A historic 1910 Edwardian home in San Francisco's Cole Valley neighborhood has been transformed from a character-stripped property into a vibrant family residence that perfectly balances century-old charm with modern functionality. Designer Melanie Love, working alongside Perez Construction, took on the challenge of restoring this 100-year-old home that had lost its soul through decades of poorly executed renovations.
The restoration project focused on undoing years of updates that had stripped away the home's original character while creating a more functional layout for contemporary family life. According to Love, previous remodels had left the house lacking cohesion and yearning for better flow. Her brief was to revitalize the property with strategic updates that would make it more suitable for a young family while honoring the home's Edwardian heritage.
Rather than opting for a safe neutral palette, both the designer and her clients chose to embrace rich, saturated colors and bold patterns inspired by classic British design. The clients were particularly drawn to an aesthetic that balanced traditional elements with more modern furnishings, an approach that aligned perfectly with Love's design philosophy. This decision proved crucial in addressing one of the home's main challenges – the lack of natural light in rooms at the center of the house.
The designer thoughtfully selected paint colors and wallpapers specifically to brighten these darker interior spaces and create visual connections to the outdoors. The living room became a showcase for this approach, featuring Benjamin Moore's Van Courtland Blue on the molding and Mauve Mist on the back of built-in shelves. The space was designed to feel like a special moment when guests first enter the house, with a glamorous artisanal glass globe light fixture from Visual Comfort and a formal seating arrangement.
The furniture selections further emphasized the blend of classic and contemporary elements. A custom sofa by Furniture Envy was upholstered in Kravet Smart fabric, while custom swivel armchairs by Kim Salmela featured Pamaro Coral upholstery. These pieces were complemented by a coffee table from Society Social and a rug from Nomad Rugs, creating a cohesive yet dynamic living space.
The kitchen renovation represented one of the most significant improvements to the home's functionality, with changes specifically designed to improve flow for entertaining. Like many San Francisco homes of this era, the original layout presented challenges for modern family life, requiring careful reconfiguration to maximize both space and natural light while maintaining the home's historic character.
Throughout the renovation process, Love and her team worked to create a playful yet cohesive color palette that threads through every space in the home. This approach ensures that while each room has its own personality, the overall design maintains visual continuity that respects the home's Edwardian roots while giving it a fresh, contemporary personality suited for today's lifestyle.
