This Pacific Heights Home Showcases an Unexpected Nod to Nantucket
When Tracy and Cameron Falconer tapped ABD Studio designer Brittany Haines to spearhead the renovation of their three-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood, they had one request: “Make it feel like Nantucket, but on the West Coast.”
The couple had purchased the historic house—built in the 1880s by Welsh immigrant William F. Lewis, who commissioned the first five homes on the street—in 2002. They were initially attracted to the home’s “distinguishable elegant Federal architectural features, like the asymmetrically placed windows throughout and small vertical windows flanking the front door, similar to many Nantucket homes,” Haines says. They remodeled the property in 2006, restoring many of its original features. But more than a decade later, it was well overdue for another revamp.
“When I first saw the house, I thought, “How am I going to make this any better?” Haines recalls. The family wanted to capture the charm of the quaint New England town where they would spend every summer. Coincidentally, Haines had grown up summering in Nantucket, too—making her the perfect person for the job.
From the beginning, Tracy Falconer wanted to be highly involved in the design process and aimed for a home that felt modern and comfortable, with a touch of bohemian. She and Haines quickly became friends while working on the project and would often take breaks from their meetings to cook and enjoy a meal together.
“As a designer, my favorite sources of inspiration are the individuals for which we are designing the home,” Haines notes. “Sometimes you have clients that don’t know how or don’t have the time to collaborate, but it’s unique and fun when you have ones that do.”
Living Room
As much as the Falconers wanted to modernize, there were elements they valued preserving. Green wallpaper was replaced with white paint and picture molding in the living room, while the wood-burning fireplace—rare for San Francisco—received a cosmetic update with a gorgeous honed marble mantel. Rug: Marc Phillips. Sofa: Restoration Hardware. Lounge Chairs: Vintage Arne Norell, c. 1970s. Bench: Nicky Kehoe.
Kitchen
The moody kitchen is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Narragansett Green and faces a Victorian-esque breakfast nook. Counter Stools: Thomas Hayes. Chandelier: De La Espada. Faucet: Waterworks.
Breakfast Room
The beautiful dining chairs were hand-carved by second-generation Windsor chair maker, George Sawyer, out of Woodbury, Vermont. Dining Table: Antique French 19th Century Oak Farm Table. Dining Chairs and Bench: Sawyer Made. Fireplace Tools: Nickey Kehoe. Art on Fireplace: Antique 19th c. Portrait Painting of a Handsome Gentleman, oil on canvas.
Primary Bedroom
A photograph of Nantucket by Daniel Sutherland anchors the primary bedroom, which features a muted and tranquil color palette. Wallpaper: Phillip Jeffries. Bed: Amber Interiors. Bedside Sconces: Fermoie. Armchair: Vintage Guillerme et Chambron, c. 1950s.
Family Room
The family room came to life with rich wooden custom built-ins that act as sophisticated storage and embody the home’s 19th century roots. Rug: Merida. Sofa: Restoration Hardware. Coffee Table: Nickey Kehoe. Wall Sconces: Apparatus Studio. Media Cabinet / Bookcase: Custom designed by ABD STUDIO, Fabricated by Dana Rath.
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Flex Room
The downstairs flex space was given a mature makeover for the kids. Sofa: Ligne Roset. Coffee Table: Nickey Kehoe. Rug: Stark Carpet.
Girls' Bedroom
The girls' bedroom is suitable for teens, yet still blends with the style of the rest of the home. Bed: Vintage. Bedside Tables: Vintage. Bedside Lamps: Victoria Morris. Armoire: Vintage. Daybed: Custom designed by ABD STUDIO, Fabricated by Andrew Woodside Carter. Art at Daybed: “Joshua Tree 10” by Photographer Amy Neunsinger.
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