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Buena Vista Park Home

Last Updated on January 31, 2025 by teamobn

Buena Vista Park, San Francisco, California  – Because We Can

Old homes often lose their charm through insidious modification. Little by little, change by change, each small in itself, until all the character and attributes of the original design are buried. This one time mansion had been converted to flats by the time the current owners bought it. Through an amazing transformation, all the glory of the original home has been restored while allowing the home to be subdivided into too generous family homes.

Historical charm meets modernity in this Buena Vista Park two family home
Historical charm meets modernity in this Buena Vista Park two family home

This historic house is adjacent to Buena Vista Park, San Francisco, sitting high above the city in an area that has, once again, become a desirable place to live and work. The renovation focused on the internals where the home has been opened up with resultant access to abundant natural light. The exterior design and charm has undergone long overdue maintenance including fresh paint in period tones. The home has all that a 21st century home offers plus the charm of  lovely historic details.

The architectural design company behind the project, Because We Can, are a design and build studio with their own laser-powered fabrication shop. They describe themselves as a mash-up of architects, artists, builders, designers, and fabricators, able to make what they design.

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Exterior and Interior View of Buena Vista Park Home:

A two family, historical house in Buena Vista Park, San Francisco. Complete renovation of the two interior flats, as well as exterior maintenance up and fresh paint makes this home feel new, but with lovely historic details.
A deep blue front door creates an inviting entrance.
As you walk up the stairs, the area opens up to the 2nd floor Master flat, with an open kitchen and living room.
The original beams in the ceiling and the original fireplace have such beautiful rich wood, painting the walls around them a bright white accentuates their deep colors.
Changing the floors and painting the dark wood on the walls and banister creates a much brighter foyer.
The master floor has a large open studio room, now with the ceiling heightened and the floor extended feels even more open and airy.
Taking out the original wall that cut this room in two, gives a now wonderful line of signs to the windows and the amazing view.
Keeping the original details of the house and bringing in a modern flair, makes the interior spaces fun and interesting. The medallions on the ceiling were kept, and new light fixtures brought in.
The master study off of the main room on the top master floor has beautiful views, and is freshened by the new paint and darkened floors. The original fixtures and wood paneling remain.
The closet to the children's bedroom is over the entry stairway. We added a fun ship's porthole for the children to look though.
The porthole looks out over the entry stairs, making some interesting wall art as well.
The porthole is a large brass real porthole from a ship!
Now the foyer shines with light streaming in from the front doors. This fresh, light filled entry is a joy to walk through, and feels much larger with the new color scheme.
Because the windows go to the floor, and there are small children in the house, we added acrylic screens with a decorative carving for safety.
At the far side of the studio, floor to ceiling windows create a beautiful area to look at the view.
On the top floor, the master bedroom caries the style of the rest of the house with its dark stained floors, white walls and mix of modern and vintage elements.
There are two bedrooms in the downstairs flat, now both feel fresh and airy with their newly painted walls and dark wood floor.
The children's bedrooms on this floor follow the same aesthetic of the rest of the house, keeping the original medallions over the new modern light fixtures, the fresh paint and the dark floors.
The master bath was converted into a full bath with a tub, and brightened with the new tile.
The downstairs bathroom with new tile and full tub.
The bathroom on this floor had some fun vintage elements that we wanted to keep and celebrate. Sourcing vintage inspired tile and fixtures the tub and sink now are the main interesting elements.
Changing the kitchen layout and taking out some walls really opened up the kitchen to a much more inviting space.
The downstairs kitchen, opened up by rearranging the floor plan, feels worlds larger.
The large open kitchen and dining areas are bright and airy with their high ceiling and natural light.
The downstairs kitchen french doors open onto the small back deck. Much better than the old sliding door that was there before.
The downstairs has a full flat with a small kitchen. Now with the white cabinets in the renovated kitchen layout, it feels much bigger.
The exterior of the house has been re-painted to a light blue that brings out the existing gold trim.

 

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