Tickled Pink

Author:

In this historic San Francisco home, Elena Calabrese Studio proves neutral rooms are not here to stay

In the dining room a blend of deep navy Phillip Jeffries and Farrow & Ball paint set a moody tone. The table is by Maiden Home, the dining chairs are custom and the chandelier is by Visual Comfort. Photos by Mario Serafino, styled by Shawn Forbes.

When purchasing this 100-year-old Edwardian home in San Francisco, this family of four appreciated the historic charm but were not in love with the continuous coat of white paint. “Our clients like fun, a little glam and 1970s chic style, so it was easy to make this one good,” remarks Elena Calabrese, who was hired to breathe new life into the main rooms.

The living room features vintage chairs covered in a leopard fabric by Kravet. The paint is by Benjamin Moore, the rug is from Armadillo and the sofa is custom. Photos by Mario Serafino, styled by Shawn Forbes.
The custom bar features a pendant from Worlds Away. Photos by Mario Serafino, styled by Shawn Forbes.

She and her team instantly thought of wrapping the main rooms in warm shades of pinks and moody blues to set the dramatic tone for the transformation. “We also looked to vintage key pieces to really give the home some soul. Our Hollywood regency arm chairs were found and reupholstered in the perfect leopard,” she notes. “Adding pops of black and brass along with antique mirror at the bar really grounded the space and hit the 1970s-theme home.”

In the kitchen, a black and white checkerboard marble floor sets the playful tone. The chandelier is by Visual Comfort.
Photos by Mario Serafino, styled by Shawn Forbes.

The homeowners relocated from Marin to the city to be close to their best friends and to set the stage for an empty nest for the mom, being all three kids were about to leave for the next phase of life. “While it is their primary home, having older children and preparing for being an empty nester, she wanted to make it fun and sexy—preparing for being a grown up again,” she remarks.

The kitchen range is by Blue Star. Photos by Mario Serafino, styled by Shawn Forbes.
A custom banquette is covered in fabric by York. The table is custom.
Photos by Mario Serafino, styled by Shawn Forbes.

Aside from infusing each room with more personality, they main goal was to create a more modern kitchen with an improved layout. “The original kitchen had a weird layout and lacked storage,” Calabrese recalls. “We had to move a small wall to capture more space for pantry storage and create a small banquette for seating for two. It was important to create a breakfast nook so the dining room was no longer their primary spot for meals.” They worked closely with North Gate Builders to achieve the much-needed overhaul.

A powder room features Thibaut wallpaper and a sconce from Visual Comfort.
Photos by Mario Serafino, styled by Shawn Forbes.

When asked how the family felt about their new, vibrant city abode, Calabrese noted, “What I love about these clients is that if you just view the space you may think that a single woman lives there, in actuality its just one mom and three boys! I love that the boys are super open and into the pink. They love it.”