Digby

With sweeping views of the San Francisco skyline, this house began with an exceptional setting and a meaningful family history. Built by the client’s father, it remained structurally sound, but its dated interiors and awkward layout no longer suited the way the family wanted to live. The renovation built on those strengths, preserving the house’s personal significance while bringing greater openness, flexibility and light to its spaces.

The upper-floor arrangement was flipped to establish a more natural relationship between the kitchen, hallway and dining room. Opening the kitchen to the hall visually expanded both spaces and introduced bar-height seating, providing a casual place to gather and additional seating when entertaining. The hallway became more closely connected to the life of the home, allowing conversation and activity to extend beyond the kitchen itself.

Concealed pocket doors give this openness a useful degree of control. When tucked into the walls, they allow the kitchen, hall and dining room to function together; when closed, they provide separation without permanently dividing the plan. This flexibility supports both informal daily use and larger gatherings.

New decks extend the living spaces outdoors and make more of the skyline views, while a redesigned entry gives the house a more welcoming arrival. Carefully positioned skylights introduce daylight from above, complementing the changes to the plan. Together, these interventions renew a family-built home, preserving its continuity while adapting it for future generations.