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HomesSFiS

A look inside Infinity Walls of glass, spacious terraces provide endlessviews from this state-of-the-art high-rise unit

Custom-designedsilk wallcoveringspersonalize anyliving space. Page S4

INSIDE No serious color commitments, theSilver Sofa allows cover switches to match your mood. Page S18

Contemporary Marin County home offerscomfort amid seclusion. Page S5

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S4 | Thursday,November1,2012 | SanFranciscoChronicleandSFGate.com

EditorNick Kotecki

DesignerMaribeth Kiser

Advertising

Real EstateSteve Schneiderman(415) 777-6226

RetailDave Leal(415) 777-7281

Contact UsSFiS Homes901 Mission St.San Francisco, CA 94103(415) 777-7666Fax: (415) 495-2067E-mail: [email protected]

On the Cover

To Infinity and beyondThree-bedroom unit is firstresale property in prestigious2009 construction.Story, page S13

Photography: Jacob Elliot

STAFF

The hand-painted silk wall-coverings from B. Mori & Co.draw gardens on the walls.They are unique works offunctional art.

“Expressing a reverence fornature and symbols of goodfortune, each intricate designis handcrafted from 100 per-cent silk threads,” said EmilyLloyd, manager of B. Mori.“The dupioni silk is wovenfrom two different hues thatshimmer and change colorwith the play of light.”

The great bulk of B. Mori’sdesigns are custom, whichmakes the company stand outamong wallcovering retailers.

“Our designers at B. Moriare always happy to createnew designs based upon refer-ences provided by the client orthrough our own extensivearchive,” Lloyd said. “Also, ifyou wish to create a completeChinese interior, such as thosefound at the Brighton Pavilionor the Chinese palaces of Ora-nienbaum or Drottningholm,we can help with research andthen produce wallcoverings,fabrics and porcelain with thesame quality and craftsman-ship of 18th-century antiques.”

The first choice a customermust make is backgroundcolor. The extensive collectionpresent in the showroom at450 Ninth St. illustrates thevarious colors available. “Wedo have screens on display inour showroom, but they act assamples,” Lloyd said. “Most ofthe customers coming into ourshop want something custom.”

Standard colors providedmay not always suit a custom-er’s particular needs. BecauseB. Mori’s creations are tailor-made and distinct, it’s only

after the client decides on acolor scheme that the design iscreated.

While each signature designhas its own palette, the back-ground color can alter theappearance of the design,which can result in an un-wanted color scheme. B. Moriavoids this complication bykeeping their projects specificand client-oriented, whichgives room for modificationwhen conceptualizing thecolor and design itself.

“Our custom program notonly allows you to choose adifferent design palette, butalso allows you to create aentirely new design that wewill execute to specific require-ments,” Lloyd said.

“Each design is hand-paint-ed, as a mural, to exact specifi-cations supplied by the cus-tomer,” Lloyd said.

“There are no repeats in thepattern, making each pieceunique. The hand-paintednature of our wallcoveringsmeans elements of their ap-pearance are subjective to theartist’s interpretation of thedrawing.”

INTERIOR DESIGN By Emily Johnson

Wallcovering works of artare woven with care

B. Mori & Co.creates silkcustom-mademasterpieces

More colorful options brighten a room when coupled with a buttery background.

The bird motif is a popular design. When painted on a deeper background, the result is richand elegant when paired with dark oak furniture.

This design evokes images of nature and isslightly more abstract.

The shimmering silk in this room is a recurring theme, from the curtains to thebed linens.

Photography by B. Mori & Co.

DetailsB. Mori & Co.

450 Ninth St., San Francisco

(415) 431-6888

www.bmori.net

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SanFranciscoChronicleandSFGate.com | Thursday,November1,2012 | S5

Located at the very end of CrestRoad, just inside San Anselmo, sits asprawling and pleasantly secludedsingle-story Contemporary home withspectacular views of Winship Park,Mount Tamalpais and the Ross Valleyfor $1.695 million.

Built in 1956, the spacious three-bedroom, 3.5-bath home at 75 CrestAve. was designed by Mill Valley artistand architect James Richard Hyatt.When construction was complete, the3,526-square-foot home was featuredon the cover of California Home Maga-zine.

The magazine spread boasted anarray of photos, as well as an articletouting the home’s modern style anddesign, according to listing agent Mi-cheline Rourke of Frank Howard AllenRealtors. The home’s brief brush withfame is far from the only thing thatmakes it a special and highly desirablepiece of Marin County real estate. ForRourke, she said, it’s all about location.

“The location is just phenomenal,”she said. “It’s a beautiful, gated, privateproperty with gorgeous views of theRoss Valley all the way around, fromthe west to the north. The house islocated at the very end of Crest Road,so there is perfect privacy. Once youpass through the entry gate, you findyourself in the midst of a gorgeousmature garden, with paths that runthrough it.”

The home takes advantage of themagnificent location and stunningviews with floor-to-ceiling panoramicwindows in the living room and largepicture windows spaced throughout.For example, the large windows in thebreakfast room look out to the ex-

GETAWAYS By Megan Mattingly-Arthur

With complete privacy at the end of Crest Avenue, the home boasts a large driveway and attached two-car garage.

Perfect panoramasHome was designedby Mill Valley artistJames Richard Hyatt

Getawayscontinues on page 6

Photography by Frank Howard Allen Realty


quisitely maintained garden,giving diners the impressionthey are eating in the gardenitself.

Also 75 Crest Ave. has twolarge master suites, one ofwhich has an Americans withDisabilities Act-compliant fullbath.

The kitchen features all themodern conveniences, in-cluding a large center islandwith a range. Hand-paintedcabinets adorned with freshfruits and vegetables lend aFrench country charm to thekitchen, which opens to thegarden breakfast room.

The home also has a familyroom, formal dining room andlibrary or office. Other fea-tures include two gas-burningfireplaces, an attached two-cargarage and hardwood parquetand tile flooring throughout.

“The openness and size ofthe rooms is just tremendous,”Rourke said. “Also, the feel andambiance of the neighborhoodis really special.”

In addition to its lush gar-

Getawaysfrom page 5

A kidney-shaped inground pool is the centerpiece of the backyard area.

A master suite has hardwood floors, a sitting area and stunning views.

The kitchen features cabinets hand-painted in the French Country style.





dens, the property also boasts large decks anda kidney-shaped in-ground pool surrounded byplenty of patio space that’s perfect for loungingin the sun.

There also is a guesthouse with a bedroom,full bath and sitting room that is connected tothe main house via a walkway. With views justas beautiful as those seen from the main house,the guesthouse sitting room also could be usedas an extra bedroom.

For those who consider a leisurely stroll anessential part of each getaway, the home iswithin walking distance of several area busi-nesses and restaurants, boasting a Walk Scoreof 71.

For more information, call Rourke at (415)250-8175, email [email protected] or visitwww.fhallen.com.

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room offer breathtaking views of Mount Tamalpais and the Ross Valley.

One of three full baths, this bathroom features two sinks along with eparate tub andshower areas.




The newly constructedhome at 280 Long Acres Placeis a perfect amalgamation ofmodern architecture and sce-nic, natural beauty. Resting onmore than half an acre, the3,600-square-foot house,which was partially built intoa hill, combines the best ofboth worlds.

Blu Homes, the firm thatdesigned the house, wasfounded in 2008 by Bill Haneyand Maura McCarthy, twoentrepreneurs with back-grounds in housing and envi-ronmental design. Their pri-mary goal is to build greenhomes that drastically reducethe carbon emissions generat-ed by most residences, and

this house is no exception. Byusing solar power for heatingand cooling, as well as energy-efficient appliances, BluHomes was able to limit theenvironmental impact caused

by traditional power sources.Listing agent Betty Hagedon

of the Wine Country Groupdescribes the property as theoptimal blend between thepeace and quiet of living in the

countryside and the conve-nience of living near the city.

“It is designed so that it’s allopen,” Hagedon said. “It’s setup against natural habit whereno one can build, and there arewalking trails within half ablock. It’s just a real natural,wonderful feeling.”

The area immediately sur-rounding Long Acres Place isalmost completely wooded.Beautiful oak trees line theroad and the property. Therealso are plenty of other hills,much like the slope abuttingthe house, and walking trailsmeander throughout and intothe woods, providing an easyescape into nature. The east,south and west lead to vast

OUTDOORS By Chris Marshall

A view to behold: from the home’s front balcony, hills dotted with vegetation roll to the horizon’s edge.

‘Breezespace’ has open feel Blu Homes emphasized green design, connection to nature in Healdsburg home

This angle, from atop the rear casita, or guest house, showsthe extensive deck perfect for entertaining.

Fresh red mulch and tufts of ornamental grass wander up curvilinear cement planters to the front entrance of the home.

Photography by Sibylla Herbrich



swaths of land to beexplored, while headingnorth leads back intocivilization.

The natural beauty ofthe surrounding envi-ronment is a major draw,but the luxurious interi-or is as well. An exampleof Blu Homes’ “Bree-zespace” design, theliving areas are glass-enclosed, engendering astrong connection to theoutside world. The boun-tiful windows allowresidents the opportuni-ty to view the local vistasfrom inside and fill thehouse with natural light.In addition, the sliding-glass doors may openedto draw in an organicbreeze.

The main living room,which is separated intohalves by a fireplace andfloored in hardwood,contains ample room forseating and furniture.The high ceilings arespecially designed tomaximize energy effi-ciency. Like many of therooms, the living areahas windows on allsides, providing a viewof the deck and beyond.

The full-size deck hasa patio and seating area,complete with furniture,that looks out into thecountryside. At the rear,a “casita,” or guesthouse,allows visitors to havetheir own bedroom andkitchenette.

While there are a fewother homes in the im-mediate area, Hagedonsaid that the naturaldraw of the area isbound to stay.

“There can ultimatelybe four homes on theblock, but [the home] isset back in a quiet areaand surrounded by na-ture because of thetrees,” she said. “It’s arule that they can’t buildon the natural habitatarea.”

Turning from the front balcony view, the sliding doors can be seen open to elements, utilizing the Breezespace concept to draw infresh air.

Outdoorscontinues onpage 10




The guest casita behind the regular residence is well-lit and cozy.

Like the front of the house, the many windows lining the lower decksplash columns of ambient light to the exterior.

Interior lights gently emanate out themodern-contemporary face of the house at dusk.


Details280 Long Acres Place,Healdsburg

Built: 2012

Beds: Three

Baths: Four

Size: 3,600 square feet

Price: $2.65 million

Listing Agent: Betty Hage-don, Wine Country Group,(707) 473-3464,

www. winecountrygroup.com


There’s an uncommon availability in oneof the two rounded residential skyscrapersat The Infinity.

Perched on the Bay, the state-of-the-artDuplex 39C unit is near the top of the sec-ond tower’s 42 stories of glass. Recentlylisted for $3.2 million, it is the first unit inthe 2009 development to go up for resale,according to Sotheby’s International Realty’sMickey Schlesinger, whose team is market-

ing the property.Schlesinger said the listing is incredible.

“The iconic Infinity condominiums [are] anexciting collection of modern residenceslocated just one block from the Embarcade-ro and the water’s edge,” he said.

Globally celebrated architect BernardoFort-Brescia designed the towers, which arewrapped distinctively in teal glass “to createastriking landmark to the city’s famous

skyline,” according to information from thelisting website www.infinityviews.com.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom du-plex offers 1,800 square feet inside, and anoutdoor 470-square-foot private terrace oneach floor that each give expansive pan-oramic views, including the Golden GateBridge and several picturesque counties.The home is uniquely positioned on the

COVER STORY By Allison Brophy Champion

Infinite opportunities

Three-bedroom unit is first in high-rise tower to be placed on the resale market

Panoramic views from the upper-level guest deck, the home’s second terrace buffered by a half-wall of glass, extend outward with the Pacific Ocean.

Cover Storycontinues on page 14

Photography by Jacob Elliot

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southern face of Infinity’s southtower, making it one of develop-ment’s largest residences, accordingto the website.

The inside entryway to the homegives welcome with African Wengehardwood floors and over-sizedcurved walls of glass revealing wa-ter, land and sky.

The luxurious amenities through-out include substantial built-in cabi-nets and digital infrastructure sys-tems for low-voltage recessed light-ing, media, window shade and cli-mate control.

Showcasing the living room is acustom media center wall adjacentto the modern kitchen with plentifulCaesarStone counters, custom cabi-nets and a breakfast bar that givesmorning sunrise views over the SanFrancisco Bay, which is also view-able from an adjacent dining room.

The unit’s master suite expandsand enriches its living space with asky terrace, matching walk-in clos-ets and dual sinks in the masterbath along with a floating mirror, asoaking tub and a separate shower

With views of the Bay Bridge and beyond, the spacious terrace of Duplex 39C in the south tower of The Infinity provides panoramic views of San Francisco andits surrounding counties.

Positioned on the southern face of Infinity’s south tower, this 1,800-square-foot unit is one of development’s largest residences.

In addition to the exceptional views, the living room’s highlights include a custom media center wall and adirect flow into the homes modern kitchen to enhance entertaining.”


Cover Storyfrom page 13

Cover Storycontinues on page 17



stall.Afrosted-glass panel leads to an

upper-level suite outfitted as anoffice with two work stations. Con-ceivably, the upper suite could ac-commodate overnight guests orserve as a full bedroom.

Newly constructed is the customfull guest bath with contemporaryfinishes such as the Concreteworksvanity and natural stone basin, anoak pocket door and ceramic floortiles.

The Infinity’s monthly $825 home-owners fee includes concierge ser-vice along with access to parking, afitness center, a lap pool, a saunaand spa, and a waterfall-outfittedoutdoor courtyard.

Residents also can enjoy a club

lounge with a catering kitchen andbar, access to a private screeningroom, conference and board rooms.Standard gas and water utility ser-vides and trash pickup also areincluded.

In addition to a full bath, the upper-level suite features neutral colors, hardwood floors and a sliding-glass door opening to the terrace.

DetailsThe Infinity, Tower 2, Duplex 39C, SanFrancisco

Beds: Three

Baths: Three

Size: 1,800 square feet

Price: $3.2 million

Listing agents: Gregg Lynn, Sotheby’sInternational Realty, (415) 901-1780, AlexHachiya, Sotheby’s International Realty,(415) 314-6690, www.infinityviews.com

A sky terrace lends an open feel to the master bathroom, with otherhighlights including matching walk-in closets and dual sinks.


Cover Storyfrom page 14



It may very well all depend on moodwith the Silver Sofa. The super com-fortable couch available at San Francis-co’s Propeller Modern comes in somany cover compositions it’s possibleto change outfits 20 times.

Propeller Modern is a curiosity shoppeddling unique rugs, mats, lighting,linens, furniture, decorative items, artand other furnishings. The shop cele-brates one decade on Hayes Street thisyear, a testament to the staying powerof its one-of-a-kind finds for the homeand office.

An integral part of Propeller’s MoooiBoutique, a fashion-comes-to-furnitureconcept, the three-cushioned SilverSofa with back cushions featured hereis manufactured in the B&B Italia fac-tory in Italy, according to store ownerLorn Dittfield.

The Silver Sofa retails for $6,695. “You change your clothes every day,

choosing your new day’s wardrobedepending on how you feel that morn-ing. Why not change the clothing ofyour sofa every now and again?” heasked.

It’s 20 cover varieties use differentfabrics, colors and textures for the seatcushions, back cushions and sofa body,Dittfield said. He said several newdesigns emerge annually, “dependingon the fashion of the moment.” Thefabric choices have cool names like“Easy Rider” and “Coco.”

A variety of leg options also areavailable. The sofa comes in single-seatchair, double-seat small sofa and tripleseat, as shown.

Propeller, in the same location since

2002, just celebrated its official birth-day, and is looking to expand, saidDittfield, who began a career in ad-vertising, but said he was always pre-occupied with furniture and design.

Dittfield said it can be challenging tosell modern housewares in a town withso many Victorians.

“But, in fact, the more ornate detailsof a Victorian make for a perfect back-drop for simple modern furniture,”said Dittfield, a world traveler origi-nally from Miami. “Overall, after 10

years, we’re really hitting stride.”Propeller is about adventure and

discovery with the goal of standingapart from other furniture stores, hesaid.

“You discover a new thing and in theprocess you discover something aboutyourself,” Dittfield said. “That opensup new opportunity to discover someother new thing. It’s a circle.”

The store makes it a point to supportsmaller independent designers who arecreating high quality items. Propellerserves a clientele of free-thinkers crav-ing individuality and the pleasure ofcreation, Dittfield said.

“And with us there’s also the, ’Wow,that’s beautiful. I want that in myhome. I want to look at that for a longtime.’ That’s me!”

FURNITURE By Allison Brophy Champion

Fashion finds the living roomMultiple compositions lets the Silver Sofa’s appearance change to match your mood

Details:Silver Sofa at Propeller Modern

555 Hayes St., San Francisco

(415) 701-7767

www.propellermodern.com

Photography by Silver Sofa at Propeller Modern


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