Back to the future from Kitchen Trends volume 2408

Houses in historic neighborhoods are invariably subject to zoning restrictions. And while these are intended to retain the character of a city, they can make a remodeling project more challenging.
This house, on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, is one of the oldest houses on one of the smallest sites in the city. And although it had been extended and modified over the years, the dining room and kitchen on the first floor were not conducive to entertaining, says architect Michael Tauber.
"These spaces were a vestige of the original Victorian-era design," he says. "They felt small, cramped and disconnected from the rest of the house. But providing another extension to the house was simply not possible."
Rethinking their plans, Tauber and the owner decided to insert a modern, open, single room into the shell of the house, integrating the new and the old. To this end, the kitchen and dining room were opened up to create one large informal space.
"The house already had entertainment spaces on the upper floor and roof deck," says Tauber. "Providing this new informal kitchen and dining space enhanced the flow between all the floors."
The focal point of the new space is a split island. At one end is a raised granite countertop for cooking and food preparation, and at the other a solid walnut dining table, which is anchored by matching wood bookshelves.
"Parallel walls of walnut cabinetry, and bamboo flooring help to emphasize the linearity of the space, while making it appear longer and therefore larger," says Tauber. "The cabinet wall finishes just below the ceiling line to provide space for cove lighting, which also makes the space feel taller."
The main cabinetry, which incorporates integrated refrigeration, provides customized storage for silverware, plates, glassware, trays, sharp knives, ladles, pots and pans. Further functionality is provided by a separate walnut cabinet with a bar area and file drawers, ensuring the space can also double as a home office.
Built in the 1860s, this historic house in Telegraph Hill, San Francisco, has been substantially altered over the years. The most recent renovation saw the first floor gutted, and the insertion of a modern open-plan kitchen-dining space.
Credit List
Architect : Michael Tauber, Michael Tauber Architecture (San Francisco, CA)
General contractor : Fontana Construction
Cabinetry : Quartered walnut veneer; white lacquer by Hanlon Complete Cabinet Service
Cabinet pulls : Sagatsune
Countertops : Blue Louise granite from Integrated Resources
Backsplash : Ann Sacks Metro Delphinium glass tiles
Wall paints : Dunn Edwards
Flooring : Bamboo by Smith and Fong
Lighting : Halo recessed; Alko undercounter; Pinnicle cove lighting; LBL pendants
Chairs : Montis Ivy from Limn
Cooktop : Wolf
Ventilation : Dacor downdraft
Ovens, coffee maker and dishwasher : Miele
Refrigeration : Sub-Zero
Sink : Elkay
Faucets : MGS Progetti Vela
Story by Colleen Hawkes
Photography by JD Peterson
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