Instant Attraction
A stunning modern penthouse overlooking San Francisco Bay features a tasteful mix of art
When American interior designer Alison Pickart chanced upon a remarkable moonstone-andgold firescreen in an auction catalogue, she never thought this serendipitous find would guide her artistic direction for a particularly memorable project—one that involved refurbishing a 1930s penthouse apartment located in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighbourhood.
Its owners had envisioned a warm and inviting space that would highlight their contemporary art collection while also framing the surrounding views of the bay. This would entail a reconfiguration of the apartment’s original layout, which comprised a constrictive number of smaller rooms with heavy architectural millwork and small doorways.
They engaged the services of architecture firm Sutro Architects, which led to a collaborative partnership between the interior designer and architects Stephen Sutro and Karen Moy. Together, they had to decide on an overarching concept that would suit a space for socialising and entertaining, as well as one befitting of the owners’ reputations as art lovers passionately involved in the city’s arts and cultural scene.
“Stephen was very interested in how light was cast in the apartment as well as how the rooms were defined. The architect worked out the schematic design of the space so that the entire front of the unit could be opened up,” says Pickart. “Because the clients were used to more traditional spaces, we offered a design we considered to be warm and modern. Using a mix of subtle metallic tones, wood and a neutral palette that was heavy on texture and yet not too severe, we were able to create this soft answer to the crisp, modern lines that were architecturally necessary.”
MOVABLE SPACES
The team rerouted the unit’s utility network to open up the front half of the apartment into an airy, light-filled space for entertaining, as well as ensure unblocked views of the city from the living room. This allowed space for the couple’s modern art collection, an important factor that influenced the look of their home.
Pickart’s discovery of the firescreen— designed by Paris-based artist and designer Christophe Côme—was an unexpected game changer that shifted part of the focus from the art. According to her, the clients instantly fell in love with it, and this acquisition sparked a search for furniture with truly unique design elements.
“This was really the piece that drove the direction for the furnishings throughout the home. It was clear that every piece of furniture that would be selected for this space would need to have an elevated form—everything was to be unique and bespoke and, essentially, a piece of art,” she says.
From cream Koumac armchairs with sleek brass bases by French architect and designer Thierry Lemaire to a custom cocktail table by Damian Jones that features polished brass slats, details were tastefully added to magnify the overall visual impact without overwhelming the eye.
Instead of drawing attention away from the owners’ art collection—an expressive curation of paintings by American artists Gregory Kondos and Doug Schneider, as well as Spanish painter Manel Anoro—the furnishings offer a soothing backdrop to these vivid works. The varying elements in the living room are anchored by a goatskin parchment and brass sideboard from Scala Luxury between the living and dining areas.
SOCIAL PLANS
This open-plan concept includes the living area as well as the culinary zone. A stylish space for dining revolves around a regal Bangle table from Hudson Furniture. Above the table is a bespoke Coup Studio glass crystal chandelier, which reflects light streaming in from a large window overlooking the bay.
In the kitchen, the eye is drawn to an island with a marble countertop, paired with leather stools by American designer Kelly Wearstler. The room exudes the same welcoming atmosphere, as vertical blonde wood panels installed throughout the apartment add warmth to the overall palette of cream and bronze.
More statement furniture grace the lounge room. Here, a pair of dusty pink lounge chairs, a velvet-and-linen sofa from Dmitriy & Co, and an alpaca shag rug form a homely retreat. Together with a leatherwrapped writing desk from Joseph Jeup and a murphy bed hidden in a wall panel, the lounge also doubles as a guest bedroom.
Similarly, the master bedroom is a picture of calm and relaxation. Soft cream and pink tones are punctuated by brass pendant lamps on both sides of the bed, while Paul Balmer landscape paintings bring a sense of vibrancy via orange and green tones.
The project was smoothly completed in 18 months, much to the delight of the owners. “The clients were really hands-on during the design and selection phase, but once it came to the execution, they just backed away and let us do our thing,” recalls Pickart. “They checked in at the midway point and were surprised at how smoothly everything was going.”
She adds: “It was incredible working with Karen Moy, the studio leader and project architect at Sutro. There were so many parts of the design that required infinitesimally accurate detailing and attention. She also grasped the importance of the furniture layout and the architectural elements required to make the whole plan work.”
The modern lines of the interior are softened by a subtle mix of metallic tones, wood and a textured, neutral palette