After Amelia and Steve Hirsch heard a house renovated by architect John Maniscalco went on the market, they instantly jumped at the opportunity. The couple have always been attracted toward clean, contemporary design and had long admired Maniscalco’s work. They knew they couldn’t pass up a opportunity to own the house, which was created in 2003 from the esteemed architect, and so were pleased to bypass the hassle of going through a dull building process.
Amelia is a self explanatory interior decorator that specializes on producing clean, livable spaces. And Steve grew up with his mom, Barbara Hirsch, along with their exceptionally modern West Los Angeles house. With their combined backgrounds and interests, the couple created a contemporary, comfortable space satisfied to their family’s lifestyle.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Amelia and Steve Hirsch, along with their son Quincy
Location: Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: 3,100 square feet; 4 tales; 3 bedrooms, 3 baths
That is interesting: Quincy went to lecture with an architect’s kids.
Shannon Malone
The house originally had a much cooler colour palette, with white walls, blue glass and a metal staircase. Amelia and Steve added heat by painting yellow accent walls and design using earthy tones. “For us, the exterior inspires the interior,” says Amelia.
The home includes a very open floor plan, and Amelia says one of their main challenges was arranging the living room space within an kid-friendly manner which didn’t make it resemble a playroom. Built-in shelves keep things organized, furniture helps produce individual spaces with both purpose and character.
Couch: Room & Board; rug: one of a type from ABC Carpet & Home; yellowish side table: Propeller
Shannon Malone
As an interior decorator, Amelia finds it important to style with livability in mind. She also designed the space to be suitable for an energetic and growing 8-year-old son but to nevertheless meet the couple’s love of clean lines and clutter-free contemporary design.
Couch: Design Within Reach; paint: Cornbread, C2 Paint
Shannon Malone
The spacious floor plan is one of the couple’s favourite features of their house. They find the space more comfortable and social than houses painted by walls. Steve says he loves being able to sit down in one area and see all of the way to the other end of the home.
Leather chairs: B&B Italia
Shannon Malone
Locating a suitably scaled dining room table has been just another one of their design dilemmas. They went through three rectangular tables before Steve’s mother eventually recommended what was be the alternative: an oval-shaped table. The Saarinen table’s marble surface is custom created, and the table is paired with custom-upholstered Dune seats by ABC Carpet & Home.
Amelia created the banner hanging behind the table from wrapping paper for Thanksgiving dinner one year, and the family decided to keep it on the wall. “It’s how we wish to live,” says Amelia.
Shannon Malone
Shannon Malone
The slightly darker earthy hues in the kitchen, together with their kid’s art adorning the fridge, make for a warm and welcoming kitchen. The sleek kitchen cabinets are made from Anigre wood.
Rug: ABC Carpet & Home
Shannon Malone
Most walls have been painted with one of John Maniscalco’s favorite colors, White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
The couple purchased the cork vases from Palecek, and the mirror is from San Francisco Bay Area store Harvest Home.
Shannon Malone
The hardwood flooring throughout the house are jarrah wood. The couple admits the flooring can be high maintenance but consider the choice well worthwhile.
Shannon Malone
One of the couple’s favourite features of Maniscalco’s architecture is how he utilizes structure to manipulate light. The center of the house has no direct windows, but light comes in through the skylights shining in the top to bottom and bouncing off the walls.
Shannon Malone
A bright yellowish Tom Vac rocking chair by Ron Arad by a store in San Francisco adds cheerful colour to a staircase landing space and complements artwork by Amelia’s mother, JoAnn Hughes.
Shannon Malone
Warm, earthy tones and clean, contemporary design make for an attractive guest bedroom.
Painting: JoAnn Hughes; bed: Crate & Barrel
Shannon Malone
“Quincy gets the best room in the home,” jokes Amelia. The 8-year-old’s area is filled with sun, toys and kid-friendly art. Amelia advises parents to use large pieces of art like this print in children’s rooms. “It declutters the walls with just one large focal point, rather than various scattered bits, which can distract from the overall look of the space,” she states.
Bed: Custom upholstered from Room & Board; beanbag chair: Pottery Barn
Shannon Malone
One of Maniscalco’s signature design features is his use of storage. These built in units are observed throughout the house and are the best solution to the daily clutter of a busy household. “I enjoy wash, clutter-free spaces,” says Amelia.
Bed: Room & Board
Shannon Malone
“We feel as if we are on vacation once we are in our bedroom,” says the couple. With stunning views surrounding the master bedroom, both Amelia and Steve can relax and watch the sun rise and set.
Shannon Malone
Outside of the master bedroom is a small deck which overlooks San Francisco. “We love this city,” says Steve. “It has great outdoor spaces, and I love the accessibility. I walk to and from work every day.”
Amelia found this one-of-a type patio table at a neighborhood store.
Shannon Malone
The couple did not make any changes to the master bathroom. The gorgeous built-in storage unit and contemporary double sinks keep the space organized and relaxing.
Shannon Malone
Introducing art into the house was a method for the few to make the space their own. Though they are thrilled to be “done” with the home, they say that they would love to add more art.The painting hanging above the tub is just another unique piece by JoAnn Hughes.
Shannon Malone
The top attic floor of the house was originally supposed to be utilized as an office space, but the base floor became the office and gym, and this space was turned into a media room and playroom rather than A glass floor leads the way into the space, fully equipped with a flat-screen TV, a unique couch with detachable bits and Steve’s electric guitar. Additionally, it leads to an wonderful outdoor deck.
Shannon Malone
One of the major renovations was the construction of patios and decks. The few converted the original rooftop into a scenic wooden patio overlooking town and the bay, with glass siding to security.
Patio furniture: Room & Board
Shannon Malone
The downstairs space doubles as a home office and a gym. It leads to the deck.
Desks: Custom created by Room & Board
Shannon Malone
Amelia and Steve added the rear deck as another outdoor lounging space.
Furniture: Room & Board
Shannon Malone
The contemporaryrear exterior of the residence is an excellent representation of the aesthetic of Maniscalco. The original home was identical to their neighbor’s conventional San Francisco home but was remodeled by Maniscalco to give it a fresh, new look.
Shannon Malone
Front is much more conventional than most Maniscalco houses, but the few added the metal rail and larger street numbers “to give it a little advantage,” says Steve.