Of all the United States’ glittering cities, San Francisco, perhaps more than most, immediately conjures up images of vibrancy and individuality. This 6,400-square-foot family home, nestled in a suburban enclave of the city, epitomises these very qualities. Designed and built by the Pacific Peninsula Group (PPG) for the Waxman family, the house includes five bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms. Constructed in 2010, the interiors were designed by Moment Design + Productions in New York City and the end result is a cornucopia of colour and fun.
The elegant stark white flooring of the entrance hall is illuminated by a Hope pendant light from Luceplan, while an Andy Warhol painting of Mick Jagger adds a touch of tongue-in-cheek pop culture to the sleek Akoya Sisal metallic wallpaper discovered by the family at Romo Showroom in New York.
The refined play of colours and materials continues in the contemporary living room, with bold artwork and a careful selection of furnishings such as a Lennon sofa from Usona upholstered in Armani Casa fabric and accent pillows that echo the ochre used in the window treatments.
Both the vintage glass tube floor lamps that were discovered at the 1st Dibs showroom in New York and a playfully modern custom-made coffee table with removable and reversible trays demand their fair share of attention, but the real focal point is a fireplace balanced on each side by collages created by Lance Letscher. The room is finished off with side chairs from Dutch designer Piet Boon and a 100 per cent silk custom-designed rug from Rug Art, which has a beautiful metallic sheen.
In the formal dining room, a custom table from Moment Design + Productions is surrounded by eight vintage Italian chairs – reupholstered in fabric by Mokum – harking back to the Sixties’ style of Carlo di Carli, while high-back vintage armchairs discovered at an antique store sit at opposite ends of the rectangular table. A Jack Warren collage behind the table adds character, while a blue and black metallic wall covering from Donghia on the adjacent wall catches the eye.
The family’s love of colour and pattern is evident in all the living spaces, from the splash of scarlet on the Saarinen Tulip chairs in the breakfast nook to the Missoni striped window treatments in the family living room. But it is upstairs in the children’s bedrooms that the most daring creativity is seen, with quirky eclectic themes.
In the son’s room, rockets and a floating astronaut hovering on the wall launch a space theme. A DucDuc white bunk bed with red trim, a matching chest of drawers, play table, blue carpeting, as well as a play ball chair from Tomate complete the look.
The daughter’s nursery showcases a playful medley of orange, white and black, accessorised with a vibrant polka-dot rug by Gandia Blasco and a customised DucDuc Parker crib. While such a bold and colourful scheme is at first glance unconventional for a nursery, the owner’s foresight in creating a gender-neutral theme paid off, as their first child was a boy and within 18 months, a daughter had joined the family.
Contemporary wallpaper sets the scene for a safari-themed playroom – a look chosen to echo the homeowners’ memories of their honeymoon in Kenya. A faux zebra hide rug from Jayson Home complements the mural depicting elephants, giraffes, a lion and birds.
Outside the house, a large covered patio boasts an outdoor gas fireplace as its centrepiece – the perfect area to lounge with friends and family, particularly as the Orbit daybeds from Dedon look so inviting.
A poolside guest house, pergola with integrated space heaters and an outdoor dining area with a customised table, inspired by the Piet Boon Collection, add to the beauty and practicality of the garden.
