Walk Through This Stunning Hayes Valley Victorian Revival

By Michael McCarthy By Michael McCarthy | April 15, 2024 | Home & Real Estate, Feature,

A gorgeous and historic Victorian undergoes a complete renovation in Hayes Valley.

The living room features two gorgeous couches from Randolph & Hein and Kimberly Denman.

THE PROJECT

Fans of Victorian homes get it. They understand the nuances of caring for these old beauties and are usually up for the challenge. A young Hayes Valley family told their realtor to let them know immediately if any homes popped up in a two-block section of Page Street—close to their kids’ school and the couple’s favorite restaurants and cafes. They landed a 4,350-square-foot beauty. The only problem? The historic property required a complete renovation, including excavating a new ground-level in-law unit and home office.

THE TEAM

For the architectural master plan, the couple selected Denise Hall Montgomery Architecture (dhmarchitecture.com) to oversee the remodeling of the entire home. “I’m a modernist at heart, so design for a historic home is an exciting challenge,” says Montgomery. “When working on historic properties, we try to be mindful to balance the old with the new to create a harmonious space. We look to the proportions of the spaces and historic detailing to inform our modern alterations.”

The couple tapped Lane McNab of Oakland-based Lane McNab Interiors (landmcnab.com) to tackle the home’s interiors. “Selecting furnishings and marrying the old and new was challenging because we wanted to honor the original architecture but also keep it fresh and updated,” she says. “We also wanted to take inspiration from the design Denise was doing to incorporate a more modern style.”

Walker Zanger tile lines the kitchen, with counters
from Caesarstone. PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRISTOPHER STARK
Walker Zanger tile lines the kitchen, with counters from Caesarstone.

THE GOALS

“The owners appreciated the special history of the house. It was important to them to preserve and showcase certain features of the home, including the largely intact plaster detailing and ceiling rosettes, the grand staircase and the classic Victorian exterior,” says Montgomery, adding that her team strategically created new openings and connections between spaces for a more open, light and updated feel to the floor plan without compromising the historic character.

In addition to creating new spaces (bathrooms, powder room, in-law suite, among others), Montgomery oversaw the installation of new walnut flooring and a gas fireplace. Her team also restored and reconfigured the stairs, rewired light fixtures and restored doors.

“The home suffered from an abundance of deferred maintenance, but the classic Victorian exterior, 13-foot ceilings and interior architectural detail made the house—even in its tired state—a rare gem,” says Montgomery.

THE CHALLENGES

“The challenge for a modern designer with all Victorian houses built during this era is how to bring light into the space and connect rooms without losing the integrity of the historic detailing and room proportions,” says Montgomery.

The architect increased the size of the great room’s openings and created an opening to the kitchen. “Wide openings to the entry hall were centered on the fireplaces to respond to the room’s formality—and to allow borrowed light from the entry to wash space,” she says.

LIVING AND DINING ROOMS

With revered and historic finishes nearly everywhere, McNab added aesthetic flair with a curated selection of furnishings in these two areas that serve dual roles for casual family moments and entertaining. Standout living room pieces include an Odila sofa from Randolph & Hein (randolphhein.com), a Gratitude sofa from Kimberly Denman (kimberlydenman.com), custom swivel chairs by McNab’s team, a floor lamp from Phoenix Day (phoenixday.com) and side tables from Corbin Bronze (corbinbronze.com). A custom rug from McNab lines the room.

In addition to a fully restored original pendant, the dining room features Harris chairs from Quintus (quintushome.com), a Sophia bench from De Sousa Hughes (desousahughes.com) and a rug from Tania Johnson Design (taniajohnsondesign.com).

Original details of the Victorian remain throughout the home.

KITCHEN AND FAMILY ROOM

These familial hubs—where everything from game nights to homework takes place—maintain the glam factor of a Victorian while celebrating modern touches. Selected pieces also stand up to the rigors of a young family. In the family room, McNab added a cocktail table from Stephen Antonson (stephenantonson.com), a Globeau pouf from Natasha Baradaran (natashabaradaran.com), a vista lounge chair and an ottoman from Atelier Purcell (atelierpurcell.com) and a custom sectional created by McNab.

The kitchen serves as the home’s epicenter with stunning tile from Walker Zanger (walkerzanger.com), counters from Caesarstone (caesarstoneus.com) and appliances from Wolf-SubZero (wolf-subzero.com).

The home seamlessly
blends indoor and outdoor
spaces PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRISTOPHER STARK
The primary suite features a Gillian dresser from Hellman-Chang and a headboard and nightstands designed by Lane McNab.

PRIMARY SUITE

A Victorian without a sanctuary is an injustice to romance, so McNab and her team layered the room with exquisite pieces. The suite includes a buffet from Randolph & Hein, a Gillian dresser from Hellman-Chang (hellman-chang.com) and Kanu nightstands and headboard designed by McNab. An adjoining bath beckons with a tub by Victoria & Albert (vandabaths.com).

The Victorian’s exterior. PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRISTOPHER STARK
The home seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces.

HOW THE HOME IS LIVING

Montgomery says the couple, longtime San Franciscans, is committed to raising their family in this beautiful city. “This was their forever home, and they are incredibly happy,” she says.

The primary suite features a Gillian dresser from Hellman-Chang and a headboard and nightstands designed by Lane McNab. PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRISTOPHER STARK
The Victorian’s exterior