apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

That's different. I like the interior (although for me the windows would *have* to be covered for privacy) and I like the exterior.

Even the outside-the-box thinking.

But I have to wonder - why buy Victorian if you like modern?

That's not a put-down, I'm just curious.

Why not? I love the juxtaposition, and I don't think the interiors look funny. But then, I never understand the dilemma of "how do we decorate a Victorian with modern?".

"why buy Victorian if you like modern?"

because adaptive reuse is one of the most sustainable ways to create a home. because sometimes you want to be in a certain neighborhood, but there are no empty lots to build a modern masterpiece. because getting a modern house's elevations past the local design review board can be an utter pain. because too much modern can be...too much. balancing it in an older abode feels wonderful.

personally, i go for the last reason. i love the mix of old and new.

great house...wish i could live there!

:)

Lindsey--totally agree. It's the same feeling as mixing a vintage dress with new shoes. It's, well, style.

because sometimes that's all that's available in the area you want to buy.

Beautiful home, inside and out. I love that sort of period juxtaposition!

According to the article, that house had been through a lot of interior alterations and carving-up, so there wasn't necessarily any original detail to save. At that point, starting over with whatever interior you want makes a certain amount of sense.

If you want to live in a single-family home in the urban core of San Francisco, your choices are Victorian, more Victorian, and 1920s that looks Victorian to casual observers. Sure, you get 1920s houses in the Marina and the more modernist white cliffs of Doelger out the avenues -- but you're into a much different texture of neighborhood then. And you'd still be doing major, major kitchen and bath rehab to get a house that looks the way modernism looks today.

You see mod and pomo in newer condo developments, but San Francisco is like Paris -- we have a clear idea of what a house should look like, and we stick to it. This is a city where virtually everyone with a 1-BR or jr 1-BR apartment built before 1940 has one of only two floor plans -- you can visit your friends and find your way around their homes blindfold.

There are some original "modern" homes in SF (mine is one)but not many on this side of twin peaks. The victorian era core of this house would have had to be completely refabricated (just to bring it up to code) and that is very expensive and not necessarily a layout that works well with modern lifestyles. The only part of most of these era homes that can be preserved is the facade and it looks like they took good care of that. I give this 5 stars ;-)

*develops a burning desire to see James' modern house*

If you've been house-toured here and I missed it, please ante up the link! :-) (Otherwise, I'm probably shamelessly hinting for invitations next time I get to the city... which is incredibly tacky of me...)

wende,

here's the house tour:

http://sanfrancisco.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/112106/house-tours/house-tour-jim-jeffs-exuberant-postwar-american-modern-home-015004

Thank you! Much enjoyment!

Ah man, this isn't that far from my old apartment. Homesick, homesick, homesick!!!

This is like an old woman with a too tight face-lift. Unnatural.

I would love to live in a place like this! It is my ideal SF home!