Breathtaking Renaissance Mansion in Pacific Heights, $25M
Author:Philip Ferrato
This elegantly restrained Renaissance Style mansion has some serious design wattage behind it. Originally designed in 1916 by the prominent San Francisco architect George Applegarth as his own home, it underwent a complete, multi-year re-invention undertaken by architect John Maniscalco and interior designer Ken Fulk, led by their visionary client, the tech entrepreneur Nirav Tolia.
George Applegarth was one of the first Bay Area architects to graduate from the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Paris, a training that’s reflected in such grand buildings as the Palace of Fine Arts and the Spreckels Mansion. Here, the spare and simple facade is ornamented by delicate balustrades and Florentine Renaissance loggia reinvented by Applegarth as a wide bay window with a view of the Golden Gate.
There’s an eclectic sweep to the interiors, with a vintage Renaissance Revival ceiling in the living room (original to the house) paired with a new fireplace inspired by one from the 1930’s by the Modernist sculptor Constantin Brancusi; the dining room is upholstered in vintage Fortuny fabric. On the same level, the hub of the home is the kitchen and luxurious family/media room opening to an expansive but hidden garden.
What We Love: Renovated with the highest standards, the house manages to be both an amiable family home and incredibly elegant. Throughout, there’s a remarkable simplicity and clarity that’s not often seen; the rear facade and top floor principal bedroom suite recall the best residential work of William Wurster. There’s also an elevator linking all levels, from the garage to the principal bedroom suite.
More: Go to the listing for a link to a video that tells the story best, plus an overview with floor plans. Offered at $25,000,000, 2775 Vallejo Street is an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind San Francisco property, represented by luxury veterans Malin Giddings and Neal Ward of Compass.
Photo Credit: R. Brad Knipstein