San francisco penthouse: crown molding reveals a building's hidden history
A meticulously restored San Francisco penthouse, boasting a riot of color and Art Deco charm, owes its distinctive character to a surprising construction quirk – a cake decorator’s surprising intervention in 1929.
A baker’s legacy: the gingerbread of the mission district
What began as a quest for historical soul and authentic details led Lauren Smiley and Harshal Ingol to a 1929 condo in San Francisco’s Mission District. The original builders, facing a shortage of skilled crown molders during the Bay Area’s building boom, enlisted a cake decorator to translate their icing expertise into intricate trim and molding throughout the Edwardian-style space – a truly remarkable testament to ingenuity.
Color as a declaration
Far from the ubiquitous white walls that dominate contemporary San Francisco, this home explodes with a carefully curated palette. Designer Leah Ring of Another Human masterfully layered magenta, Tiffany blue, apricot, and chartreuse, transforming the residence into a bold statement against the city’s prevailing aesthetic. Initially, the homeowners sought a place brimming with history, a desire that quickly led them to embrace a more expressive design approach – a rebellion against the ‘safe’ spaces of the 2010s.
A decade of rebellion
“We’d been renting for 10 years and were specifically looking for a place that still had history and soul,” says Smiley. “When we walked into this house, we knew right away it was special. Contractors later told us, ‘If you don’t have stuff like this already in your house, you’re not going to get anything like it.’ It’s too cost-prohibitive these days.”
More than just a residence
The project, overseen by Geothersun, Inc., involved meticulous restoration alongside modern updates, including a custom ceiling mural by Nicole Hayden, a striking reimagining of the original space. From the octagonal Tabarka tile in the breakfast nook to the vibrant zellige tile in the bathroom, every detail speaks to the home’s rich past. Ring’s team painstakingly sourced vintage finds – a French Art Deco chair, a Murano glass chandelier – weaving them seamlessly into the contemporary design.
A symphony of color and texture
“We’ve never rendered more color options for a client before,” says Ring. “Even though the home is in the busy Mission District, it feels like an escape from the city.” The resulting space, a collision of vintage elegance and bold hues, is a testament to the couple’s discerning taste – and a compelling reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected details can create the most enduring memories.