The Presidio Heights Classical Revival
When you buy a heritage home in Presidio Heights, you are buying history, and usually, a lot of deferred maintenance. This 1905 Edwardian had good bones, but the exterior was failing. The decorative cornices were crumbling, the original wood windows were painted shut, and the entry portico was sagging. The client wanted a full restoration that honored the period details but requested a monochromatic modernization to strip away the busy, multi-colored Painted Lady look that felt dated to them. They wanted the architecture to speak through relief and shadow, not through five different paint colors.
This was a forensic restoration design. We coordinated with plaster artisans, providing them with digital scans to take molds of the surviving cornice details for casting lightweight GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) replacements. We provided engineering visuals to stabilize the entry structure and designed a new, secure iron gate that mimics the original 1905 scrollwork but includes modern smart-lock technology. By specifying a single, rich shade of Dove Wing white for the entire facade, we unified the disparate elements. The shadows cast by the intricate molding now provide the contrast, creating a look that is stately, sophisticated, and undeniably expensive.
Client Name
Eleanor Vance
Client Type
Private Homeowner / Investor
Location
Presidio Heights, San Francisco
Project focus
Historical restoration and structural repair
Color Palette
Warm White, Dark Bronze, Limestone
Services Provided
Exterior Design, Historical Preservation, Restoration
Budget
$50000
Duration
5 Months
Thoughtfully designed spaces for life
Strategic Design Interventions
We use material science to combat San Francisco microclimates.
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Rebuilding History with Modern Tech
We did not patch the rot; we engineered it out digitally first. Using laser scanning data provided by the client, we generated files to recreate the intricate crown moldings in modern, weather-proof materials that look identical to the original wood but will last another century.
The Power of One Color
By specifying the trim, siding, and detailing in the same hue, we shifted the focus to the texture of the architecture. It is a modern power move that makes the home feel larger and more cohesive than the traditional multi-color approach.
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Safety Without Bars
The client needed security. We detailed custom wrought-iron entry gates that look like decorative period pieces but function as a high-security barrier, integrated seamlessly with a Ring Elite access system.
