Wildest Dreams

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After a tree fell and destroyed their home, Sabah Mansoor Design helped an Atherton family create a beautiful new story

The entry’s Novak Table was discovered at Made Goods. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

When a tree fell through their home during a particularly violent storm, the Atherton family was understandably traumatized. “This was their forever home, the place they’d planned to stay in for good, and suddenly they were standing in the middle of a disaster with no idea how to move forward,” explains Sabah Mansoor, the elegant principal of her eponymous Northern California-based firm. “We stepped in as the architectural designer on the project and from the very first conversation, my goal was to change the story they were telling themselves about what happened.”


The formal living room’s curved sofa was created by Safah Mansoor Design as were the swivel barrel chairs, which are covered in a Natasha Baradaran fabric. The coffee table is from Bernhardt. The draperies were created from Holland & Sherry fabric. The custom rug is from Safar Rugs. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

“My approach starts with atmosphere before objects,” Mansoor says. “I think about how a room should feel before I think about what should go in it.” That philosophy is rooted in her heritage. “I grew up around South Indian color and craft, the kind of richness that isn’t afraid of itself.” Jewel notes used with restraint, natural materials with real history and hand-crafted pieces whose beauty compounds with age are at the heart of her work. “At the same time, there’s a California ease—I want luxury that feels lived-in and comfortable.” And she’s relentless about the details. “The weight of a doorknob, the way a doorway frames a room, because those are the things your body registers before your eye does.” 


The dining room’s table is from Caracole. It’s surrounded by dining chairs from Bernhardt. The walls are covered in a wallpaper found at Philip Jeffries. The drapery and Roman shades were discovered at Holland & Sherry. The custom rug is from Safar Rugs.
Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

Here, the objective was to build the family a home they’d always dreamed of—turning what had been a catastrophe into the opportunity to create their future out of what they lost. “The inspiration was rooted in the concept of modern heritage, marrying old-world craftsmanship with contemporary luxury,” she notes. They envisioned a design direction defined by timeless elegance and rich, classic details rooted in tradition that felt effortlessly warm and welcoming. Clean, streamlined shapes mingle with artisanal details and high-end finishes. 

Note the kitchen’s triple-beveled edge, created by one of Saban Mansoor Design’s coteries of craftspeople. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.
The kitchen’s dining nook features a custom banquette designed by Sabah Mansoor Design that is covered in Chase Erwin leather The swivel chairs were found at Coley Home. The pillows were created from fabrics discovered at Peter Dunham and Rebecca Atwood. The Roman shades are from Larsen. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

The structure is anchored by a reimagined kitchen and great room. “The original layout worked against the family,” she recalls. “It had a peninsula with an awkward, cramped breakfast area tucked behind a bar-height counter that visually chopped the space in two.” The new plan reorients the entire room around a single large island, opening up the space and allowing the kitchen, great room and a generous six-person breakfast area to read as one connected and light-filled space. That’s confirmed by the ceiling’s generous height. “We removed the soffits,” Mansoor notes, a move that instantly introduced a feeling of expansiveness. Capturing an underused breezeway offered room for a laundry, a pantry and storage. “These are the kinds of everyday, functional needs that make a busy household actually work,” Mansoor points out. 

Wallpaper from Weitzner Fabric covers the powder room’s walls. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

Rethinking the floor plan did more than modernize the residence. It profoundly altered how the home felt. “It turned three disconnected zones into a single, sociable space that is truly the heart of the home,” Mansoor says. “A few of my absolute favorite features are the stone island, with its triple-beveled edge, the hand-carved Calacatta Viola marble fireplace and the elegant wainscoting that carries up the staircase.” These details required mathematical precision and extensive collaboration with the firm’s coterie of master millworkers and stone artisans. They’re also the subtle elements that underline the sense of luxury that permeates these rooms. 

The primary bedroom’s bed is from Caracole is flanked by a pair of nightstands also found at Caracole. The Roman shades are from Schumacher. The pillows are from Schumacher and Ellisha Alexina. A custom rug from Safar Rugs covers the floor.
Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.
Shades created from Schumacher fabric add warmth in the primary bathroom. Photos by R. Brad Knipstein.

“I’ll never forget the clients’ reaction,” Mansoor proclaims. “They kept saying over and over that couldn’t believe this was their home. They had never imagined getting to live somewhere that felt this glamorous.” That’s precisely what draws her to this work. “This was uncharted territory for them, born out of an experience they hadn’t chosen. We didn’t just repair what the storm took, we gave them a home that was well beyond their wildest dreams of what they thought was possible.”