Interior designer Eva Bradley drew inspiration from her time in San Francisco when designing a 1914 Edwardian home on California Street. The house, just under 2,870 square feet, is located in the city’s coveted Lake District.
Eva shares her affection for the area, saying “I still love these streets” and appreciating “the architecture, the light, and the way each block carries its own history.”
The owners, a young couple with a dog, wanted to capture the warmth and hospitality of their favorite hotels in their home. They sought a primary suite and kitchen that would provide a calm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for entertaining or quiet nights in. At the top of their wish list was a primary suite designed to comfortably accommodate two and a kitchen that functioned as beautifully as it looked.
Eva explains that “the original bathroom and closet were small and the flow didn’t work, so we reworked the floorplan to give them a true retreat.” The couple had fallen in love with the home’s Edwardian details, so honoring its architecture was a priority. Eva believes that “a home’s history and character are what make it special,” and the goal was to let those original details shine while making the house work for the way they live today.
The renovation of the primary suite and kitchen eventually evolved into a whole-house transformation. Eva shares that “we took the walls down to the studs and reworked the floorplan to suit a modern way of living, while preserving the classic and historical details that drew the couple to the house, like the grand arch and the large sunroom.” Custom built-ins provide much-needed storage while complementing the home‘s original character.
The design and preconstruction process took about eight months, followed by a year of construction. Eva credits the success of the project to “a great team on the ground, with architect Aaron Lim and general contractor Conor McMahon, and a client who trusted the process from start to finish.” They worked together to achieve the desired outcome.
For the homeowners, the transformation is about more than aesthetics. Eva says that “they love how the spaces now flow together and how the new layout has changed the way they live day to day,” and that “the home has a different energy now, and they feel it every time they walk in.” The couple’s love of hospitality is reflected in the warm and inviting atmosphere of their home.
