A Storied San Francisco Residence Will get a Contemporary Renovation
Paris-born design and branding expert Guillaume Coutheillas, who runs the frenchCALIFORNIA agency, and his husband Michael have made their dream come true since they moved to Parnassus Heights in San Francisco.
Guillaume Coutheillas at his home in San Francisco.
“We love this area as it is one of the last remaining parts of the city that still feels like a recall back to the days of the Tales of the City. In fact, the author Armistead Maupin lived just a few doors down,” says Guillaume. “A regular pastime for my husband and I over the years has been hiking through Sutro Forest Reserve to Tank Hill and then back down Farnsworth Steps – only 50 feet from our front door. We would always stop and dream of the beautiful houses on Farnsworth and Edgewood and imagine what it would be like to live here. “
When the couple saw that a house was for sale, they immediately called their real estate agent friend to seal the deal.
IN FRONT: Before the renovations, the house had a bold Spanish-style interior.
AFTER THIS: The living room features an XYZ chandelier by Adir Yakobi, a Pottery Barn sofa, a yellow stool by Oskar Zieta, a Yayoi Kusama print from a collaboration Guillaume worked on, and a Ben Eine artwork (on the Wall leaning on the lower right). .
The 1,700 square meter property with an additional converted carriage house, which now serves as a home office and fitness studio, was originally built in 1924 by Robert Haight. Robert, the contractor for famous architects Bernard Maybeck and Julia Morgan, lived here until his death in 1994. “It is believed that Robert built the house as his builder’s cottage while he was working on the stately mansions attached to the house on Edgewood Ave. adjoin, ”says Guillaume. “As a result, the house has unusually large windows and doors that we believe he saved from the surplus of the neighboring projects.”
Although the second owner had converted the interior to Spanish Revival, Guillaume wanted instead to pay tribute to the house’s English cottage heritage and take on the renovation project under frenchCALIFORNIA to work with his favorite design partners while adding a contemporary and personal touch. The original doors, windows and moldings have been preserved; The brick floor was painted white and the rest of the house was covered with wide oak parquet. and the plaster walls were smoothed.
