Dining Area: A playful photograph reflects the room’s role as a lively family hub. Giraffic Jam, Laikipia, Kenya photograph by Natalie Obradovich. Rattan Petal light, Soane Britain. How to Marry a Millionaire chairs, Hollywood At Home; covered in Mamounia performance fabric in Stem, Schuyler Samperton Textiles. Vesta reeded pedestal table, Alfred Newall
There are also nautical inflections – a nod to the house’s proximity to the bay.
In the entryway, a table with a faintly maritime character sits atop a marble floor inspired by a textile. It is a moment of decorative bravura and one the clients embraced wholeheartedly. 'They weren’t afraid of investing in something that would feel special and enduring,' says Lindsay.
Living Room: Walls finished in bespoke plaster create a soft, atmospheric backdrop for an arresting floral ceramic artwork. Ceramic sculpture by Brie Ruais, Night Gallery. Bespoke sofa, BDDW; covered in Antoinette mohair velvet in Fig Punch, Rosemary Hallgarten. Baton table lamp, The Urban Electric Company
Art plays a similarly integral role.
A ceramic installation in the sitting room, discovered by Lindsay at the FOG Design+Art Fair, introduces a striking sense of movement.
Dining Room: A panoramic wallpaper inspired by the beaches of the Atlantic French coast lends an ethereal, immersive quality. Bespoke Dune panoramic wallpaper, Isidore Leroy. Medium rattan Pasha hanging light, Soane Britain. Sienna dining chairs, Quintus Home. Vases by Louise Roe, Anyon Atelier
Elsewhere, wallcoverings chart a spectrum from immersive to playful: a panoramic mural in the dining room evokes distant shores, while a thistle print by Timorous Beasties enlivens the powder room with wit and drama.
In the children’s rooms, patterns climb walls and ceilings, giving each room a distinctive personality.
Bathroom: Calacatta Monet Supreme marble is paired with olive joinery for a space that is both refined and restorative. Bespoke joinery in Jojoba, Benjamin Moore. Mirror; taps ; floor tiles in a custom designed basketweave in Calacatta and Empress Green marble, Waterworks. Platiere sconces, Jonathan Browning Studios
For all its refinement, however, the house is resolutely lived-in. 'We love how well-rounded everything turned out,' says the client. 'It’s elevated and elegant, yet playful and family-friendly.'
That balance is perhaps most keenly felt in the quieter moments – in the main bathroom, for instance, which she describes as 'a mini escape from busy family life, like a spa day within the home'.
Girl's Bedroom: A canopy bed creates a cocooning feel, while a wallpapered ceiling introduces an unexpected decorative flourish . Cadiz wallpaper in Papaya, Walter G. Walls in Pale Smoke, Benjamin Moore. Bed valance and drapes in Patagonia in Lagoon, Holland & Sherry. Throw, Anyon Atelier. Dulcie desk, Studio Atkinson
And perhaps that is the point.
This is not a house that relies on grand gestures, but one that builds its atmosphere slowly – through a layering of color, craft and detail.
Much like the marine layer, it reveals its beauty gradually and it’s all the more compellingly for it.
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