when i returned to my hometown of berkeley, california after living in a variety of cities over thirty years, i wanted to create a home that represented all of the adventures i shared with my family across the globe. this 1880s farmhouse in southwest berkeley, that was completely renovated and modernized, felt like the perfect canvas.

a wooden staircase leads to the home’s main entrance on the second floor, which includes the living room, dining area and kitchen, the primary bedroom and ensuite bath and another upstairs bedroom and bathroom. a long deck extends off the back of the house and is accessible from sliding glass doors in both the primary bedroom and the kitchen. the downstairs has an office, which doubles as a guest room, a third bathroom and a lounge area with floor to ceiling cabinetry and bookshelves. the third floor is a long, wide library with access to the roof deck that has views of the bay bridge and san francisco.

the exterior of the home is painted a deep charcoal with navy undertones and white trim. cedar siding centers the staircase and the front door. the interior palette includes clean white walls throughout, white oak flooring, cool grays in the tile and blond wood kitchen and bathroom cabinets all punctuated with matte black hardware, lighting fixtures and black steel railings. texture and color pops are brought in with the art pieces, rugs and textiles, giving the home vibrancy and warmth. the fifteen foot ceilings on the main floor give the space an open, gallery-like feel. we had fun playing with art placement, hanging pieces at various, sometimes unexpected heights.