Design house: A quintessential Victorian home in San Francisco, designed by Margaret Ash Design

This small home was given a bright and cheerful update, just in time for a new arrival.

Designed to be family friendly and functional, this San Francisco home offers a colourful and bright, East Coast level of sophistication.

The family of four entrusted interior designer, Margaret Ash with the design project, and have never looked back since.

Before starting her own firm in San Francisco, Margaret honed her skills and curated her unique style by designing for the some of the most influential interior designers and architects known to date: Kelly Wearstler, Amanda Nisbet, Elizabeth Bauer, Kendall Wilkinson, and Meyer Davis Studio.

THE PROPERTY

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

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LIVING ROOM

A carefully curated selection of artwork takes pride of place in this compact space. Choosing the right artwork is key when it comes to decorating and putting your stamp on a space; not only can it pull together your décor but it will also reflect your personality and style.

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

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KITCHEN

Many homeowners choose a white kitchen due to its timeless appeal. A new built-in kitchen is a huge part of any renovation budget, and so it’s no surprise lots of people tend to play it safe when it comes to this important family room. Margaret has used accessories in soft yet interesting tones to lift the room.

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

DINING ROOM

The dining room is a riot of colour. Paint is a great tool when you need to maximise the feeling of space in a small room. Layers of tonal colour and light-reflecting surfaces are an elegant counterpoint to a striking collection of art and fabric.

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

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MASTER BEDROOM

Margaret used a calm palette of light greys and soothing blues mixed with bold violet purples to create an air of soft sophistication.

This clever combination is perfect for the bedroom and will work just as well in living rooms. Shades of light grey complement blues and mauves beautifully, almost taking on a minky hue.

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

NURSERY

A nursery room is the perfect place to experiment with colour and style. 'As I was pregnant at the time, it allowed me to design the perfect nursery for a girl, and whom better deserving than my client turned best-friend,' says Margaret. Choosing a scheme for a child’s room is always fun. Where you may want calm and neutral in the rest of your home, here you can really go to town and you’ll find that bold colours work in even the smallest of spaces.

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

quintessential Victorian home

(Image credit: Julia Sperling)

Photography/ Julia Sperling

Interior design/ Margaret Ash Design

Jennifer Ebert
Deputy Editor (Digital)

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.