Edmonds + Lee Architects' Telegraph Hill Transformation

THE PROJECT

A couple with two teenage kids, two adorable dogs and a cat purchased a home in San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill neighborhood. The house previously stood as a rental property, with dated finishes and a modest footprint of less than 2,000 square feet. The wife, a recent breast cancer survivor, was the project’s catalyst, as it represented a new chapter.

THE TEAM

Edmonds + Lee Architects (edmondslee.com) took on the ambitious renovation, which would double the home’s footprint to 4,000 square feet. “We’re known for warm California modernism,” says Vivian Lee, AIA, one of the firm’s founders. “We’re focused on architecture and design’s capacity to produce serene, restorative and peaceful spaces.”

The San Francisco-based firm is inspired by restrained and sophisticated materials, textures and colors, but its team adds a softness and warmth that strays from minimalism. “We’re very oriented toward clients and their needs,” says Lee. “We’re less committed to a particular design aesthetic and more interested in producing something that fits someone’s lifestyle.”

Lees notes that the team’s preliminary meetings with clients help establish a foundation for the project. “We ask many questions and aim to understand how they live: Are they early risers or night owls? Do they like a lot of quiet and privacy, or do they like to be together and rambunctious? When and how do they like to exercise, relax and read? Are they big movie watchers, or do they prefer Netflix in bed? We also aim to understand their larger goals—maybe more challenging to directly articulate.”

The efficient and comfortable kitchen, custom-designed by Boffi, offers a lightfilled and relaxing space to start each day. photographed by R. BRAD KNIPSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY

The efficient and comfortable kitchen features a Porro Materic Ovale table and Neve chairs.

THE GOALS

The couple wanted a place that offered rooms for convivial togetherness and privacy. “To that end, we created zones for public togetherness and privacy,” says Lee, noting that each floor has private bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. The house also offers a kitchen, living room, a ground-floor family room that opens to the garden and a new roof deck for spectacular water views.

“The floor plan was inspired by New York City townhouses, where narrow lots are the norm, but spatial efficiency and vertical connections create a sense of openness,” says Lee. “By borrowing strategies from these urban precedents, we were able to design a home that feels generous, light-filled and highly functional despite its compact footprint.”

The stairs serve as the homeâs vertical spine on four levels photographed by R. BRAD KNIPSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY

The stairs serve as the home's vertical spine on four levels.

LIVING & DINING ROOMS

“The goal was to create a restful sanctuary, rich in materiality and layered with sophistication,” says Lee, who notes that furniture from Living Divani (livingdivani.it) sits against a backdrop of the wife’s paintings, their colors harmonizing beautifully with the sofa’s soothing taupe palette.

“The dining room offers a warm and inviting setting for intimate dinners or lively Friday night card games,” says Lee. “A custom banquette, upholstered in sumptuous Maharam (maharam.com) Mohair Supreme, wraps the space in comfort against custom oak panels. The oval dining table encourages conversation and creates a sense of welcome for every guest.”

A bed from B&B Italia and a study nook furnished by Poliform grace the primary suite.

KITCHEN

The kitchen, custom-designed by Boffi (boffi.com), serves as the heart of the home. “The island’s countertops and cabinetry are seamlessly composed to evoke a monolithic stone sculpture, striking in its sculptural presence yet meticulously crafted for everyday functionality,” says Lee.

PRIMARY SUITE

This critical space offers style, functionality and calm. “The room is anchored by a custom-built-in closet system from Porro (porro.com) and a bed from B&B Italia (bebitalia.‌com), combining sleek craftsmanship with modern comfort. A discreet study nook, furnished with a Poliform (poliform.it) desk and chair, offers a quiet retreat for work or reflection,” says Lee.

“In the spalike bath, ambiance unfolds with a walk-in steam shower and a deep soaking tub, both softly illuminated by concealed cove lighting,” says Lee, adding that the vanity, clad entirely in elegant gray marble by Boffi and integrated with dual sinks, underscores the space’s sense of refinement and tranquility.

A custom banquette, covered in Maharam Mohair Supreme fabric, is crafted from custom oak panels.

STAIRS

“The stair serves as the home’s vertical spine, gracefully linking all four levels,” says Lee. “Each flight is uniquely detailed to respond to its immediate surroundings, culminating in a striking finale—floating treads ascending to the roof deck, bathed in light from a retractable skylight above.”

HOW THE HOME IS LIVING

Not surprisingly, Lee says the couple is overjoyed with the home. “The wife sees it as the perfect celebration of her new lease on life, while the husband appreciates how seamlessly we incorporated his goals,” she says. “Even the teenagers are delighted, enjoying a space that feels both beautiful and welcoming for their friends. The family takes pride in their home’s elegance, yet loves that it remains a relaxing haven for everyday living.”