Inside a Transformed Early-20th-Century Residence in San Francisco

May 20, 2025

Nearly a century after its design and construction, this 9,390-square-foot, eight-bedroom residence has been comprehensively updated, adding soigné contemporary style to elegant classical elements

Early in the 20th century, Scottish-born Thomas Paterson Ross—the eccentric and prolific architect who designed the eye-catching Sing Fat and Sing Chong buildings in San Francisco’s Chinatown—took on a commission from a wealthy widow to design a Tudor Revival residence in Pacific Heights. Nearly a century later, a new owner undertook a painstaking renovation with the intention of honoring the building’s period aesthetics while imbuing each of the five levels with the utmost in contemporary comforts and conveniences. Fast forward to 2025, and the comprehensive transformation has been taken a step further, with the home serving as the setting for the work of 19 interior designers participating in the city’s decorator showhouse.

San Francisco, California | Neill Bassi, Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage

The 9,390-square-foot home offers a host of refined living and entertaining spaces, including a regal living room with handsome wood paneling, a gas fireplace with a classic mantel, a wall of French windows and doors, and a balcony overlooking the backyard garden. A level above is a formal dining room crowned by a dramatic ceiling and filled with gentle natural light. Two discreet powder rooms and a striking wet bar with a backlit stone wall facilitate sophisticated soirees.

The heart of the home is a great room comprising an inviting kitchen with a professional-caliber range, a lengthy stone-wrapped island, a bar with wine storage, a coffee station, and a walk-in pantry; a dining area; and an airy family room with a gas fireplace and a view that sweeps across the rooftops, glimpsing the bay in the distance. A spacious lounge or library with wood paneling and built-in bookshelves was designed for more relaxed moments. Every level is linked by an august light-filled stairway with an ornate iron rail.

The restful private quarters are secluded on the fourth floor. Warmed by a gas fireplace, the primary suite benefits from two enviable walk-in closets with generous wood built-ins, a luxurious wood-paneled bath with a floating soaking tub and a shower with body jets, and a private south-facing balcony that gazes over the flourishing grounds. Of the four guest bedrooms, two are accompanied by en suite baths, and one could easily serve as a comfortable media or game room. Also ideal for quiet, contemplative moments is the stylish, sequestered office. Inevitable visitors will appreciate the three-bedroom garden apartment with a full kitchen.

Necessities of a fashionable modern lifestyle are plentiful—among them a two-car tandem garage with abundant storage space, an impressive wine room with temperature-controlled storage and a tasting bar equipped with a dishwasher and an ice maker, and an elevator.

While many rooms in the home benefit from sunshine and views of the skyline, the peerless rooftop revels in a panorama that includes not only the cityscape but also the bay and Angel Island. Here, a pentroom that encourages festive indoor-outdoor gatherings opens to a magnificent multilevel terrace offering a built-in spa with an outdoor shower, a fire table, an open-air kitchen, and ample lounging and dining space. Leaving aside the design prowess on display indoors, the grounds are a colorful oasis with a garden that basks in warm southerly light and is ringed by towering mature trees that afford welcome privacy. The location—a level tree-lined Pacific Heights avenue—remains as pretty and prestigious as it was when Ross broke ground on this peerless enduring property.