San Francisco Idea House
This unusual home in San Francisco is packed with ideas for living in style while being earth-friendly, too.
Click ahead for views of the interior spaces, including a contemporary courtyard complete with outdoor kitchen and vertical garden.
Rising three floors on a 50- by 75-foot corner lot the contemporary house incorporates colors that blend with the neighborhood's more traditional homes.
In the main house the living and dining areas and the kitchen are on the top floor to make the most of sunlight and city views.
Outdoor Connection
Glass doors open to the deck. The cabinets and countertop along an entertainment bar mirror the kitchen connecting the two areas while serving different needs.
On the deck green Kite chairs from Design Within Reach echo the kitchen island's color.
Eco-conscious kitchen
Smooth slim concrete counters from Concreteworks along the kitchen's perimeter contrast with a thick concrete slab on the island which gets its texture and golden flecks of color from recycled rice hulls. Energy Star rated appliances by GE.
San Francisco Idea House
A single open room contains the apartment's kitchen and living area. Reclaimed-wood Carlisle floors lend casual comfort and a counter-height table doubles as a work and dining surface.
Floating fixture
Glass globes from a third-floor chandelier hang over the stairwell catching the light and dividing the dining and family areas. Chandelier by Eurofase.
Sweet and streamlined
Instead of a pink canopy bed this girl's room features sleek modern elements that can easily transition to teenage tastes. Linens by Design Public.
Sliding door
A small bathroom with a shower enclosed in green glass tiles is tucked behind a barn door made of FSC-certified Santa Maria wood. The circular door hardware matches the steel stair rail.
Surprising shared shelving
Three built-in shelves serve the bedroom wall and the entry on the opposite side. Lumicor resin panels containing recycled materials let in natural light.
The wall art is a digital image transferred onto fabric then stretched into place with a tiny metal frame. Wall covering by Planet Profile (www.planetprofil.com).
Artful stairs
Rings of scrap steel pipe and tubing welded together by Bay Area craftsman Philip Tiffin form an eye-catching stair rail in the apartment unit.
Disappearing wall
Bordering the pool at the rear of the first floor a set of glass doors folds open for a seamless transition between indoors and out. Bifold doors by JELD-WEN.
Define outdoor spaces
Salvaged fencing
Idea to steal: Plant vertically
Get more from a small garden by going up. This planting tower captures rainfall and dew and creates a bed for succulents and strawberries.
