When a young couple who work in the tech industry set out to purchase their first-ever home in San Francisco, they had two priorities: sunshine and space. They set their sights on the Mission district, one of the warmer, sunnier neighborhoods in a city known for its disparate microclimates. “Before buying, we rented a small place with its own yard near Dolores Park,” the homeowner says. “We loved spending sunny afternoons reading under our magnolia tree.”

Before: Exterior

After: Exterior

Determined to stay in the sunny locale, the couple searched for a home that would offer a little more space. They soon discovered an idyllic lot with a Victorian-era home that had received a Mediterranean-style remodel. “The house required significant renovations,” the homeowner says. “The ceilings had been lowered, and the basement contained a cramped living space with an extremely steep staircase that hadn’t been permitted.” The rooms on the home’s upper level were as dark and dated as the lower-level spaces.

Before: Hall

After: Hall

While the existing house left much to be desired, the lot was brimming with sunlight. “It fit the bill perfectly,” the homeowner says. “We also loved all the nearby restaurants, cafes, and parks within walking distance.” They made an offer, and once the property was officially theirs, they started searching for the right architect to help reimagine the residence.

“My online search led me to contact about 20 firms,” the homeowner says. “Most didn’t respond, and a couple turned us down due to our project’s [smaller] size.” Then, architect Lewis Butler of Butler Armsden Architects called. “He was more interested in our story and design aesthetic than square footage or budget,” the homeowner explains. “Despite having worked on homes that are many times larger and more expensive, Lewis was quick to remind us that architecture is democratic—that it’s about light and space.”

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Butler—who founded the firm Butler Armsden in 1985 with his architect-turned-novelist wife, Catherine Armsden—drew up a schematic for the new home, arranging the bedrooms at the front and placing the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living spaces at the rear, where they connect with the yard.

But unfortunately, Butler passed away in September of 2020, midway through the project. “We feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Lewis before his passing,” the homeowner says. “His warmth and discerning taste greatly influenced our home.”

Before: Dining

After: Dining

“Lewis was the principal on the project, and we basically just made his schematic real,” says architect and project manager Joe Wrigley. With the plan in place, the firm gutted the existing home. “We took it down to the studs, removing all the walls and ceilings,” Wrigley says. “For all intents and purposes, it’s a new house.”

After: Living Room

The new home is bright and airy thanks to skylights and a floor-to-ceiling folding glass door that opens the kitchen, dining, and living areas to the backyard. The primary bedroom and bath, located just beyond the entry, are set behind a ribbed maple wall with a hidden door. “It was Lewis’s idea to have a blind door,” Wrigley says. “If you have company, you can pull that door closed and nobody knows the room is there.” A nursery and another bath are situated further down the entrance hall.

Before: Bedroom

After: Bedrooms

The lower level has an office, another bedroom suite, a laundry area, and a storage room. “Of course, the pandemic hit during the project and working from home became a priority, so we did this nice office area,” Wrigley says. They also took into account the family’s future—the homeowners didn’t have children when the project began, although now they have two.

Before: Bathroom

After: Bathrooms

To accommodate the growing family, Wrigley called upon with teammates Sarah Herlugson and Trisha Snyder to furnish the interiors with kid-friendly designs and create a reading/play nook beneath the staircase.

The staircase itself is an artful presentation with a thin, white metal railing—inspired by origami—and open maple treads that allow sunshine to stream down from a large skylight at the top of the stairs. “The lightness of the stair is very subtle,” Wrigley says. “We drew inspiration from American architect Joseph Esherick. I’m a huge fan of his work—they’re amazing spaces that aren't in-your-face. They’re less about architecture than they’re about living.”

After: Staircase

So far, the couple couldn’t be happier in their new home. “It perfectly complements our lifestyle, promoting togetherness while still offering private retreats,” the homeowner explains. “The garden feels like an extension of the living space. As homebodies, we appreciate the spacious yet functional living areas, which enable us to fully enjoy our time at home, be it cooking, playing with the kids, or reading in the yard.”

Before: Backyard

After: Backyard

More Before & After stories:

A Single Door Connects This San Francisco Bungalow’s Past With Its Future

A Choppy San Francisco Home Finds Its Flow After a Mullet Renovation

Project Credits:

Architecture & Interior Design: Butler Armsden Architects / @butlerarmsden_architects

Builder: ITU Construction

Structural Engineer: TSA Structural Engineers

Geotechnical Engineer: Earth Mechanics

Landscape Architecture: Frederika Moller Landscape Architecture

Appears In

Before & After: A Dated Victorian/Mediterranean Mash-Up Gets an Esherick-Inspired Makeover