Noe Valley Victorian

A couple living in a character-filled Victorian in the San Francisco hills asked Eisenmann to rethink their kitchen and outdoor spaces. The house had real charm but needed cohesion. The goal was to preserve what made it special while updating it with modern structural and architectural elements. A structurally insufficient sun porch was replaced with new square footage, allowing the kitchen to be reorganized with workflow along an interior wall and better privacy from the front door. A shelving unit with a tapered edge softens the transition from kitchen to dining. A hutch fills the space between a wall and a brick chimney, the chimney intentionally revealed as an architectural feature. The island posed a challenge: the homeowners wanted open elements, but the sink and dishwasher required plumbing. The solution was solid cabinetry at one end and an open drawer system at the other. Victorian trim and plaster medallions contrast throughout with grey millwork, exposed red steel frames, and architectural metalwork. The husband, an artist, wanted a studio for his figure paintings. A space beneath the kitchen was created for this purpose, with an accordion door opening onto an adjacent patio with a ceramic mid-century fireplace. A grate integrated into the decking above provides filtered light and a place to water potted plants without pooling on the deck below. The deck and stairs were constructed in steel to maximize garden views by minimizing structural elements. At the upper level, the deck horizontally extends the lines of the house, visually joining the kitchen with the surrounding garden. The wide accordion door is often left open so the local bluejays can fly in and visit the family parrot. Project Manager | Amber Baker Photographer | Mark Compton