The Alchemy of Home

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JKA Design creates the ideal stage for a couple’s next chapter of their lives

The living room boasts a custom tufted sofa designed by JKA and fabricated by HB Custom Furniture (formerly Hildebrand). The fabric is a charcoal mohair with hints of deep green, the cream-colored chairs are by Gio Ponti. Photos by Aaron Leitz.

The clients had been living in Inner Richmond but after their children departed for college and first careers, they decided to downsize—ready to experience the excitement of a more urban lifestyle. What they discovered is a three-bedroom condo in a Beaux Arts building in San Francisco’s Lower Nob Hill neighborhood that was ideally located, putting them within walking distance of all the city has to offer. They called in JKA Design to make it perfect. “We loved the timeless, classical enveloped of the building with its intricate crown moldings, its cornices, its high ceilings, its paneling and hardwood flooring,” says John K. Anderson, the firm’s owner and principal designer. “By layering in contemporary, vintage and antiques, we were able to create a dynamic, beautiful dialogue between the original, architectural details and our clients’ needs and aesthetic leanings.”

The wood-clad dining room features a custom dining table, the mid-century Rosewood dining chairs are from Denmark. The custom rug is from Safar Rugs. Photos by Aaron Leitz.

Fortunately, the layout of the home—with its stunning details and well-proportioned, spacious rooms—didn’t need work. “Instead, we focused on the choosing furnishings and accessories that make amplify its flow, balance and beauty,” Anderson shares. The firm is known for their knack of mixing vintage and custom pieces to create inviting spaces that exude depth and soul. “We believe that home is a kind of alchemy, where past and present come together, enabling people to find the deepest version of themselves.” Here the team focused on European mid-century vintage designs, by both well-known and undiscovered makers, balancing their depth with custom pieces that further imbue the home with elegance and character. “Our clients also had a few heirloom pieces that contribute to the home’s understated, richly textured and compelling vibe.” 

Photos by Aaron Leitz.
Photos by Aaron Leitz.

The dining room, with its original honey-toned wood-paneling and double crown molding, is among the home’s most striking features. “The burnished warmth of its pre-war details is the ideal counterpoint to the modern brass and mirror built-in bar, the custom ombre silk and wool rug, with its subtle stripes and the bespoke white oak and claro walnut dining table.” Møller Model 80 rosewood chairs, and an Art Deco light, both sourced from 1st Dibs, confirm its beguiling atmosphere. “The clients are thrilled. It sets the stage for the next, thrilling chapter of their lives.”