{"id":434,"date":"2025-03-25T13:08:48","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T17:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/2025\/03\/25\/inside-a-historic-pacific-heights-manor\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T16:47:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T20:47:15","slug":"inside-a-historic-pacific-heights-manor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-historic-pacific-heights-manor\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside a Historic Pacific Heights Manor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Immortalized in print as \u201cthe most iconic mansion in San Francisco,\u201d this regal late-19th-century residence features Georgian glamour, contemporary luxuries, and a wealth of spaces ideal for fabulous f\u00eates or quiet private moments.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>In the late 19th century\u2014a time when women could not own property in San Francisco\u2014Philadelphia art collector Sarah Spooner migrated to the West Coast city undaunted, drawn by its numerous charms. She chose a site then outside the city limits, at the top of a level hill in what today is prestigious Pacific Heights and where the sweeping vista was truly breathtaking. She then commissioned the esteemed British architect Ernest Albert Coxhead\u2014designer of the Home Telephone Company headquarters at 333 Grant, among numerous other area landmarks\u2014to create a regal Georgian residence<\/a> suffused with Old World glamour. Decades later, San Francisco Chronicle<\/i> columnist Herb Caen fittingly sealed the home\u2019s reputation in print, referring to it as \u201cthe most iconic mansion in San Francisco.\u201d Painstakingly maintained and updated with contemporary fixtures and luxuries, the estate has endured to become a lodestar woven into the history of San Francisco.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>San Francisco, California<\/a>\u00a0| Pattie Lawton<\/a>, Sotheby\u2019s International Realty \u2013 San Francisco Brokerage<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Unmatched in its finery and attention to detail, the 8,179-square-foot residence spans four levels, with spaces ideal for fabulous festive f\u00eates or quiet private moments\u2014each unique in style and equal in refinement. At the top of an august stairway that rises through an emerald lawn, a striking sculptural fa\u00e7ade and custom etched-glass doors introduce a foyer that is anchored by an impressive winding staircase. Beyond lie formal and casual rooms, five or six bedrooms, and alluring alfresco oases.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Chief among the public spaces are a living room with an ornate fireplace, wide windows, and intricate dentil molding and a dining room with a coffered ceiling, herringbone-patterned hardwood floors, a dramatic marble fireplace, and an inviting window seat. The historic \u201csalon,\u201d however, is singular and splendid, imported wholesale from France, carefully maintained, and boasting elaborate wall tracery and mirrors, a dazzling marble fireplace, a Venetian plaster ceiling, and French doors to the grounds. Spacious and filled with light, the streamlined contemporary kitchen is a relatively new addition that features top-caliber stainless-steel appliances, a generous breakfast area, a butler\u2019s pantry with discreet access to the dining room, a cozy sitting area with a contemporary fireplace and built-in seating, a chef\u2019s desk, and doors to a secret walled garden. Through a gate lies the home\u2019s primary outdoor space, a magnificent open area designed for relaxed lounging or grand gatherings en plein air.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The sophisticated primary suite occupies the east wing of the second level. Its spacious bedroom features a sitting area with an elegant fireplace, a reading area with a bay view, and a balcony. Recently rejuvenated, the roomy, luxurious bath is adjoined by a dressing room with a fireplace, built-in wardrobes, and a thoughtful Murphy bed. Completing this level are two distinctive guest suites and a wood-paneled library or family room with handsome hardwood floors, a marble fireplace, and a versatile closet cleverly hidden behind a wall panel. On the lowest level are multiple storage rooms and a garage with side-by-side parking for two cars.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Beyond two comfortable bedrooms with a shared bath, the remainder of the uppermost level is dedicated to a sleek, light-flooded pentroom, where walls of glass provide a cinematic outlook\u2014from Noe Valley across the downtown skyline to Angel Island, Alcatraz, and the waters of the bay. A terrace and a wraparound balcony allow for enjoyment of the enviable views amid the fresh air and blue skies of San Francisco, which brought both Spooner and Coxhead to the city and have drawn luminaries from around the world ever since.<\/p>\n

Discover luxury homes for sale and rent around the world on sothebysrealty.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Immortalized in print as \u201cthe most iconic mansion in San Francisco,\u201d this regal late-19th-century residence features Georgian glamour, contemporary luxuries, and a wealth of spaces ideal for fabulous f\u00eates or quiet private moments. In the late 19th century\u2014a time when women could not own property in San Francisco\u2014Philadelphia art collector Sarah Spooner migrated to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770368,"featured_media":343667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1399],"tags":[1423],"class_list":["post-434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-and-design","tag-california"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/header-8.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-70","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":346375,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-stately-early-20th-century-manor-in-pacific-heights\/","url_meta":{"origin":434,"position":0},"title":"Inside a Stately Early-20th-Century Manor in Pacific Heights","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"March 31, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In one of San Francisco\u2019s most peaceful, prestigious neighborhoods, this stately four-level home dates to 1908 and offers a collection of irreplaceable period details, sophisticated spaces for living an easy urbane life, and views of the skyline and the bay.\u00a0 Prestigious Pacific Heights\u2014one of San Francisco\u2019s most coveted neighborhoods\u2014is a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"sitting and breakfast room with large skylight surrounded by lush greenery","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11-2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11-2.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":342812,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/luxury-real-estate-headlines-second-week-in-october-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":434,"position":1},"title":"Luxury Real Estate Headlines: Second Week in October 2024","author":"SIR Admin","date":"October 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"San Francisco, California\u00a0| Sotheby's International Realty \u2013 San Francisco Brokerage The duplex, atop a building in the Pacific Heights neighborhood, was sold as an unfinished white box in 2017 Recently Completed San Francisco Penthouse Lists for $30M, One of the City\u2019s Priciest Listings \u2013 Mansion Global Hollywood Producer Seeks $20M\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Brand News"","block_context":{"text":"Brand News","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/brand-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":343958,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-transformed-early-20th-century-residence-in-san-francisco\/","url_meta":{"origin":434,"position":2},"title":"Inside a Transformed Early-20th-Century Residence in San Francisco","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"May 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Nearly a century after its design and construction, this 9,390-square-foot, eight-bedroom residence has been comprehensively updated, adding soign\u00e9 contemporary style to elegant classical elements Early in the 20th century, Scottish-born Thomas Paterson Ross\u2014the eccentric and prolific architect who designed the eye-catching Sing Fat and Sing Chong buildings in San Francisco\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Feature.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Feature.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Feature.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Feature.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Feature.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Feature.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":341355,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-dashing-edwardian-manor-in-pacific-heights\/","url_meta":{"origin":434,"position":3},"title":"Inside a Dashing Edwardian Manor in Pacific Heights","author":"SIR Admin","date":"April 16, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"One of San Francisco\u2019s most coveted neighborhoods, prestigious Pacific Heights is a nexus of historic, architecturally significant estates, many luxurious manors with dramatic vistas of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. City dwellers in search of sophisticated solace benefit from the area\u2019s array of fine dining destinations, tony boutiques,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/SF1-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/SF1-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/SF1-1024x683.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":345650,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-pedigreed-penthouse-in-san-francisco\/","url_meta":{"origin":434,"position":4},"title":"Inside a Pedigreed Penthouse in San Francisco","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"December 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Atop a 1920s building in prestigious Pacific Heights, this sophisticated penthouse endures as an impressive showcase for art collections and a private perch for appreciating unparalleled views of the city and the bay. In the 1940s, a family of prominent philanthropists and art collectors enlisted designers to customize the penthouse\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"living room with views of San Francisco","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-3.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-3.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":346542,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-modernist-architectural-landmark-in-san-francisco\/","url_meta":{"origin":434,"position":5},"title":"Inside a Modernist Architectural Landmark in San Francisco","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"April 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Designed by influential San Francisco architect Ollie Lundberg, this rare modernist residence combines a truly inimitable architectural pedigree with the prestigious location of Pacific Heights, sweeping views of the bay, and effortless access to serene green spaces. Over his decades-long career, legendary San Francisco architect Ollie Lundberg earned a reputation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"sitting room with bay and city views","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/232770368"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=434"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":345113,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434\/revisions\/345113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/343667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}