This Hillsborough Home Combines Classic Charm and California Contemporary

Words: Gigi Migliazzo | Photography: Agnieszka Jakubowicz

Just a short drive south of San Francisco is the prestigious city of Hillsborough, California, renowned for its verdant streets and sprawling estates. Tucked away on the western slopes of town rests a 1981 ranch-style home perched upon a half-acre lot — a rare find in the densely populated Bay Area.

Despite its previously outdated features - think oatmeal-colored porcelain tiles, mocha hues, and faux Italianate sponge-painted walls - and stringent zoning regulations, designer Emily Kates of EKD orchestrated an impressive upgrade of the residence: "We were able to add 1200 SF of new living space onto the existing 3,240 SF and maximized it by pushing out the back of the house to significantly grow the kitchen, guest wing and primary bedroom.” A glass sliding patio door was also added, connecting the kitchen to the terrace —an essential addition for the indoor-outdoor living experience synonymous with the Californian lifestyle.

The spirit of the Golden State is felt throughout the home, embodying EKD’s commitment to deliver bespoke residences infused with contemporary yet timeless California style. “Despite keeping the main footprint, everything else was taken down the studs,” says Kates. “The exterior was refaced with smooth white stucco in place of the chocolate brown textured exterior with faux Tudor timbers. All the doors and windows were replaced, with multiple new windows and skylights also added.”

Seeking a change from the modern, urban style of their former San Francisco condo, the owners approached the project with open minds. This gave Kates the creative freedom to craft a masterpiece from the ground up: “We essentially had a blank slate at our fingertips. The clients were very easy going and made decisions with relative ease, which really enabled the project to move efficiently, and organically. No one came to the table with a particularly defined vision, or a hard-lined list of needs for the home, but it came together quickly through collaborative idea sharing.” The outcome is a space that is inviting yet refined, tailored yet elegant.

Elegance pervades every corner, from the soaring vaulted ceilings of the primary bedroom, family room, and living room, to the carefully curated color palette spanning creams, blues, and warm gray. The primary bedroom exudes grandeur with its spacious layout adorned with Schumacher wallpaper, a plush mink chocolate headboard, and inviting boucle swivel chairs.

Adding a sense of whimsy to this elegant ambiance are playful touches splashed across the space - from a laundry room with charming Rebecca Atwood “Scribbles” wallpaper to a Jack and Jill bathroom with sky blue picket floor tiles and cheeky capsule mirrors. Or the pantry, which offers a journey to the vibrant streets of Marrakech with Kate's incorporation of Moroccan-inspired scalloped tile splash and cabinets painted in pale blue/green, sparkling like gems in the heart of the kitchen.

The kitchen’s charm extends to the cozy attached dining nook: “Perhaps my favorite element of the home was turning a previously blank wall into a charming and super functional dining nook with enviable storage. I love dining nooks and incorporate them into many of my projects when possible,” Kates muses. It's a testament to the versatility of design - efficiency combined with visual interest through color, fabric, and pattern.

Remarkably, the entire transformation was accomplished in under a year due to the clients’ desire to settle in before the arrival of their child. “It's very difficult to ‘rush’ the construction process, as there is a natural cadence to much of it that can't be sped up,” shares Kates. “However, with an organized, focused team and decisive clients, we were able to eliminate any unnecessary delays and keep things moving at a clip.”

Despite the project's ambitious timeline, Kates and her team delivered on their promise, ensuring a smooth transition for the homeowners and a beautiful end result: “The clients seemed to move and settle in quite seamlessly, with no complaints or revisions, which is such a delight as a designer. The end goal for me is always to see my clients happy and using the home as it was intended - it’s the most rewarding part of my job and the reason I do what I do.”