San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Four levels of exceptional living
Inner Richmond home boasts accessible location, inviting spaces
Classic period details unite with aspirational living in this special home, located in an enviable Inner Richmond location and within walking distance of Golden Gate Park, The DeYoung Museum and Balboa Street shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Signaling the home’s Edwardian heritage are high ceilings, gorgeous wood floors and large rooms. A lightfilled living room with substantial windows overlooks the verdant green of Funston Avenue and Park Presidio. Outstanding period details incorporate a handsome fireplace, builtin shelves, crown molding and deep baseboards.
Perfect for sharing meals and celebrations, the formal dining room harmoniously accommodates happy gatherings.
The Butler Armsden Architectdesigned kitchen embraces a large center island with Verde Borgogna, a rare natural quartzite. The kitchen is stocked with a sixburner Wolf range for serious cooks, Bosch dishwasher, multiple sinks and ample counter space. The cabinets are handconstructed by a local artisan with sustainably harvested wood and nontoxic MDF interiors.
Reclaimed maple flooring from a Midwestern Thomas Edison sewing factory and countertops by Vetrazzo constructed with recycled glass and concrete enhance one of the bestloved functional spaces in the heart of the home. It is complemented by an informal dining area and chef’s office. Share a meal in the kitchen or dine alfresco outdoors on the large wooden deck. A powder room and a fresh formal foyer add to the fantastic flow of the layout of the home.
From the airy foyer, a wide staircase shows the way to the home’s third level, which offers three bedrooms and two full baths starring ecofriendly Vetrazzo countertops. Cherry and Red Oak sustainably harvested wood floors are easy on the eyes and on the environment. The primary suite has a Zenlike sitting area, a walkin closet and an en suite bathroom with a dual sink vanity. On this floor, there are two more spacious bedrooms. A serene sunroom makes a convenient home office. A hidden stacked washer/dryer combo puts the finishing touch on this part of the home.
At pent level, the family room has impressive scale and light, providing for movie nights, yoga classes and your favorite games.
There’s a balcony with views toward the Golden Gate and points north, west, and south. Perfect for sleepovers and family guests, this top floor hosts two additional bedrooms, a split bathroom, and a roof deck with views of Salesforce Tower and downtown San Francisco or Sutro Tower.
There is more living to love at the ground level, which shares interior access and has a private entrance. The first floor is a flexible use space complete with inviting rooms, a wet bar, a bathroom, and a bedroom that opens onto an enclosed patio
connected to the backyard. On either side of the driveway, organic fruit trees and raised vegetable beds capture the soul of the urban gardener. A large storage room, sidebyside washer/dryer and deep sink, utilities and the garage share the ground level with the finished living area.
At the rear of the home is garage parking for one car and gated parking for several more. With access from a private road that runs from Anza Street to Balboa Street between 12th and Funston Avenue, it’s easy to imagine sharing the street with kids’ laughter while learning to ride bikes, throwing baskets from the threepoint zone, kicking soccer goals, and playing hopscotch.
Renovations done by the current homeowners have been completed with conservation and environmentally friendly materials in mind. Insulation on the second and third floors is made from recycled blue jeans with none of the formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals from traditional insulation. Paint throughout the home is Benjamin Moore Aura low VOC paint. Toilets are Toto brand to conserve water. The backyard garden soils and amendments are organic. Roof water drains to a 300gallon tank located at the back of the home nourishing the garden and fruit trees.
Truly oneofakind, this home is very SF. Walkscore 92 — it is a walker’s paradise. Daily errands do not require a car. Bikescore 91. Public transit is within a few blocks. Easy access to Presidio Boulevard, which is a park and a road and flows through a green strip of Highway 1 connecting Golden Gate Park to the Presidio.
Learn more at www.556funstonavenue.com.