Subtle historic restoration and bold reinterpretation have rarely combined on a site as well as they have in an oft-visited district San Francisco. A stone's throw from the Painted Ladies is a Victorian home built in 1889 which draws little attention to itself upon first glance.

A peek around the side, however, and one would note that not only has the façade been lovingly restored, but the back has been completely reimagined for a family with modern tastes. San Francisco-based Jensen Architects were tasked with a radical update for the 19th century home for an adventurous client. The floor plans have been completely reimagined to allow daylight in through the back façade, including a glass-encased elevator which doubly functions as a display for mechanical functions.

Drawing one's attention back to the historic façade, one can see a painstaking renovation carried out through the study of archival photographs, remaining details and the careful removal of less successful methods at restoration. As a means of subtly setting itself apart from the countless other victorian homes in the neighborhood, Jensen Architects chose a subtle yet eye catching shade of metallic silver, which also neatly foreshadows the modern design that lies just behind it, including its steel and aluminum additions.

The staircase lying at the center of the home was envisioned as a nod to the two characters of the home: materially akin to the wooden façade of the front, and minimally detailed to match the design features of the back façade.