The Lightening and Brightening of a Dark House
Outside, the house was dark. Inside, it was even darker. Architect Colleen Mahoney described it
as "monastic," with shadowy wood-paneled rooms. While Vincent Price might have left it in tact,
the new owner, a young lawyer, wanted a bright, more contemporary-looking home.
Because the back of the house faced the water from a steep hillside, Mahoney's design team could
double the existing window area in the master bedroom and living room for light and dramatic
views without sacrificing privacy. Two bedrooms were combined into a master suite and a
re-engineered roof allowed that room's ceiling to soar.
Decks are especially welcome for houses with steep back yards. Architect Mahoney further
updated this 1930's hillside residence with a new upper deck added off the master bedroom and
cantilevered so support columns would not obscure the views from lower level rooms. This new
deck also provided an outdoor area with views of downtown San Francisco.
Featured in Remodeling, June 1990 |
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