Modern classic Jeff Schlarb of Green Couch reinvents this family house

In a list of the world's best known cities, San Francisco would surely rank in the top ten. One of America's financial centres, the city is also one of the country's oldest, with a colourful history to match.

Situated within a relatively compact area, San Francisco features narrow-fronted, deep sites best suited to Victorian terrace houses, says interior designer Jeff Schlarb.

"With land in the city at a premium, there has been an historical precedent for much of the architecture to be insular in nature. It is only fairly recently that we have sought to create the connection to the outdoors enjoyed by residents of other cities."

Originally consisting of two self-contained units, the featured property has been extensively renovated and is now a single-family dwelling.

"The renovation process meant that the entire floor plan could be resculpted. The kitchen, which was in the centre of the house, was moved to the rear, and the space opened up to accommodate a large deck.," says Schlarb.

The lower level of the house was extended out into the garden, which provided the structure for the deck area.

Steel beams inserted in the ceiling made possible the 4.8m opening from the kitchen and family room, which creates the seamless indoor-outdoor flow the homeowner was seeking.

While the goal was to create a contemporary family home, there was also a desire to instil warmth and character.

"The house is high-spec in terms of technology and sound systems," says the designer. "For the interior design we chose a simple base palette augmented by texture, which would draw on a classic sensibility and act as a foil to the technology.

Working in conjunction with the kitchen designer, Schlarb devised a European-inspired, modified Shaker-style scheme for the kitchen.

"The look is intentionally simple," he says. "Yet there is a compartmentalised feel to the space with its bold vertical lines it's a very sharp look."

"The tone-on-tone colour palette of soft greys and whites emphasises the bold lines, which have been repeated in the coffered ceiling and the island bench of Calacatta Oro marble.

"Each of these elements, as well as the oak flooring, has classic appeal, yet I took a curatorial approach to their inclusion here, teaming them with some contemporary counterparts such as the Pentalquartz engineered stone.

"I believe that a room is similar to an artwork, in that, if you can walk past a piece of art and not be compelled to stop, then it hasn't achieved its goal. Similarly, when you walk into a room, it should make you want to linger."

Story by: Justin Foote