Diane Dorrans Saeks wrote that San Francisco is a "free thinking college student who fled to France to study life, literature, art and architecture, returned with a head full of European history" and settled in California. Though much is of European inspiration (it is the "Paris of the West," after all), San Francisco's signature style is as rich, unique and detailed as one of its famous Painted Ladies.
History & Architecture: From Beaux Arts to Bay Area
While the Gold Rush brought the people and the port brought the industry, Europe influenced the style of San Francisco during the 19th and early 20th centuries. After the earthquake of 1906, the city was quick to rebuild and show a beautiful, Beaux Arts face for the Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1915. Though the Parisian influence is still apparent throughout the city (such as the California Palace of the Legion of Honor), a more native style was on the horizon.
During the early half of the 20th century, California-born architect William Wurster pioneered the use of indigenous materials and simplistic design that became the prototype for the ranch-style home across America. Wurster's name became synonymous with Bay Area architecture, designing hundreds of homes that are still beautiful today. This Wurster 2 bedroom in The Castro sold in March 2010 for $300,000 over asking.
Modern Style: Relaxed, Colorful, Natural
To discover the design style of modern San Franciscans, you need not look any further than our House Tours (follow the caption links above to tour the whole home). There's an absence of pretension, that relaxed California vibe flows through the decor, inviting you to sit and put your feet up. There's a sense of play in color choices, whether bright primaries or muted palettes. And across all neighborhoods and home styles, San Franciscans focus on the natural elements of light and air, either bringing them in or focusing the attention out.
For our favorite places to shop like a San Franciscan, check out our City Guide:
• The Best of San Francisco: City Guide | Apartment Therapy Marketplace
Images: 1. Flickr user fototastisch licensed by Creative Commons; 2. Palace of the Legion of Honor, Wikimedia Commons; 3. San Francisco Gate; 4-8. Apartment Therapy, as linked above.
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Ahhhh I left my <3 in San Francisco!
Those emoticons for hearts always look like boobs to me.
I didn't know it was known as Paris of the West. I thought it was Baghdad by the Bay!
Paris of the West? Maybe New orleans
my childhood home. trying to make my way back there...
saraalana.wordpress.com
oh and one of my best friends just got engaged at the park in front of those iconic homes in the first picture. Her now-fiance had photographer taking pictures in the distance. They were awesome!
saraalana.wordpress.com
SF would be my first choice for a city to live in, if my H were ok with it.
i've missed sf every day since i unwillingly left it 14+ years ago :(
I think I saw Uncle Jesse in that first shot!
Home, sweet home!
@sara alana- My (step)-cousin was proposed to in front of the golden gate bridge. I wonder if we know the same person. I can't remember if those houses were in the pictures. Weird!
@alyssasteffes --
Those houses - The "Painted Ladies" - are on Alamo Square, which is nowhere near the Golden Gate Bridge.
...tho I just realized that I can see my apartment building in this photo - it's the round highrise directly above the first peaked roof on the left.
I think San Francisco has some beautiful areas, especially in September and October. That is really interesting about William Wurster.
One day, fingers crossed, if all goes well, I might be able to be featured in an SF house tour. Sigh... my dream city!
My beautiful, beloved hometown :)
I came to Los Angeles after growing up next to San Francisco and thought to myself, "God this place is ugly"
Growing up, victorians=San Francisco to me.
My adult dreamhouse is a fully detached Rousseau style home with large center patio. I also wouldn't mind a tunnel entrance to gain a bit more indoor/outdoor space that's not part of a yard.
My oldest was dead set on getting the heck out of the Bay Area for college. She's been away a year and can't wait to move back to the Bay, this time to the City.
This is such a beautiful city. And I do have the Full House theme song playing in my head after that first shot. My only issue with this city is that I get so nervous driving over large bridges.
If you talk to people visiting from Asian or European countries while in San Francisco, you will find that much of the world does compare the romance, beauty and urban-ness of SF to Paris. Trust me, I was a tour guide for a couple of years and that was a very common topic with my guests.
Baghdad by the Bay is a locally used description by the people who live here.
New Orleans has an entirely different feel altogether and does not remind me of Paris. I'm not saying that in a bad way.
I love living here and working here. Moved last year from Connecticut and this is a great place to spend my young adult years!
Everyday I am grateful to be here and to be able to afford it. Viva la SF!