While other designers may have been intimidated by a condo in a historic building, Gretchen Murdock of MODTAGE Design saw an opportunity to create a wholly unique space that could combine industrial elements with cozy texture and contemporary architecture. Her clients, who live in Dogpatch, San Francisco, liked their space, but they didn’t like where its history worked against them: for example, the bathrooms lacked windows, and HOA and historic building requirements forbid them from adding them. The clients wanted an environment that would reference the building’s history while also offering modern design solutions to simplify function and improve efficiency.
Murdock blasted through the drywall to expose the steel structural beams and dry brick walls of the building, and give her clients extra space. For the windowless bathrooms, she designed large, sliding doors made of wood panels and frosted glazing to open up the rooms to light from the rest of the house. In the following slides, we explore the house with her to discover how she approached each design challenge and brought personality to the apartment.
The red lacquered kitchen cabinetry from Bulthaup makes a statement; the countertops are also from Bulthaup. Reclaimed barn siding wraps around the kitchen area, and white oak fascias subtly conceal the window shades.
Photo by Christopher Stark
White oak flooring covers the kitchen, living, and dining areas.
Photo by Christopher Stark
Mixed materials give the kitchen an eclectic personality. The tile backsplash here is from Heath Ceramics.
Photo by Christopher Stark
Industrial-style pendant lights are suspended over the custom dining table. The stairs in the background were custom designed by Murdock.
Photo by Christopher Stark
Under the stairs, this hidden shelving was also custom designed by MODTAGE Design.
Photo by Christopher Stark
Cozy elements offset the industrial archtiecture of the space.
Photo by Christopher Stark
In the master bedroom, Murdock designed a custom white oak headboard with a platform and integrated floating nightstands for the clients.
Photo by Christopher Stark
A custom open closet is located at the back of the bedroom. The black metal rod of the closet / shelving creates aesthetic tension with the white oak. On revealing the steel beams for the closet here, Murdock said, "Every square inch is at a premium in San Francisco, so we opened these walls to install a full open closet and expose more of the beautiful brick. It was no small feat to create a floating shelving system with beams penetrating through at various points, but we had an incredible team that made it look effortless."
Photo by Christopher Stark
For the master bathroom, a triple sliding door enlarges the opening and help enhance the flow of light. When fully open, all three doors are stacked to the side of the opening, and when the doors are closed, frosted glazing between the panels allows some natural light to enter the space. The glazed glass above the mirror also ushers in light from the adjacent bedroom. "We had to get creative and bring natural light into these spaces with the use of interior glazing," says Murdock.
Photo by Christopher Stark
Heath Ceramics tile decorates the walls. The custom vanity was crafted from white oak, the sink is from La Cava, and the faucets are from Blu Bathworks. The curbless shower is an impactful aspect of the design.
Photo by Christopher Stark
The freestanding tub is set upon stone flooring. Carefully placed custom shelving leans out over the tub.
Photo by Christopher Stark
Murdock designed niches throughout the space for storage and decorative purposes.
Photo by Christopher Stark
Functioning as a guest room as well, the den features a Murphy bed. When the bed is folded into the wall, the space transforms into a space for lounging or working out. The Henrybuilt system can store both guests' luggage and workout gear.
Photo by Christopher Stark
Murdock included a half-inch thick cork floor to provide extra cushioning for the clients' workouts. The white oak bench here was custom-designed by MODTAGE Design.
Photo by Christopher Stark
Custom glass sidelights in the guest bath allow extra light to enter into the space. Stainless steel countertops are paired with a white oak vanity. The floor tiles were designed by Patricia Urquiola, and the wall tiles are from Heath Ceramics; the faucets are from Blu Bathworks.
Photo by Christopher Stark
