Moving Up on Potrero Hill - Remodelista
Photography by César Rubio. When architect Cary Bernstein’s client moved into a 1900s cottage in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood, he was a bachelor; after his life expanded to include a wife and three young children, the house took the leap as well. Bernstein transformed the cottage into a light-filled modern house. The original Dutch door is still in place (now painted black). The front yard and its curved wooden bench were left untouched during the renovation. Adding a third floor did not require any extraordinary measures, thanks to a solid foundation and strategic choices by Bernstein, who used external steel framing to brace the house. The original ceiling, with its mix of planking in three different sizes, became the inspiration for the new faí§ade. The flooring is reclaimed oak barn siding. The minimalist island is made of walnut butcher block–”We like to design islands as pieces of furniture, rather than looking like wall cabinetry that managed to float away,” says Bernstein. To the left of the front door is a side entry that goes straight into the kitchen; the breakfast nook has a built-in bench for shoes. The stairs are recognizably old-fashioned in shape, but the railing has been reinterpreted with modern steel spindles. The third-floor study off the master bedroom takes you up into the trees. The top-floor deck has a view of the Bay Bridge to the east. Consult the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory, and get inspiration by exploring our vast Photo Gallery sorted by architects, locations, and building styles. The front yard serves as an outdoor dining room. And if you’re thinking about your patio, Hardscaping 101: Brick Patios on Gardenista is a good place to begin.